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Bi-partisan Sponsorship
Public Safety

HB1805

To Provide For Certain Requirements Related To Storm Shelters For Essential Facilities Under The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code.

Failed

Last Action (May 1, 2023): Died in the House at Sine Die Adjournment

Sponsors

AI-Generated Summary

House Bill 1805 amends the Arkansas Code to regulate storm shelter requirements for specific essential facilities. The bill stipulates that before January 1, 2025, the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code cannot mandate storm shelters for 911 call stations, emergency operations centers, fire, rescue, or ambulance stations, and police departments. Following this date, the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code is authorized to establish storm shelter requirements for these essential facilities. The legislation essentially provides a temporary exemption or moratorium on mandatory storm shelter construction requirements for these public safety entities until 2025.

Potential Impact Analysis

Who Might Benefit?

The primary beneficiaries are local governments, emergency service providers, and municipal agencies that operate these essential facilities, as the bill relieves them of the immediate financial and logistical burden of complying with mandatory storm shelter construction codes prior to January 1, 2025.

Who Might Suffer?

The primary group negatively impacted consists of the staff and personnel working within these essential facilities, as they will remain without the enhanced physical protection afforded by a mandated storm shelter during severe weather events until at least 2025.

Read Full Bill on arkleg.state.ar.us