An Act To Extend Fire Code Rules to Single-family Dwellings Used as Nursing Homes for 3 or Fewer Patients

Sec. 1. 25 MRSA §2452, first ¶,  as amended by PL 2007, c. 632, §1, is further amended to read:

The Commissioner of Public Safety shall adopt and may amend rules governing the safety to life from fire in or around all buildings or other structures and mass outdoor gatherings, as defined in Title 22, section 1601, subsection 2, within the commissioner's jurisdiction. These rules do not apply to nursing homes having 3 or fewer patients. Automatic sprinkler systems may not be required in existing noncommercial places of assembly. Noncommercial places of assembly include those facilities used for such purposes as deliberation, worship, entertainment, amusement or awaiting transportation that have a capacity of 100 to 300 persons. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules, except that rules pertaining to fire sprinklers are major substantive rules, both of which are defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

summary

Current law provides that certain fire code rules adopted by the Commissioner of Public Safety do not apply to nursing homes having 3 or fewer patients. This bill removes that limitation, therefore extending application of those rules to nursing homes with 3 or fewer patients.