Bill Text - HB1421 (2018)

(New Title) relative to the regulation of event tents.


Revision: March 8, 2018, 10:31 a.m.

HB 1421-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

 

6Mar2018... 0849h

2018 SESSION

18-2275

05/03

 

HOUSE BILL 1421-FN

 

AN ACT relative to the regulation of event tents.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Wallace, Rock. 33; Rep. Burt, Hills. 39; Rep. Welch, Rock. 13; Rep. Itse, Rock. 10; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19

 

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

 

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 

This bill provides that event tents erected on public or private property shall be subject to the requirements of the state building code and state fire code, but shall not be subject to further local regulation.  The bill also provides that neither a building permit nor a place of assembly permit shall be required for a tent erected as an accessory structure on owner occupied property that is a one or 2-family dwelling.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

6Mar2018... 0849h 18-2275

05/03

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen

 

AN ACT relative to the regulation of event tents.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  New Paragraph; State Building Code; Event Tents.  Amend RSA 155-A:2 by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraph:

V-a.  Any event tent erected on public or private property shall comply with the applicable provisions of the state building code and state fire code.  Notwithstanding paragraph V, counties, towns, cities, and village districts shall not adopt any rule, regulation, or ordinance regarding event tents erected on public or private property in addition to those established in the state building code and state fire code.  A building permit shall not be required for a tent of any size erected as an accessory structure on property that is an owner-occupied, one or 2-family dwelling.

2  Places of Assembly; Flameproof Canvas and Tents.  Amend RSA 155:20 to read as follows:

155:20  [Flameproof] Flame Resistant Canvas and Tents.  

I.  Any tent or other place of assembly covered by canvas or other fabric, textile, or flame resistant material that is erected on public or private property shall comply with the applicable provisions of the state building code and state fire code.

II.  No permit under RSA 155:19 shall be issued to an owner or operator of any circus, carnival or any other place of assembly covered by canvas, or any other fabric, textile, or flame resistant material, on public property, until such applicant shall furnish to the licensing agency a certificate of [flameproofing] flame resistance of such tent, [or] canvas, fabric, textile, or flame resistant material.

III.  No permit shall be required under RSA 155:19 for a tent of any size erected as an accessory structure on property that is an owner-occupied, one or 2-family dwelling. 3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2019.

 

LBAO

18-2275

10/27/17

 

HB 1421-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to regulations for event tents.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [ X ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

 

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2019

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

   Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Revenue

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

   Expenditures

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Funding Source:

  [    ] General            [    ] Education            [    ] Highway           [ X ] Other - Fire Standards and Training and Emergency Medical Services Fund

 

 

 

 

 

LOCAL:

 

 

 

 

   Revenue

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

   Expenditures

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires event tents located on public property to comply with state building and fire code, while also exempting event tents on private property from such regulation.  The state fire marshal conducts inspections on state property and some municipalities without a building official requesting the state fire marshal’s inspections services, for $35 per inspection.  As it is unclear as to how many event tents that are currently subject to inspection and regulation will no longer be under this bill revenue to the state fire marshal and corresponding local expenditures may decrease by an indeterminable amount.  Additionally, local revenues may decrease to the extent municipalities currently collect inspection revenue and state and local expenditures may increase if additional fire and emergency medical services are needed to respond to calls to gatherings at non-regulated structures.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Safety