CHAPTER 219
HB 710-FN - FINAL VERSION
19Mar2019... 1024h
05/15/2019 1776s
2019 SESSION
19-0269
05/04
HOUSE BILL 710-FN
AN ACT relative to adoption of state building code and fire code amendments.
SPONSORS: Rep. McGuire, Merr. 29; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Giuda, Dist 2; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Provides for the appointment of alternative members of the state building code review board.
II. Revises the procedure for amendment to the state building code.
III. Requires the state building code review board to maintain a publicly accessible list of applicable building codes and amendments.
IV. Provides for an appeal to the state building code review board from decisions of a local building code board of appeals.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
19Mar2019... 1024h
05/15/2019 1776s 19-0269
05/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen
AN ACT relative to adoption of state building code and fire code amendments.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
219:1 State Building Code Review Board; Membership. Amend RSA 155-A:10, II to read as follows:
II. The term of each member shall be 3 years. The chair of the board shall be appointed by the commissioner of safety after meeting with the board. Board members shall be appointed for no more than [2] 3 consecutive 3-year terms. The board shall elect from among the members a vice-chair, who shall assume the responsibilities of the chair in the event of the chair's absence. Each appointing authority may appoint one alternate member, qualified as defined in subparagraphs I(a) through (p), who shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.
219:2 State Building Code Review Board; Amendments to the State Building Code. Amend RSA 155-A:10, IV and V to read as follows:
IV. The board shall meet to review and assess the application of the state building code and shall recommend legislation, as the board deems necessary, to amend the requirements of the state building code in order to provide consistency with the application of other laws, rules, or regulations, to avoid undue economic impacts on the public by considering the cost of such amendments, and to promote public safety and best practices.
(a) The board may recommend adoption of a newer version of a code that has been published for at least 2 years, and shall provide a summary of all significant changes, cost estimates of these changes, and documentation of the need for the change in the recommended legislation.
(b) Amendments to the codes shall be reviewed and approved by the board, then submitted annually to the legislature for ratification by the adoption of appropriate legislation before they become effective.
(c) The board may hear appeals of final decisions of any local building code board of appeals established under RSA 674, provided that the appeal shall be based on a claim that the intent of the code or the rules legally adopted thereunder have been incorrectly interpreted, the provisions of the code do not fully apply, or there is an alternative construction. The board shall not have authority to waive or grant variances to requirements of the code.
(d) Amendments adopted by municipalities shall be published by the board.
V. [The board may adopt rules to amend the state building code for the codes described in RSA 155-A:1, IV and IV-a, to the extent the board deems that such amendments are necessary, provided that any such amendments are ratified by the adoption of appropriate legislation within 2 years of their adoption. If such amendments are not ratified, then the rules shall expire, notwithstanding RSA 541-A:17, I, at the end of the 2-year period. With the approval of the commissioner of safety, the board shall be authorized, pursuant to RSA 541-A, to adopt rules relative to procedures of its operation and appeals to the board.] The board shall maintain a publicly accessible list of applicable building codes and amendments to such codes. Amendments proposed by municipalities shall be listed, with specific applicability if not statewide.
219:3 Applicability. Any code amendment in effect on the effective date of this act shall expire 18 months from the effective date of this act unless prior to such date, the amendment is approved by the board of fire control or building code review board and ratified by the adoption of appropriate legislation.
219:4 New Section; Appeal of Decisions of Local Building Code Board of Appeals. Amend RSA 155-A by inserting after section 11-a the following new section:
155-A:11-b Appeal of Decisions of Local Building Code Board of Appeals.
I. The board shall hear appeals of final decisions of any local building code board of appeals established under RSA 674.
II. An application for appeal shall be based on a claim that the intent of the code or the rules legally adopted thereunder have been incorrectly interpreted, the provisions of the code do not fully apply, or an alternative construction is proposed. The board shall not have authority to waive or grant variances to requirements of the code.
III. The board shall hold a hearing within 40 days of the receipt of an appeal, unless an extension of time has been granted by the board at the written request of one of the parties, and shall render a decision within 30 days of the conclusion of the hearing.
219:5 Building Code Board of Appeals. Amend RSA 674:34 to read as follows:
674:34 Powers of Building Code Board of Appeals.
I. The building code board of appeals shall hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions, or determinations made by the building official or fire official relative to the application and interpretation of the state building code or state fire code as defined in RSA 155-A:1. An application for appeal shall be based on a claim that the true intent of the code or the rules adopted thereunder have been incorrectly interpreted, the provisions of the code do not fully apply, or an equally good or better form of construction is proposed. The board shall have no authority to waive requirements of the state building code or the state fire code.
II. Appeals of decisions of any local building code board of appeals shall be made within 30 days of the board’s decision to the state building code review board as outlined under RSA 155-A:10, IV(c).
219:6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 30 days after its passage.
Approved: July 12, 2019
Effective Date: August 11, 2019
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 29, 2019 | House | Hearing |
| March 13, 2019 | House | Exec Session |
| March 13, 2019 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote | |
| March 19, 2019 | House | Floor Vote |
| April 17, 2019 | Senate | Hearing |
| May 15, 2019 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| Senate | Floor Vote | |
| May 30, 2019 | Senate | Floor Vote |
July 12, 2019: Signed by Governor Sununu 07/12/2019; Chapter 219; Eff: 08/11/2019
June 27, 2019: Enrolled 06/27/2019 HJ 20 P. 53
June 27, 2019: Enrolled (In recess 06/27/2019); SJ 21
June 13, 2019: House Concurs with Senate Amendment 1776s (Rep. Goley): MA VV 06/13/2019 HJ 19 P. 4
May 30, 2019: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/30/2019; SJ 18
May 30, 2019: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/30/2019; SC 24
: Committee Report: Ought to Pass
May 15, 2019: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2019-1776s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 05/15/2019; SJ 16
May 15, 2019: Committee Amendment # 2019-1776s, AA, VV; 05/15/2019; SJ 16
May 15, 2019: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2019-1776s, 05/15/2019; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 22
April 17, 2019: Hearing: 04/17/2019, Room 101, LOB, 09:40 am; SC 17
March 28, 2019: Introduced 03/28/2019 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 12
March 19, 2019: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2019-1024h: MA VV 03/19/2019 HJ 10 P. 25
March 19, 2019: Amendment # 2019-1024h: AA VV 03/19/2019 HJ 10 P. 25
: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2019-1024h (Vote 19-0; CC)
March 19, 2019: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2019-1024h for 03/19/2019 (Vote 19-0; CC) HC 16 P. 9
March 13, 2019: Executive Session: 03/13/2019 10:30 am LOB 306
March 13, 2019: Subcommittee Work Session: 03/13/2019 09:40 am LOB 306
Jan. 29, 2019: Public Hearing: 01/29/2019 01:00 pm LOB 306
Jan. 3, 2019: Introduced 01/03/2019 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 3 P. 27