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Introduced Version House Bill 2335 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
H.B.2335

(By R. Thompson, Brown, Delong, Mahan,

Pino, Amores and Ellem)


[Introduced February 14, 2005; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary ]





A BILL to amend the code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §29-3-16c, relating to establishing safety standards for bed and breakfast establishments; providing findings relating to the need for special fire code standards for bed and breakfasts; defining the term "bed and breakfast establishment"; providing exemption from certain fire code standards; establishing fire safety standards for bed and breakfasts; prohibiting municipal and local governments from adopting stricter standards; authorizing the fire commission to promulgate rules; authorizing variance from certain requirements; and authorizing division of culture and history to provide recommendations regarding historical preservation of structures.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §29-3-16c, to read as follows:

§29-3-16c. Safety standards for bed and breakfast establishments; findings.

(a) Findings. -- Bed and breakfast establishments provide a unique and important contribution to the state, allowing visitors the opportunity to enjoy many of the aspects of our communities and state not available at hotels and motels, and often provide vacationers access to overnight accommodation in areas of this state that would not otherwise be available. These operations continue to grow in number and importance in our state's economy and must be promoted and encouraged by state and local government. Most of these facilities are older residences being converted to this use, and in many cases have architectural and historical significance, and as with most small businesses, are begun with limited capital available for investment. Any fire code standards applicable to these facilities must be sensitive to this distinction and avoid placing a large financial burden on persons operating or planning to operate these facilities. Further, the personal safety of those who live in and visit these facilities is of paramount importance and requires that consideration be made to
assure that adequate safety requirements are placed on these facilities to provide for the safety of visitors, residents, and in an emergency, responding firefighter and rescue workers.
(b)Definition. -- For the purposes of this section, the term "bed and breakfast establishment" means a building occupied as a one-family dwelling unit, that provides sleeping accommodations and breakfast to transient guests for a single fee, and does not offer more than six guest rooms to no more than twelve guests.

(c) Fire code standards -- Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, every bed and breakfast establishment shall be exempt from provisions of fire safety code requirements which are contrary to the following standards:

(1) Each bed and breakfast shall have operational smoke alarms in all common areas, guest rooms and hallways and heat protectors as otherwise required by this code or rule of the fire commission. Battery-powered smoke alarms shall be permitted where the establishment has demonstrated that the testing, maintenance and battery replacement procedures will ensure reliable power to the smoke alarms;

(2) Each bed and breakfast shall have operational hard-wired, battery-powered, or plug-in emergency lighting that indicate available means of egress. Battery-powered or plug-in emergency lighting devices shall be permitted where the establishment has
demonstrated that the testing, maintenance and battery replacement procedures will ensure reliable power to the emergency lighting devices.
(3) The state fire commission shall permit bed and breakfast establishments that cannot readily comply with the requirements of a legislative rule which may mandate the installation of a secondary means of escape or a sprinkle system, one year per floor of the establishment to comply with any new requirements so established.

(4) All other provisions of the state fire safety code not inconsistent with this section and rules promulgated pursuant to Subsection (d) of this section are applicable to bed and breakfast establishments. No municipality or local governmental unit may adopt fire safety code standards for bed and breakfasts more stringent that those provided in this section or by rule of the state fire commission.

(d) Legislative rules. -- The state fire commission shall promulgate or amend an existing legislative rule, in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, to effectuate the provisions of this section. The rule shall include a mechanism for the fire commission to exempt certain facilities by rule and grant individual variances to bed and breakfast establishments which cannot otherwise meet provisions of
the state fire code due to the historic and architectural significance of the establishment with due consideration of the economic limitations inherent in the operation of this type of small business.
(e) Historic preservation review. -- The owner of a bed and breakfast may request the historical preservation section of the division of culture and history, pursuant to section eight, article one of this chapter, to consult with the owner and provide a recommendation to the fire commission regarding the historic character of the structures used or proposed to be used as a bed and breakfast and any objections or concerns regarding any renovations or other changes required by the fire commission or fire marshal. If an appeal regarding a decision made by the fire marshal is made to the commission as provided by section eighteen of this article, the commission shall consider the recommendation of the historical preservation section when making a determination regarding the variance as provided for in subsection (d) of this section.


NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to establish specialized fire safety standards for bed and breakfasts.

This bill was recommended for introduction and passage by the Joint Judiciary Committee.
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