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1995 SESSION

LD5872200
HOUSE BILL NO.2084
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Education and Health
on February 9, 1995)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate DeBoer)
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding sections numbered 32.1-126.3 and 36-99.9:1, relating to fire suppression systems in hospitals.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding sections numbered 32.1-126.3 and 36-99.9:1 as follows:

§ 32.1-126.3. Fire suppression systems required in hospitals.

After January 1, 1998, the Commissioner shall not issue a license to or renew the license of any hospital, regardless of when such facility was constructed, unless the hospital is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system which complies with the regulations of the Board of Housing and Community Development.

The Commissioner may, at his discretion, extend the time for compliance with this section for any hospital that can demonstrate its inability to comply, if such hospital submits, prior to January 1, 1998, a plan for compliance by a date certain which shall be no later than July 1, 1998.

The provisions of Article 1.1 (§ 32.1-102.1 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of this title shall not apply to expenditures required solely for compliance with this section.

For the purposes of this section and § 36-99.9:1, “automatic sprinkler system” means a device for suppressing fire in patient rooms and other areas of the hospital customarily used for patient care.

§ 36-99.9:1. Standards for fire suppression systems in hospitals.

The Board of Housing and Community Development shall promulgate regulations, to be effective by October 1, 1995, in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (§ 9-6.14:1 et seq.), establishing standards for automatic sprinkler systems in hospitals, regardless of when such facilities were constructed. In the development of these standards, the Board shall seek input from relevant state and local agencies as well as affected institutions.

For the purposes of this section and § 32.1-126.3, “automatic sprinkler system” means a device for suppressing fire in patient rooms and other areas of the hospital customarily used for patient care.