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Who cares
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Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
4 Multi-sponsors
History
- Held for consideration in agriculture
- Referred to agriculture
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:A10616
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to requiring the installation and testing of fire equipment and sprinkler systems at pet stores
Purpose or general idea of bill
To ensure that all premises that house animals for sale by a pet dealer provide appropriate fire protection measures to guard against the unnecessary endangerment or death of animals.
Summary of specific provisions
-Requires pet dealers to provide fire protection measures for every premises at which the dealer houses animals, including: fire detection equipment, fire alarms and fire fighting equipment, and an adequate number of extinguishers for the premises.
-Equipment must be provided throughout premises and exist must include heat or smoke sensing fire detection alarm systems.
-Equipment shall be tested once a week and maintained in good working order.
-Staff shall be instructed on how to use fire equipment.
-If equipment becomes inoperable the pet dealer shall take immediate action to restore to working order and post placards on all fire alarm boxes to indicate they are inoperable until such action is taken.
-In retail and wholesale establishments an electrically supervised auto- matic sprinkler system shall be installed in all parts of the premises used to house animals and in the stairwell area of any means of egress.
-Such sprinkler systems will be inspected monthly by a qualified, certi- ficate-holding employee of the retailer or wholesaler and keep records of such inspections for fire department review.
-If it becomes necessary to disconnect fire alarms or sprinklers the pet dealer shall notify the fire department at that time and when the systems are re-connected.
-Provides a definition for 'pet dealer'
-Provides a definition for 'animal'
-Authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets to promulgate rules, regulations, and standards to implement this act.
Justification
California is the only state that requires pet businesses that house animals on their premises to install fire alarms or sprinkler systems. Pet stores can be particularly vulnerable to fire because many
of the animals they house require the.use of many electrical outputs and appliances, such as heat lamps, in proximity or right next to flammable materials (like shredded newspaper or sawdust) used for bedding or cage lining, Recent fires, including a 2002 four-alarm fire in Manhattan, a 2006 fire in Queens, and a 2008 three-alarm fire in the Bronx killed hundreds of animals and put hundreds more firefighters, store employees, and civilians in harms way as they rushed into pet stores to save yelp- ing and crying animals from burning to death. For instance, in the 2006 fire in Queens, 130 firefighters responded and media reports suggest that dozens of civilians rushed into the flames to save animals. Eleven firefighters were treated for injuries and hundreds of animals suffered a cruel and terrifying death. This bill can help to prevent these unnec- essary tragedies.
Prior legislative history
None,
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect January 1, 2011.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.