What's happening
This bill requires SUNY and CUNY dormitories to be retrofitted with sprinkler systems for fire safety within three years.
Why it matters
Mandates comprehensive fire safety studies. The bill requires SUNY, CUNY, and independent colleges to evaluate the fire safety of all student facilities, not just dorms. This means potential improvements could extend beyond where students sleep, possibly influencing overall campus safety policies.
Forces prioritization and funding decisions. By requiring a cost analysis and timeline for retrofitting sprinklers, the legislation will likely push university administrations and the state to allocate significant funding and resources, which could impact tuition, fees, or other campus projects.
Sets a strict, enforceable timeline. Institutions must create and adopt their retrofitting plans by March 2020 and finish the sprinkler installations within three years, ensuring fire safety upgrades occur promptly rather than being delayed indefinitely.
Brings NY campuses in line with modern fire codes. Many older dormitories may lack current fire suppression systems; this law would close that gap, potentially reducing the risk of future tragedies and legal liabilities for universities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Add Sprinklers to College Dorms
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1411
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 12, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. CAHILL -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ENGLE- BRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring SUNY and CUNY authorities to install and retrofit dormitory buildings with sprinkler systems
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The board of trustees of the state university of New York, the board of trustees of the city university of New York and the council of governing boards for the independent colleges of New York shall conduct a study concerning the safety of New York state college students in dormitories, fraternities, sororities, laboratories, physical education facilities, dining facilities, educational facilities and recreational facilities. This study shall include information including, but not limited to, the number and percentage of buildings without adequate fire extinguishment equipment including, but not limited to, sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, fire hoses and smoke alarms. Additionally, an analysis of the cost of retrofitting existing facilities with sprinkler systems must be provided along with a plan and time schedule for the completion of such retrofitting. A report containing the information required by this section shall be submitted to the governor and the legislature not later than December 1, 2019.
§ 2. Section 355 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 20 to read as follows:
20. Plan for providing fire safety. The board of trustees of the state university of New York shall adopt rules requiring that each institution of the state university, on or before March first, two thousand twenty, adopt and implement a plan to cause all buildings under the jurisdiction of such institution containing dormitory facilities for student use to be constructed or retrofitted with a system of piping and appurtenances, designed and installed in accordance with generally accepted standards
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01392-01-7
A. 1411 2
so that heat from a fire will automatically cause water to be discharged over such fire area to extinguish it or prevent its further spread. All retrofitting shall be completed within a three year period from the date any such plan is adopted.
§ 3. Section 6206 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 19 to read as follows:
19. The board of trustees of the city university of New York shall adopt rules requiring that each institution of the city university, on or before March first, two thousand twenty, adopt and implement a plan to cause all buildings under the jurisdiction of such institution containing dormitory facilities for student use to be constructed or retrofitted with a system of piping and appurtenances, designed and installed in accordance with generally accepted standards so that heat from a fire will automatically cause water to be discharged over such fire area to extinguish it or prevent its further spread. All retrofitting shall be completed within a three year period from the date any such plan is adopted.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.