AMENDED IN SENATE OCTOBER 19, 2004

SENIOR SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 7

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR HOPKINS

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SP 7: FIRE SAFETY IN COMMERCIAL SENIOR RESIDENCES.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR THE PREVENTION OF FIRE IN SPECIFIED STRUCTURES AND BUILDINGS ARE REQUIRED, INCLUDING RESIDENCES THAT HOUSE SENIORS.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE POSTING OF EMERGENCY ESCAPE ROUTES, AND THAT WOULD REQUIRE ADEQUATE PLACEMENT, AND PERIODIC INSPECTION OF, SMOKE DETECTORS IN SPECIFIED UNITS HOUSING SENIORS.  IN ADDITION THIS PROPOSAL WOULD REQUIRE STAFFS OF SPECIFIED UNITS HOUSING SENIORS TO BE TRAINED IN ESCAPE METHODS FOR TENANTS IN CASES OF FIRE.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SP 7: RELATING TO FIRE SAFETY IN COMMERCIAL SENIOR RESIDENCES

WHEREAS, SOME RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES BECOME UNSAFE FOR OCCUPATION BY THE ELDERLY, DUE TO INADEQUATE PROVISIONS FOR ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING FIRE SAFETY CODES; AND

WHEREAS, DUE TO THE FRAIL CONDITION OF MANY SENIORS, THEY MAY BECOME CONFUSED IN PANIC SITUATIONS; AND

WHEREAS, MANY OF THESE RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES ARE NOT REGULATED BY THE STATE, AND SAFETY CONDITIONS VARY WIDELY; AND

WHEREAS, MOST SENIORS ARE LIMITED IN THEIR MOBILITY, EITHER BY SIGHT, OR PHYSICAL CAPABILITY, AS WELL AS HEARING; AND

WHEREAS, ANNUAL FIRE INSPECTIONS WOULD HELP TO ENSURE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE TO SENIORS IN ESCAPING FIRE SITUATIONS; AND

WHEREAS, THROUGH ANNUAL INSPECTIONS LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS CAN AID IN POSSIBLE AVOIDANCE OF PANIC SITUATIONS; AND

WHEREAS, ANNUAL FIRE INSPECTIONS OF PREVENTIVE FIRE EQUIPMENT MAY HELP TO UNCOVER OTHER UNSAFE CONDITIONS RELATED TO FIRE SAFETY; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2004 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT ANY AND ALL RESIDENCES HOUSING SENIORS, EXCLUDING SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES, RESIDENCES LICENSED BY THE STATE THAT NOW RECEIVE ANNUAL FIRE SAFETY INSPECTIONS, AND HOMES HOUSING FEWER THAN SEVEN SENIORS, BE REQUIRED TO POST EMERGENCY ESCAPE ROUTES, BE REQUIRED TO RECEIVE ANNUAL INSPECTIONS RELATING TO FIRE SAFETY DEVICES AS SET FORTH IN THIS PROPOSAL, AND, IN ADDITION, BE REQUIRED TO REGISTER WITH THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS THAT PROPER TRAINING OF STAFFS HAS BEEN COMPLETED, ALSO ON AN ANNUAL BASIS; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE  STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, 

THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.