SENIOR SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 13

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR STEIR

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SP 13: BUILDING STANDARDS: STAIRCASE HANDRAILS.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, BUILDINGS, RESIDENCES, AND DWELLINGS ARE SUBJECT TO VARIOUS CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS. EXISTING LAW EXEMPTS CERTAIN STRUCTURES FROM REQUIREMENTS IF THOSE STRUCTURES WERE CONSTRUCTED PRIOR TO A SPECIFIED TIME.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION AND REFORMS THAT WOULD REQUIRE ALL PUBLIC STAIRCASES TO BE EQUIPPED WITH HANDRAILS, WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SP 13: RELATING TO BUILDING STANDARDS

WHEREAS, THERE ARE MANY PUBLIC BUILDINGS SUBJECT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE STANDARDS THAT REQUIRE HANDRAILS IN STAIRCASES; AND

WHEREAS, SENIORS ARE AT GREAT RISK OF FALLING DOWN STAIRCASES WHERE THERE ARE NO HANDRAILS; AND

WHEREAS, FALLING DOWN STAIRS IS A MAJOR CAUSE OF INJURY AND SOMETIMES DEATH, ESPECIALLY WITH SENIORS; AND

WHEREAS, HANDRAILS ARE NEEDED AND SHOULD BE INSTALLED IN ALL STAIRCASES, REGARDLESS OF WHEN THE STAIRWAYS WERE FIRST BUILT; AND

WHEREAS, MANY PUBLIC STAIRWAYS LACK HANDRAILS, THUS CONSTITUTING A PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD; AND

WHEREAS, THESE AREAS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE OAKLAND COLISEUM AND THE SAN FRANCISCO WAR MEMORIAL OPERA HOUSE; 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 2011 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT LEGISLATION AND REFORMS BE ENACTED THAT WOULD REQUIRE ALL PUBLIC STAIRCASES TO BE EQUIPPED WITH HANDRAILS, WITHOUT EXCEPTION; 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 PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

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RN 11 18368