Provides a tax credit for the installation of certain fire sprinkler systems

• Democratic6
• Republican1

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Leroy Comrie says this is needed

On January 21, 2012, Kerry Rose Fitzsimons, Eva Block, and Kevin Johnson were tragically killed in an off-campus house fire while attending Marist College. The fire was so strong and so fast that none of the three students were able to escape. What is known for certain was that there was no sprinkler system installed in the off-campus home. Accord- ing to the Fire Sprinkler Initiative, the availability of smoke detec- tors, coupled with a maintained and operative sprinkler system installed in a residence, decreases the risk of dying in a fire by over 80's. Currently, however, sprinkler systems are only required in newly constructed apartment buildings outside of the "Big 5" cities. Existing apartment buildings-and any other type of residential dwelling-do not currently require sprinkler systems. It is therefore troubling that many residences in neighborhoods surrounding colleges and universities which are rented to students attending those institutions often do not have sprinkler systems installed. The intent of this legislation is to appeal to those property owners by offering a financial incentive to add a sprinkler system. Providing a tax incentive will he beneficial not only to the owner the property, but also to the tenants of the property if the sprinkler system is installed.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.