Brief (1)
HB 2190, as amended, would delete the requirement that community colleges, area vocational schools, and technical colleges submit building plans to the State Board of Education before construction contracts can be let. The institutions still would be required to submit code compliance review documents to the State Fire Marshal for evaluation and approval of fire and life safety features, prior to building construction or remodeling.
Background
HB 2190 was requested for introduction by the State Board of Regents as a clean-up measure following the enactment of the Higher Education Coordination Act in 1999. According to testimony by representatives of the Board, the request originally was made because supervision of community colleges, area vocational schools, and technical colleges had been transferred from the State Board of Education to the State Board of Regents. However, upon reflection, the Board of Regents decided that state-level approval of building plans of institutions that have their own local governing boards was an unnecessary function and should be deleted.
The local governing boards of community colleges, area vocational schools, and technical colleges are responsible for the facilities of the institutions they govern and are authorized to enter into contracts for building construction in compliance with applicable building codes, reviews, and inspections. At the request of the State Fire Marshal, the Higher Education Committee added an amendment to continue the current practice of submitting "code footprints" (code compliance review documents) to the Fire Marshal for evaluation and approval of fire and life safety features before building construction or remodeling can begin.
The legislation would have no fiscal impact.
1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/fulltext.cgi