GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

S	4 

SENATE BILL 905
Pensions and Retirement/Insurance/State Personnel Committee Substitute Adopted 5/25/95
House Committee Substitute Favorable 6/18/96
House Committee Substitute #2 Favorable 6/20/96

Short Title:  Fire Protection/Student Housing.	(Public)

─────────────────────────────────────── 
Sponsors:

─────────────────────────────────────── 
Referred to:  

─────────────────────────────────────── 

May 1, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO FACILITATE FIRE WARNING AND SUPPLEMENTAL FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS IN STUDENT HOUSING.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Article 1 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Part to read:
"Part 7.  Fire Safety.
"§ 116-44.6.  Definitions.
Unless the context clearly requires another meaning, the following definitions apply in this Part:
(1)	Fraternity or sorority. – A social, professional, or educational incorporated organization that, by official recognition, is affiliated or identified with a public or nonpublic institution of higher education in this State and which maintains a living facility that provides accommodations for five or more students enrolled at the recognition-granting institution of higher education.
(2)	Fund. – The Fire Safety Loan Fund authorized by this Part.
(3)	Living facility. – A sleeping facility capable of overnight accommodation and other capabilities which support continuous occupancy.
(4)	Residence hall. – A living facility maintained by a public or nonpublic institution of higher education in North Carolina or by the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics for use by enrolled students.
(5)	Supplemental fire safety protection system. – A water system capability which is sized to accommodate the added water supply pressure and volume required for building fire protection.
(6)	Water system. –
a.	A city, county, or sanitary district; or
b.	A water and sewer authority, a metropolitan water district, or county water and sewer district, established pursuant to Chapter 162A of the General Statutes.
"§ 116-44.7.  Exemption from certain fees and charges.
No water system serving a residence hall or fraternity or sorority housing shall levy or collect from such residence hall or fraternity or sorority housing any water-meter fee, water-hydrant fee, tap fee, or similar service fee with respect to supporting a supplemental fire safety protection system.
"§ 116-44.8.  Fire Safety Loan Fund.
(a)	There is established the Fire Safety Loan Fund.  The Fund shall be a revolving loan fund for installing fire safety equipment and systems in fraternity and sorority housing.
(b)	The Fund shall be administered by the Office of the State Treasurer, and that office may establish the policies and procedures that it deems appropriate for the operation of the Fund.
(c)	The Fund shall be operated on a revolving basis with proceeds from the repayment of prior loans being made available for subsequent loans.
(d)	Loans from the Fund shall be secured by a first or second mortgage or other pledge.  Loans shall be made for a period not to exceed 10 years.  Interest shall not be charged on loans from the Fund."
Sec. 2.  This act is effective upon ratification.