ASSEMBLY, No. 2716
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 3, 1997
By Assemblyman AUGUSTINE
An Act concerning water conservation, and amending and supplementing P.L.1975, c.217.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 5 of P.L.1975, c.217 (C. 52:27D-123) is amended to read as follows:
5. a. The commissioner shall after public hearing pursuant to section 4 of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-4) adopt a State Uniform Construction Code for the purpose of regulating the structural design, construction, maintenance and use of buildings or structures to be erected and alteration, renovation, rehabilitation, repair, maintenance, removal or demolition of buildings or structures already erected. Prior to the adoption of said code, the commissioner shall consult with the code advisory board and other departments, divisions, bureaus, boards, councils or other agencies of State Government heretofore authorized to establish or administer construction regulations.
Such prior consultations with departments, divisions, bureaus, boards, councils, or other agencies of State Government shall include but not be limited to consultation with the Commissioner of Health and the Public Health Council prior to adoption of a plumbing subcode pursuant to paragraph b. of this section. Said code shall include any code, rule or regulation incorporated therein by reference.
b. The code shall be divided into subcodes [which] that may be adopted individually by the commissioner as he may from time to time consider appropriate. These subcodes shall include but not be limited to a building code, a plumbing code, an electrical code, an energy code, a fire prevention code, a manufactured or mobile home code and mechanical code.
These subcodes shall be adoptions of the model codes of the Building Officials and Code Administrators International, [Inc.] Incorporated, the National Electrical Code, and the National Standard Plumbing Code, provided that for good reasons, the commissioner may adopt as a subcode a model code or standard of some other nationally recognized model code organization upon a finding that such model code or standard promotes the purposes of this act. The initial adoption of a model code or standard as a subcode shall constitute adoption of subsequent edition year publications of the model code or standard organization, except as provided for in paragraphs (1) through (4) of this subsection. Adoption of publications shall not occur more frequently than once every three years; provided, however, that a revision or amendment may be adopted at any time in the event that the commissioner finds that there exists an imminent peril to the public health, safety or welfare.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the edition of a model code or standard in effect as a subcode as of July 1, 1995 shall continue in effect regardless of any publication of a subsequent edition of that model code or standard. Prior to establishing the effective date for any subsequent revision or amendment of any model code or standard adopted as a subcode, the commissioner shall review, in consultation with the code advisory board, the text of the revised or amended model code or standard and determine whether the amended or revised provisions of the model code are essential to carry out the intent and purpose of this act as viewed in contrast to the corresponding provisions of the subcode then currently in effect.
(2) In the event that the commissioner, pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, determines that any amended or revised provision of a model code is essential to carry out the intent and purpose of this act as viewed in contrast to any corresponding provision of the subcode then currently in effect, the commissioner may then adopt that provision of the amended or revised model code.
(3) The commissioner, in consultation with the code advisory board, shall have the authority to review any model code or standard currently in effect as a subcode of the State Uniform Construction Code and compare it with previously adopted editions of the same model code or standard in order to determine if the subcode currently in effect is at least as consistent with the intent and purpose of this act as were previously adopted editions of the same model code or standard.
(4) In the event that the commissioner, after consultation with the code advisory board, determines pursuant to this subsection that a provision of a model code or standard currently in effect as a subcode of the State Uniform Construction Code is less consistent with the intent and purpose of this act than was the corresponding provision of a previously adopted edition of the same model code or standard, the commissioner may delete the provision in effect and substitute in its place the corresponding provision of the previously adopted edition
of the same model code or standard determined to be more consistent with the intent and purpose of this act.
The commissioner shall be authorized to adopt a barrier free subcode or to supplement or revise any model code adopted hereunder, for the purpose of insuring that adequate and sufficient features are available in buildings or structures [so as to] , which make them accessible to and usable by the physically handicapped.
Within 90 days of the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) the commissioner shall adopt water conservation standards for automatic lawn sprinkler systems. These standards may be adopted as a subcode or may supplement or revise any model code adopted hereunder for the purpose of insuring water-conserving features for new development and in the repair or replacement of existing structures and equipment.
The water conservation standards for automatic lawn sprinkler systems adopted hereunder shall require the use of the most efficient conserving devices that provide adequate function and service.
c. Any municipality through its construction official, and any State agency or political subdivision of the State may submit an application recommending to the commissioner that a State sponsored code change proposal be adopted. Such application shall contain such technical justification and shall be submitted in accordance with such rules of procedure as the commissioner may deem appropriate, except that whenever the State Board of Education shall determine that enhancements to the code are essential to the maintenance of a thorough and efficient system of education, the enhancements shall be made part of the code; provided that the amendments do not result in standards that fall below the adopted subcodes. The Commissioner of the Department of Education shall consult with the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs prior to publishing the intent of the State Board to adopt any amendments to the Uniform Construction Code. Upon adoption of any amendments by the State Board of Education they shall be transmitted forthwith to the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs who shall publish and incorporate the amendments as part of the Uniform Construction Code and the amendments shall be enforceable as if they had been adopted by the commissioner.
At least 45 days prior to the final date for the submission of amendments or code change proposals to the National Model Code Adoption Agency, the code of which has been adopted as a subcode under this act, the commissioner shall hold a public hearing in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), at which testimony on any application recommending a State sponsored code change proposal will be heard.
The commissioner shall maintain a file of such applications, which shall be made available to the public upon request and upon payment of a fee to cover the cost of copying and mailing.
After public hearing, the code advisory board shall review any such applications and testimony and shall within 20 days of such hearing present its own recommendations to the commissioner.
The commissioner may adopt, reject, or return such recommendations to the code advisory board for further deliberation. If adopted, any such proposal shall be presented to the subsequent meeting of the National Model Code Agency by the commissioner or by persons designated by the commissioner as a State sponsored code change proposal. Nothing herein, however, shall limit the right of any municipality, the department, or any other person from presenting amendments to the National Model Code Agency on its own initiative.
The commissioner may adopt further rules and regulations pursuant to this subsection and may modify the procedures herein described when a model code change hearing has been scheduled so as not to permit adequate time to meet such procedures.
d. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1983, c.496.)
(cf: P.L.1996, c.53, s.2)
2. (New section) No certificate of occupancy shall be issued for any building or structure served by an automatic lawn sprinkler system, with the exception of horticultural and agricultural businesses and golf courses, unless the system complies with the water conservation standards for automatic lawn sprinkler systems adopted pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-123) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would require the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt water conservation standards for automatic lawn sprinkler systems and would prohibit the issuance of certificates of occupancy unless automatic lawn sprinkler systems comply with the new standards.
The bill would direct the commissioner to adopt standards which will require any new lawn sprinkler system being installed and any system being repaired or replaced to incorporate the most efficient water conservation devices that provide adequate function and service.
Horticultural and agricultural businesses and golf courses would be exempted from the requirement.
Requires adoption of automatic lawn sprinkler standards and compliance with standards for issuance of certificate of occupancy.