Senate Bill S4275

                                BILL NUMBER:S4275

TITLE OF BILL:

An act
to amend the labor law, in relation to punishment for violations of the
department of labor's fire regulations

PURPOSE:

To decrease the possibility of blocked or locked exit doors. and
prevent tragic scenarios from needlessly occurring.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Section 272 of the labor law is amended to include the
inclusion of a civil penalty for intentional violators of an
inadequate fire-prevented building. As specified in Section 272 of
the labor law. no factory can operate in a building without adequate
protection against fire to all persons employed therein. Before the
legislative intent of this building. section 272 failed to address
violators of this requirement.

Section 2: Effective date of bill.

EXISTING LAW:
              

All buildings that in-house factories are to be equipped with adequate
protection against fire.
There are no penalties on the books for violators of this act.

JUSTIFICATION:

As history shows, inadequate fire prevention methods lead to mass
devastation. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911 is a prime
example. This event could have been minimized if exit doors were
unlocked and other means to escape the burning building were
available to the young Jewish and Italian women who met their fate in
the fire. As it is required of building
owners to have operable exit doors, available stairways, exit signs,
and functioning doors and windows, owners should adhere to potential
hazardous conditions.

Should an owner or entity be found convicted of intentionally
practicing in bad faith, a civil fine shall be levied by a hearing
officer of the department in questioning the violation by such owner
or entity. It is our intent that implementing civil penalties will
decrease the practice of owners or entities that violate this
requirement.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect immediately.