Bill Text: IL HB5664 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Creates the Greek Housing Fire Safety Act. Provides that in the case of a Greek housing structure (that is, a fraternity or sorority house) the construction of which is begun on or after January 1, 2011, that construction must include the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems. Provides that in the case of a Greek housing structure construction of which was begun before January 1, 2011, automatic fire sprinkler systems are required in every such structure by January 1, 2019. Provides that if a Greek housing structure does not comply with these provisions, it is unlawful to occupy the structure as a Greek housing structure. Provides for enforcement by a unit of local government (if the Greek housing structure is under the jurisdiction of the unit of local government in whose territory it is located) or an institution of higher education (if the Greek housing structure is under the jurisdiction of the institution of higher education that its residents attend). Effective January 1, 2011.

Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2010-07-27 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 96-1303 [HB5664 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-HB5664-Enrolled.html

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AN ACT concerning safety.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Greek
Housing Fire Safety Act.
Section 5. Legislative findings. Fire deaths and burn
injuries among college students have become a common
occurrence. It has been proven that automatic fire sprinkler
systems are a highly effective method of controlling or
extinguishing a fire in its early stages and protecting the
lives of the building's occupants and the responding
firefighters. Many students are living in Greek housing that is
not adequately protected with automatic fire sprinkler
systems. Insurance companies recognize the benefits of
sprinkler systems and have offered significant policy
discounts to Greek organizations to cover housing protected by
automatic sprinkler systems. Dormitories in the State of
Illinois are already required to have automatic fire sprinkler
systems by 2013.
Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
"Automatic fire sprinkler system" means a fire sprinkler
system as defined in the Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing

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Act.
"Greek housing structure" means a structure that provides
housing for members of a social fraternity or sorority exempt
from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 50(a)), the active membership of which
consists primarily of students in attendance at a public or
private institution of higher education. The structure may also
provide for other activities in addition to housing.
Section 15. Automatic fire sprinkler systems required.
(a) In the case of a Greek housing structure the
construction of which is begun on or after January 1, 2011,
that construction must include the installation of automatic
fire sprinkler systems.
(b) In the case of a Greek housing structure construction
of which was begun before January 1, 2011, automatic fire
sprinkler systems are required in every such structure by
January 1, 2019.
(c) If a Greek housing structure does not comply with this
Section, it is unlawful to occupy the structure as a Greek
housing structure.
(d) Nothing in this Act may be construed to abrogate any
statute, rule, or ordinance requiring that a fire extinguisher
be present in a Greek housing structure.
Section 20. Enforcement of Act.

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(a) If a Greek housing structure is under the jurisdiction
of the unit of local government in whose territory it is
located, that unit of local government is responsible for
enforcing this Act with respect to that structure.
(b) If a Greek housing structure is under the jurisdiction
of the institution of higher education that its residents
attend, that institution of higher education is responsible for
enforcing this Act with respect to that structure.
Section 25. Local ordinances. If a unit of local government
has adopted an ordinance that requires automatic fire
suppression systems in housing units under this Act that is
more stringent than this Act, then the local ordinance shall
control.
Section 30. Interpretation of Act. Nothing in this Act
shall be construed to apply to the standards already governed
by the Fire Sprinkler Dormitory Act.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
1, 2011.