Bill To Help Improve Campus Fire Safety Continues Towards Law

Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Upendra Chivukula, Pamela R. Lampitt and Elease Evans to help improve fire safety on campus continues advancing toward law.

The bill (A-1570) would require every public and independent higher education institution in the state to disseminate fire safety information about their facilities to students upon enrollment, or, if the student is a minor, to both the student and parent or guardian. "The beginning of school is a time of chaos and excitement," said Chivukula (D-Middlesex/Somerset). "Students are deluged with information which may go in one ear and out the other. It s important to provide them with this life-saving information that they can refer to."

"It s hard enough to watch a child go away to college for the first time," said Lampitt (D-Camden). "Under this bill, at least parents can go home with peace of mind, knowing their children are in good hands and equipped with the proper information to deal with emergencies."

The information must include, but is not limited to, information on sprinkler systems, evacuation plans and other fire safety measures. The bill would also require New Jersey colleges and universities to disseminate this information to all employees upon initial employment.

The Commission on Higher Education, in consultation with the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs, would be responsible for developing guidelines to implement the bill, including the identification of other pertinent fire safety information to be disseminated and the appropriate means of disseminating the information to students, parents or guardians and employees.

The bill was approved 74-0 by the Assembly in September. It was recently released 4-0 by the Senate Education Committee.


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