President Gary Clark 2023 Legislative Update

ian fire deaths, 8600 injuries and 6.8 billion dollars in property damage; and

Whereas, today's one and two family dwellings burn faster and fail quicker due to modern lightweight wood construction and modern home furnishings creating a deadly home in as little as two minutes with significantly faster collapse potential; and

Whereas, according to the NFPA when sprinklers are present and activated fire is kept to the room of origin 96% of the time also reducing firefighter injuries by 60% with civilian death rate lowered by 87%; and

Whereas, O.C.G.A. 8-2-4 states that no residential or fire building code adopted by any political subdivision in the State of Georgia can include the requirements for a residential fire sprinkler system; and

Whereas, based on State code no local authority has the right to utilize current residential building codes that will enhance the life safety and property conservation within a community across this Great State of Georgia despite the fact that residential sprinklers are part of a fire safe community, required by all model codes, reduce dollar loss, add value to each home and saves lives; and Whereas, while it is our greatest desire that no firefighter or citizen shall lose their life in the horrible fate of fire, we beg the legislators for our great state to allow communities the right to implement current residential building codes concerning residential sprinkler systems; Therefore, be it resolved that the membership of The Georgia State Firefighters Association request that this become a high priority of the GSFA legislative agenda and all efforts shall be made to draft, pass and implement legislation into law that will correct the current danger to life in our communities across this Great State of Georgia:

The Committee recommends "Do Pass"

Do I have a second?

Seconded by Gary Voted and Passed

During this year's legislative session House Bill 574 was introduced by representative Josh Gullett of the 19th House District.

The bill made it to the second reading in the House of Representatives, then it stalled.

We need all hands on deck to support this piece of legislation, I encourage you to contact your State Representatives and Senators and express your concerns and support for this piece of legislation. This bill will not affect the entire state, it is a local control ordinance bill only.

Sprinkler systems save lives and with the rise in fire deaths over the past few years it is imperative that we take action to reduce this number of deaths.

Next on the list of legislation is House Bill 503, introduced by representative Lee Hawkins of the 25th and other signers.

This bill termed the income tax certain contributions by taxpayers to local firefighting foundations tax credit. If passed this law would allow fire departments to establish A501C3 foundation and receive donations of up to $1,000,000 per department and a total of $25 million statewide to be collected by individual departments with 100% tax credit to donors these donations can be used for any purpose the fire department needs.

A similar bill was passed into law in 2020 for law enforcement.

Another bill that has been worked on for several years previously known in 2021 as House Bill 855 was introduced as a workers compensation bill, in 2023 House bill 451 was introduced by Devan Seabough of the 34th House district.

House bill 451 is the PTSD