HR1039.html

Creating the Joint Construction Codes Study Committee; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the design, construction, and development process is vital to the economy of the State of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, construction codes and standards, which regulate the building industry, ensure that our buildings and infrastructure are structurally safe and sound, which is essential to the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, the current system for administering construction codes by multiple government agencies with varying rules and regulations may delay approval and construction due to conflicting interpretation of codes; and

WHEREAS, the current practice creates confusion and delays in the delivery of inspection services to the citizens and building owners of the State of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, construction and fire codes, and potential amendments, should be developed in a process that allows decisions to be made by a single committee of experts after public review and comment; and

WHEREAS, providing training and education for all code officials is vital to obtain consistency in administering, interpreting, and enforcing construction codes in Georgia; and

WHEREAS, a group of stakeholders representing the code enforcement community, the design community, and the construction community have come together to address these issues for the betterment of Georgia.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is created the Joint Construction Codes Study Committee to be composed of three members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a member of the House of Representatives, one member to be appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom shall be a member of the Senate, three members to be appointed by the Governor, the Fire Safety Commissioner or his or her designee, the commissioner of community affairs or his or her designee, the Commissioner of Labor or his or her designee, and the chairperson of the Budgetary Responsibility Oversight Committee. The nonlegislative members of the committee shall represent the architecture, engineering, and commercial building professions, cities, counties, and multi-family project developers. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House and the President of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate who shall serve as cochairpersons of the committee. The committee shall meet at the call of the cochairpersons.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any actions or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The members of the committee shall receive the allowances authorized for legislative members of interim legislative committees but shall receive the same for not more than ten days unless additional days are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the House of Representatives and Senate. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 31, 2002. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31, 2002.