Requires all new private, one-family and two-family home construction contracts to include a cost estimate for installation of a fire sprinkler system.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A711
SPONSOR: Wallace
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring that
a homeowner be provided a cost estimate for installation of a fire
sprinkler system
 
PURPOSE:
To increase the safety of newly-constructed homes by providing buyers
the data with which to make a decision regarding installation of a fire
sprinkler system.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 one amends the general business law by adding an amending
section 759-a requiring that for all private, one-family and two-family
home construction contracted on or after September 1 of the year in
which this law is passed, the home construction estimate must include a
cost estimate for the installation of a fire sprinkler system in the
home.
Section two provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Fire sprinklers have long been recognized as an effective means to
reduce the spread of fire and limit damages associated with a fire. For
most commercial structures and multifamily dwellings, New York State
requires the installation of fire sprinkler systems. Mandating the
installation of sprinklers system in new home construction has been
suggested but not yet implemented, and as a result many buyers do not
discuss the possibility of installing such a system during the process
of planning for construction.
This bill requires that for all new, single-family and two-family homes,
the homeowner must be given a cost estimate for the installation of a
fire sprinkler system before beginning construction. This bill would not
mandate the installation of a sprinkler system, but would require the
homeowner be made aware of the cost for the installation of the system
so that an informed decision could be made at the time the home is being
planned. Upon seeing the cost of such a system, many homebuyers may opt
to install one, thereby providing not only greater safety and peace of
mind, but adding to the market value of the home.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-2020: A.2468C - Ordered to third reading
2017-2018: A.10630 - Referred to Consumer Affairs and Protection
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
This legislation will have no fiscal impact on the State.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act will take effect on September 1 next succeeding the date on
which it shall have become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
711
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 6, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WALLACE -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Consumer Affairs and Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring that
a homeowner be provided a cost estimate for installation of a fire
sprinkler system
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 759-a of the general business law, as added by
2 chapter 201 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
3 § 759-a. Disclosure of automatic fire sprinkler system information. A
4 builder of a one- or two-family residential dwelling having less than
5 three stories, prior to entering into a contract for construction of
6 such dwelling with a buyer, shall provide the buyer with a copy of writ-
7 ten materials prepared by the office of fire prevention and control
8 pursuant to subdivision twenty-one of section one hundred fifty-six of
9 the executive law, which details the benefits of and includes factors
10 that can affect the costs associated with the installation and mainte-
11 nance of an automatic fire sprinkler system. The builder shall further
12 provide an estimate of the cost for the installation of an automatic
13 fire sprinkler system in such dwelling. Upon request of the buyer, the
14 builder shall, at the buyer's expense, install an automatic fire sprin-
15 kler system in such one- or two-family residential dwelling having less
16 than three stories.
17 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of September next
18 succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided,
19 however the amendments to section 759-a of the general business law made
20 by section one of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section
21 and shall be deemed repealed therewith.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02220-01-1