HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3482        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2111

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Nick Collins and Kenneth J. Donnelly

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act creating a special commission studying cutting, welding and hot work processes regulated by the State Fire Code.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3482        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2111

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2323 OF 2013-2014.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act creating a special commission studying cutting, welding and hot work processes regulated by the State Fire Code.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. There shall be a special commission established on welding and hot works regulation. The commission shall investigate and study the current requirements for licenses and permits governing cutting, welding, and other hot work processes involving burning or a similar operation that is capable of initiating fires or explosions to determine if the state fire code adequately protects the safety of the public and first responders.  The study shall consider the current conditions required for the issuance of licenses or permits, the use of supervised details and firewatchers, the adequacy of fees to cover inspection and oversight and other municipal costs, the deterrent effect of penalties for violations of rules and regulations and cost recovery assessment for damages resulting from the failure to comply with rules and regulations, the training and certification required to perform the work and any other matters the commission finds that would enhance the safety of the work. The commission shall report its findings, including any proposed legislation, to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on public safety and homeland security and the executive office of public safety and security no later than June 1, 2016.

SECTION 2. The commission shall consist of: one member of the fire chief’s association of Massachusetts, one member appointed by the Governor who shall have experience and expertise in cutting, welding and hot works trades, one member appointed by the president of the senate, one member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on public safety and homeland security or their designees, one member of the minority party from both the house and senate appointed by the minority leader of those branches respectively, the state fire marshal or his designee, the commissioner of the Boston Fire Department of his designee, the chairman of the board of fire prevention regulations or his designee, the associate commissioner of the vocational workforce and college readiness programs, or his designee, 2 representative of a labor organization representing pipefitters and carpenters chosen by the president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, the President of the Ironworkers District Council of New England or his designee and a representative from the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts chosen by its president.