Minnesota Session Laws - 1991, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1991 

                        CHAPTER 149-H.F.No. 132 
           An act relating to energy; improving energy efficiency 
          by prohibiting incandescent lighting in certain exit 
          signs; requiring amendments to building codes and 
          standards to increase energy efficiency; requiring 
          state agencies to use funds allocated for utility 
          expenditures to buy certain replacement bulbs; 
          amending Minnesota Statutes 1990, sections 16B.61, 
          subdivision 3; and 299F.011, by adding a subdivision; 
          proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
          chapter 16B. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
     Section 1.  [16B.126] [FUNDS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT BULBS.] 
    State agencies in the executive, legislative, and judicial 
branches that purchase replacement bulbs in accordance with 
section 16B.61, subdivision 3, paragraph (k), must use money 
allocated for utility expenditures for the purchase. 
    Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1990, section 16B.61, 
subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 3.  [SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS.] (a)  [SPACE FOR COMMUTER 
VANS.] The code must require that any parking ramp or other 
parking facility constructed in accordance with the code include 
an appropriate number of spaces suitable for the parking of 
motor vehicles having a capacity of seven to 16 persons and 
which are principally used to provide prearranged commuter 
transportation of employees to or from their place of employment 
or to or from a transit stop authorized by a local transit 
authority.  
    (b)  [SMOKE DETECTION DEVICES.] The code must require that 
all dwellings, lodging houses, apartment houses, and hotels as 
defined in section 299F.362 comply with the provisions of 
section 299F.362.  
    (c)  [DOORS IN NURSING HOMES AND HOSPITALS.] The state 
building code may not require that each door entering a sleeping 
or patient's room from a corridor in a nursing home or hospital 
with an approved complete standard automatic fire extinguishing 
system be constructed or maintained as self-closing or 
automatically closing.  
      (d)  [CHILD CARE FACILITIES IN CHURCHES.] A licensed day 
care center serving fewer than 30 preschool age persons and 
which is located in a below ground space in a church building is 
exempt from the state building code requirement for a ground 
level exit when the center has more than two stairways to the 
ground level and its exit.  
      (e)  [FAMILY AND GROUP FAMILY DAY CARE.] The commissioner 
of administration shall establish a task force to determine 
occupancy standards specific and appropriate to family and group 
family day care homes and to examine hindrances to establishing 
day care facilities in rural Minnesota.  The task force must 
include representatives from rural and urban building code 
inspectors, rural and urban fire code inspectors, rural and 
urban county day care licensing units, rural and urban family 
and group family day care providers and consumers, child care 
advocacy groups, and the departments of administration, human 
services, and public safety. 
      By January 1, 1989, the commissioner of administration 
shall report the task force findings and recommendations to the 
appropriate legislative committees together with proposals for 
legislative action on the recommendations. 
      Until the legislature enacts legislation specifying 
appropriate standards, the definition of Group R-3 occupancies 
in the state building code applies to family and group family 
day care homes licensed by the department of human services 
under Minnesota Rules, chapter 9502. 
      (f)  [MINED UNDERGROUND SPACE.] Nothing in the state 
building codes shall prevent cities from adopting rules 
governing the excavation, construction, reconstruction, 
alteration, and repair of mined underground space pursuant to 
sections 469.135 to 469.141, or of associated facilities in the 
space once the space has been created, provided the intent of 
the building code to establish reasonable safeguards for health, 
safety, welfare, comfort, and security is maintained. 
    (g)  [ENCLOSED STAIRWAYS.] No provision of the code or any 
appendix chapter of the code may require stairways of existing 
multiple dwelling buildings of two stories or less to be 
enclosed. 
    (h)  [DOUBLE CYLINDER DEAD BOLT LOCKS.] No provision of the 
code or appendix chapter of the code may prohibit double 
cylinder dead bolt locks in existing single-family homes, 
townhouses, and first floor duplexes used exclusively as a 
residential dwelling.  Any recommendation or promotion of double 
cylinder dead bolt locks must include a warning about their 
potential fire danger and procedures to minimize the danger. 
    (i)  [RELOCATED RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.] A residential 
building relocated within or into a political subdivision of the 
state need not comply with the state energy code or section 
326.371 provided that, where available, an energy audit is 
conducted on the relocated building. 
    (j)  [AUTOMATIC GARAGE DOOR OPENING SYSTEMS.] The code must 
require all residential buildings as defined in section 325F.82 
to comply with the provisions of sections 325F.82 and 325F.83.  
    (k)  [EXIT SIGN ILLUMINATION.] The code must prohibit the 
use of incandescent bulbs, except for battery-powered back-up 
bulbs, in internally illuminated exit signs. 
    Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1990, section 299F.011, is 
amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
    Subd. 4c.  [EXIT SIGN ILLUMINATION.] The uniform fire code 
must prohibit the use of incandescent bulbs, except for 
battery-powered back-up bulbs, in internally illuminated exit 
signs. 
    Sec. 4.  [16B.165] [ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN BUILDING CODES.] 
    Subdivision 1.  [ENERGY EFFICIENCY.] By August 1, 1991, the 
commissioner of public service, in consultation with the 
commissioner of administration, shall solicit outside 
information under Minnesota Statutes, section 14.10, on proposed 
amendments to the Minnesota building code.  The commissioner 
shall begin rulemaking to adopt the amendments by February 1, 
1993.  So far as is compatible with interests of public health 
and safety, the amendments must be designed to equal or exceed 
the most energy-conserving codes adopted by any other state.  To 
the extent practicable, the codes must equal or exceed the model 
conservation standards proposed by the Pacific Northwest Power 
Planning Council for climate zones having 8,000 to 10,000 
heating degree days. 
    Subd. 2.  [ENERGY EFFICIENCY; COMMERCIAL HEATING, 
VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING.] By August 1, 1991, the 
commissioner of public service shall solicit outside information 
under Minnesota Statutes, section 14.10, on proposed codes or 
standards for commercial heating, ventilation, and air 
conditioning systems and installations to assure that new and 
remodeled commercial development in Minnesota is as energy 
efficient as practicable and compatible with public health and 
safety.  The commissioner shall begin rulemaking to adopt the 
codes by February 1, 1993. 
    Sec. 5.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
    Sections 2 and 3 are effective January 1, 1994, and apply 
to all internally illuminated exit signs in use on or after that 
date. 
    Presented to the governor May 20, 1991 
    Signed by the governor May 22, 1991, 5:55 p.m.