Fire protection: school inspection: fire alarm systems.

Existing law requires the chief of any city or county fire department or district providing fire protection services and the chief's authorized representative to inspect every building used as a public or private school within their jurisdiction, at least once a year, for the purpose of enforcing specified building regulations. Existing building regulations require a building owner to maintain the fire and life safety systems in an operable condition at all times and require a written record to be maintained and made available to the fire code official. This bill would require a public or private school to submit a copy of the record of maintenance, inspection, and testing of the fire alarm system to specified city or county fire officials, as provided. The bill would require city or county fire officials to review the record of maintenance, inspection, and testing of fire alarm systems, as provided, within a reasonable time. By imposing a new duty on a city or county fire official, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.