Dwelling unit standards: safe indoor air temperatures.

The California Building Standards Law provides for the adoption of building standards by state agencies by requiring all state agencies that adopt or propose adoption of any building standard to submit the building standard to the California Building Standards Commission for approval and adoption. In the absence of a designated state agency, the commission is required to adopt specific building standards, as prescribed. Existing law requires the commission to codify and publish all building standards of adopting agencies or state agencies that propose the building standards and statutes defining building standards into one California Building Standards Code, and further requires the commission to publish, or cause to be published, editions of the code in its entirety once every 3 years. This bill would require the commission, commencing with the next triennial edition of the California Building Standards Code adopted after January 1, 2023, to adopt, approve, codify, and publish mandatory building standards for safe maximum indoor air temperature in newly constructed dwelling units. The bill would require the Department of Housing and Community Development to develop and propose mandatory building standards for safe maximum indoor air temperature in existing dwelling units and would require the department and the commission to consult with stakeholders, as specified, in developing those standards. The bill would also state the intent of the Legislature regarding those standards. Existing law requires that any building with a dwelling unit maintain certain characteristics in order to be tenantable, including the maintenance of adequate heating that conforms to the standard of quality set by applicable law. Beginning one year after the California Building Standards Code includes the standards for safe maximum indoor air temperature in dwelling units described above, this bill would require that any building with a dwelling unit also maintain adequate cooling, as specified. The State Housing Law, which is administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development, prescribes standards for buildings used for human habitation and establishes definitions for this purpose. The law provides that a building, or a portion of it, in which certain conditions are found to exist, such as lack of heating, is substandard. The law provides that a violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor. Beginning one year after the California Building Standards Code includes the standards for safe maximum indoor air temperature in dwelling units described above, this bill would add that lack of cooling, as specified is a substandard condition. By expanding the definition of a crime, this bill would impose 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.