Sen. Glassman’s Senate Bill 948 – Modular Home Sprinkler Code Update, Advances to House Floor for Full Vote

From the office of Sen. Barry Glassman:

Senator Barry Glassman’s Senate Bill 948 – Modular Home Sprinkler Code Update received a favorable report on April 6th by the House Environmental Matters Committee. Glassman’s bill was passed with a unanimous vote on the Senate Floor on March 24th. This bill will now move to the House Chamber where it will face a full floor vote.

Modular homes are permitted under the State Department of Housing and Community Development under an international residential code. Several Harford County families applied prior to the January 1, 2011 effective date, but have since been informed that the State was interpreting the statute to read the date of issuance of the permit, not the application date which Harford County recognizes. This unfortunate situation has left numerous Harford families with homes being constructed without the required residential sprinkler systems installed and placed on hold at the factories.

If Senate Bill 948 passes in the House Chamber and is signed into law, it will grandfather in those families that are directly affected by the current code. Senator Glassman feels that it is unfortunate that these Harford Countians are stuck between the State and Local interpretations of the code.