January 26, 2011

Honorable ___________

Kansas State Capitol

10^th and Jackson

Topeka, Kansas 66612

RE:  House Bill 2088 – Residential Fire Protection Sprinkler Systems

Dear Representative ____________,

House Bill 2088, if passed, would prohibit cities from requiring fire sprinkler systems in residential structures.  As drafted, House Bill 2088 prohibits cities from requiring a residential “fire protection system”.  Fire protection systems, including smoke detectors (which are currently required in residential installation in the City of Lawrence) and sprinkler systems, are designed to protect occupants and fire fighters.  Instead of letting municipal governing bodies respond to their unique local conditions, this bill imposes an ill-fitting regulation that flies in the face of the long tradition of local self determination in this area.  A measure prohibiting cities from requiring fire sprinklers systems was introduced last year as House Bill 2515.  The provisions were incorporated into House Bill 2472 and adopted, with such prohibitions set to expire July 1, 2011.

The Lawrence City Commission asks that you not to support House Bill 2088 and let the current prohibitions expire.  Place your trust in the local deliberative process that has long promoted the public’s interest in fire protection.  The City of Lawrence does not currently have any requirement to sprinkle the occupancies in question.  If the time comes to consider such a requirement and weigh all the competing interests, however, there is no reason to believe that the Kansas Legislature’s judgment will be better informed, more fully considered or in any way superior to a judgment made at a local level.  Municipalities have the responsibility for fire protection and housing codes – not the Legislature.  This bill serves no legitimate purpose, and its passage would repudiate a central tenet of the home rule provision of the Kansas constitution, which is aimed at “giving to cities the largest measure of self-government.”

Sincerely,

Mike Amyx

Mayor

cc:      Local Legislative Delegation

          City Commission