SB136 Summary

• Excludes prefabricated storm shelters without electrical, plumbing, heating, or utility service lines from Title 24 building code requirements if they meet FEMA standards and include engineer-stamped construction plans.

• Requires construction plans to include a conspicuous statement certifying compliance with current FEMA and International Code Council (ICC-500) standards on the first blueprint page.

• Mandates shelter blueprints list occupancy capacity for standing adults (5 SF/person), wheelchair users (10 SF/person), and bedridden people per FEMA and ICC-500 standards.

• Requires all resident and nonresident prefabricated storm shelter manufacturers selling in Alabama to post a $20,000 annual surety bond with the Alabama Emergency Management Agency conditioned on compliance with shelter requirements.

• Grants Alabama Emergency Management Agency oversight authority over all storm shelters and authority to conduct random inspections of residential shelters with capacity of 16 people or fewer at no cost to manufacturers or consumers.