MN HF1611

State fire marshal shall inspect all public, charter, private, and parochial school facilities once every three years, including two follow-up inspections or on-site consultations, with costs funded from the fire safety account rather than charged to school districts.

State fire marshal must complete initial inspections of all private and parochial schools within six years of February 2, 2017, or school establishment (whichever is later), with six years allowed for compliance with any fire safety orders.

Local units of government may continue providing inspections if they conducted them for public and charter schools between January 1, 1987 and January 1, 1990, or for private and parochial schools before February 2, 2017.

Commissioner of public safety shall establish a low-interest loan program providing up to $250,000 per applicant in interest-free loans with maximum six-year repayment terms to private and parochial schools for fire safety capital improvements ordered by the state fire marshal.

General fund appropriations are authorized for fiscal years 2018 and 2019 to fund the school facility fire safety loan program; repeals prior charter school inspection fee structure of $100 per building plus $50 per additional follow-up inspection.