MN HF2537

Amends Minnesota Statutes to add "places of public accommodation" to fire safety requirements, defining them as publicly or privately owned facilities designed for 200+ occupants, rented for money or services, accessible to persons with disabilities, and allowing alcohol, excluding lodging houses, hospitals, hotels, nursing homes, schools, places of worship, and congressionally chartered veterans organizations.

Requires all places of public accommodation to comply with State Fire Code including automatic smoke detection connected to commercial fire alarm systems, prohibition of open flames within 20 feet of buildings except for food service, smoking bans within 20 feet, structural soundness analysis for wedding receptions, and automatic fire sprinkler systems in new facilities.

Mandates state fire marshal to inspect every place of public accommodation once every three years at a triennial fee of 15 cents per square foot, with the fee including two follow-up inspections or consultations and five cents per square foot charged for additional necessary follow-up inspections.

Requires owners or operators to provide copies of the most recent fire inspection report upon request to persons desiring to hold events at the facility.

Creates a dedicated state fire marshal places of public accommodation inspection account in the special revenue fund and annually appropriates all collected fees to the commissioner of public safety to operate and administer the inspection program.