HJ0140 LRB094 21408 HSS 59767 r

1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Recent student housing fires in North Carolina,
3 Kansas, Alaska, Oregon, and Maryland have tragically cut short
4 the lives of some of the youth of our nation; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Since January 2000, at least 87 people, including
6 students, parents, and children, have died in campus-related
7 fires; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Almost 80 percent of these deaths have occurred in
9 off-campus occupancies; and
 
10     WHEREAS, A majority of the students across the nation live
11 in off-campus occupancies; and
 
12     WHEREAS, A number of fatal fires have occurred in buildings
13 where the fire safety systems have been compromised or disabled
14 by the occupants; and
 
15     WHEREAS, It is recognized that automatic fire alarm systems
16 provide the necessary early warning to occupants and the fire
17 department of a fire so that appropriate action can be taken;
18 and
 
19     WHEREAS, It is recognized that automatic fire sprinkler
20 systems are a highly effective method of controlling or
21 extinguishing a fire in its early stages, protecting the lives
22 of the building's occupants; and
 
23     WHEREAS, Many students are living in off-campus
24 occupancies, Greek housing, and residence halls that are not
25 adequately protected with automatic fire sprinkler systems and
26 automatic fire alarm systems; and
 
27     WHEREAS, It is recognized that fire safety education is an

 

 

HJ0140 - 2 - LRB094 21408 HSS 59767 r

1 effective method of reducing the occurrence of fires and
2 reducing the resulting loss of life and property damage; and
 
3     WHEREAS, Students are not routinely receiving effective
4 fire safety education throughout their entire college career;
5 and
 
6     WHEREAS, It is vital to educate the future generation about
7 the importance of fire safety behavior so that these behaviors
8 can help to ensure their safety during their college years and
9 beyond; and
 
10     WHEREAS, By developing a generation of fire-safe adults,
11 future loss of life from fires can be significantly reduced;
12 therefore, be it
 
13     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
14 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
15 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we name the month of September
16 as "Campus Fire Safety Month"; and be it further
 
17     RESOLVED, That administrators and municipalities across
18 the State are encouraged to provide educational programs to all
19 students during September and throughout the school year; and
20 be it further
 
21     RESOLVED, That administrators and municipalities are
22 encouraged to evaluate the level of fire safety being provided
23 in both on- and off-campus student housing and take the
24 necessary steps to ensure fire-safe living environments
25 through fire safety education, installation of fire
26 suppression and detection systems, and the development and
27 enforcement of applicable codes relating to fire safety.