Fire Sprinkler Legislation in the State Legislature

The South Carolina Legislature is pushing for safer buildings.  Both the Senate and the House have bills concerning fire sprinkler systems.   S921, S860, and H4470 all deal with fire sprinkler systems.
 
H4470, introduced in the House of Representatives, is a bill amending the Code of Laws of South Carolina by Adding Section 12-6-3680, which will allow a tax credit for the purchase, installation, or improvement of a fire sprinkler system.  This bill was first introduced on January 15, 2008 and is currently being reviewed by the Senate Committee on Finance.

S860, introduced by the Senate, much like H4470 amends the code of law of South Carolina by adding section 12-6-3622 to allow a state income tax credit for a portion of the expenses of installing or improving a fire protection sprinkler system in a commercial structure in which such a system is not required.  This bill was introduced in December of 2007, and is currently under review by the Senate committee on Labor, Commerce, and Industry.  Both S860 and H4470 will encourage building owners to improve their fire sprinkler system by helping with such a costly procedure.

S921, also introduced by the Senate, will amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina by adding section 40-10-310 to provide that all Commercial and Industrial Buildings must have an installed and functioning fire sprinkler system.  This amendment also calls for a state income tax credit equal to the costs incurred by a taxpayer in installing a fire sprinkler system.  This bill was introduced late last year; and now is being reviewed by the committee on Labor, Commerce, and Industry.

Each of these bills are trying to encourage business to make sure their fire safety sprinklers are up to date, and if they do not have a fire sprinkler system to install one.  All of these bills help bear the burden of cost in upgrading or adding a fire sprinkler system.