Assemblymen Wisnewski, Hackett, and Scalera

WISNIEWSKI/HACKETT/SCALERA BILL REQUIRING COLLEGES TO
PURCHASE FIRE-RESISTANT FURNITURE ADVANCESA

(TRENTON) -- Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee today released legislation Assemblymen John S. Wisniewski, Mims Hackett, and Fred Scalera sponsored to require private and state colleges and universities to purchase fire-resistant furniture for all dormitories and classrooms.
The measure (A-1485) would aim to prevent dormitory fires, such as the infamous Seton hall dorm-fire, which killed three students and injured dozens of others in January of 2000.

"Unfortunately, the furniture purchased by many of New Jersey's colleges and universities is not fire-resistant," said Wisniewski (D-Middlesex). "Our institutions of higher education should be required to take fire safety into greater consideration when furnishing students' dormitories and classrooms."

The bill would direct the Commissioner of Community Affairs to require all furniture purchased by public and private colleges, universities, and institutions of higher learning to meet combustibility requirements specified by the California Bureau of Home Furnishings.

According to Essex County authorities, the Seton hall fire was started when a banner that was ripped off the wall was lit on-fire; the fire then spread through the student lounge area. The grand jury that later investigated the blaze cited the urgent need for state standards to require flame-resistant furniture in schools and universities.

"The fire at Seton hall was a tragedy because of the loss of young people could who could have been saved if the lounge had been furnished with fire-resistant furniture," said Hackett (D-Essex). "Fire-retardant furniture is a basic precaution that could potentially save countless lives in the event that a fire were to break-out a state college or university."

According to Eyewitness News, on the morning of March 30, 2006, the student lounge at Montclair State University sustained a fire that left two couches burned and dozens of students evacuated. Clifton officials are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire but suspect smoking.

"The recent fire at Montclair University underscores the immediate need to require fire-resistant furniture in New Jersey's student dorms and lounges," said Scalera (D-Essex), who also is Deputy Fire Chief of Nutley. "The fire at the university left two couches engulfed in flames and dozens of students evacuated from the school. We must take heed to the warnings -- now is the time to prevent any more students from becoming victims of fire."

The measure was released 6 to 0. It now goes to the Assembly Speaker, who decides if and when to post it for a floor vote.

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