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City Council Targets Schools with Big Budget Boosts in Bid to Enhance Fire Safety Requirements

Official:Amending Subcode "A" (The Philadelphia Administrative Code) of Title 4 (The Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code) of The Philadelphia Code, by amending Section A-703, entitled "Special Certificate of Inspection," to enhance building safety requirements for educational occupancies, all under certain terms and conditions.

Sponsor: Councilmember Green

Introduced: November 15, 2018

: Committee on Licenses and Inspections

housing public healthschool safety

No one voted on this bill

This bill was introduced in the 2016–2019 Council term and when that term ran out. The public record shows no committee vote and no floor vote at any stage, so no member of Council ever went on record for or against it.

That is not unusual here. Of the 8,465 bills introduced between 2000 and 2025, 1,624 lapsed without a single recorded vote. Ninety percent of bills that became law carry a roll call. Three percent of lapsed bills do. How this works.

Plain-Language Summary

This bill requires schools owned by entities that receive significant city funding to have a special inspection certificate before occupying their buildings, ensuring they meet fire safety and environmental regulations.

What This Bill Does

AI-written. Every figure is checked against the bill text.

Requires schools owned by entities that receive significant city funding to obtain a special inspection certificate before occupying their buildings.
Requires the special inspection certificate to ensure compliance with fire safety and environmental regulations, including inspections for fire, safety, electrical, lead paint, water quality, asbestos, mold, and other property-related hazards.
Prohibits the City from issuing a special certificate of inspection unless the building has been inspected for the aforementioned hazards.
Applies the new requirement to structures in Group E occupancy, which is defined as Educational occupancy in Subcode "B" of Title 4.