Bill > HB711

This bill amends the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act to update definitions and provide exemptions for certain residential care facilities. Specifically, the bill expands the definition of "autism" to include Asperger's disorder and autism spectrum disorder, and provides a comprehensive definition of "community home for individuals with an intellectual disability or autism" that excludes various types of residential facilities such as private family homes, foster care homes, summer camps, and facilities serving specific populations. The bill also clarifies the definition of "intellectual disability" by specifying impairments related to maturation, learning, and social adjustment. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of "relative" to include a broader range of family members. In terms of building code requirements, the bill exempts one-family and two-family dwellings used as community homes for individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism from heightened automatic fire sprinkler requirements typically applied to Group R-3 and Group R-4 occupancies in the 2018 International Building Code. The purpose appears to be providing more precise legal definitions and reducing regulatory burdens for certain residential care settings serving individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=711