U.S. House Passes Building Code Enforcement Grant Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives this week passed H.R. 4461, which would create a national grant program providing funding for local and state governments to enforce building code administration.  The bill, also known as “The Community Building Code Administration Grant Act,” was introduced by Representative Dennis Moore (D-KS).  

Considered in the House under a suspension of the rules and passed by unanimous voice vote, the bill provides for competitive awards up to $1 million by the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for development and implementation of building codes, hiring and training of code officials, and other code enforcement activities.

H.R. 4461 was passed with support from the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, American Insurance Association, and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America.  

A related bill, S.2458, introduced by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) has been read twice in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.  H.R. 4461 was referred to the same Senate Committee.

It was reported by National Underwriter magazine that, according to a 2005 study from the National Institute of Building Sciences, U.S. taxpayers save $4 in disaster assistance costs for every $1 of federal funds spent on mitigation.

To view the story in National Underwriter, click here. 

Should you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinksy & Abate.