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A 4266

Authorizes child care assistance to be made available to certain victims of domestic violence

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Brian Cunningham and 2 co-sponsors

Creates a new Fire Escape Contractor certification; only registered design professionals or staff of certified contractors may install, service, or inspect exterior fire escapes.

REFERRED TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
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Bill Summary · A 4266

Summary — A4266 (Cunningham) — Fire Escape Contractors; certification and work restrictions

Status: Introduced May 2, 2024; amended and reported out of Assembly Regulated Professions Committee (with committee amendments) Jan. 16, 2025; subsequently referred to Assembly Housing and then to Children and Families (Jan. 31, 2025). Companion: S2948. Prior-session related: A6016.

Main purpose

A4266 creates a new, regulated certification and work-authorization framework for persons and businesses that install, service, repair, inspect, or maintain exterior fire escapes. The bill narrows who may perform that work to (1) registered design professionals (architects or engineers) or (2) employees of businesses certified as "Fire Escape Contractors" by the Commissioner of Community Affairs.

Key provisions

  • Adds definitions to P.L.2001, c.289 (C.52:27D-25n et seq.), including:
    • "Fire escape" — an additional means of egress installed on an existing building when more than one exit is required and there is not sufficient space for an exterior stair within the lot line.
    • "Fire escape contractor" — a person or business that offers to undertake or does undertake installation, service, repair, inspection, or maintenance of fire escapes; such persons must be a licensed design professional or an employee of a certified fire escape contractor.
    • "Registered design professional" — an architect or engineer licensed/registered to practice in the state where the project will be constructed.
  • Restricts installation, service, repair, inspection, and maintenance of fire escapes so that only:
    • licensed/registered design professionals, or
    • employees of businesses certified as "Fire Escape Contractor" may perform that work.
  • Adds "Fire Escape Contractor" as a certified contractor classification to be issued by the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
  • Requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt rules and regulations establishing the certification process, standards, and related regulatory requirements for fire escape contractors.
  • Amends existing definitions and the scope of the fire protection equipment/contractor provisions in P.L.2001, c.289 to reflect the new treatment of fire escapes and the new certification class. Committee amendments removed earlier proposed changes to P.L.1975, c.217 and P.L.1983, c.383.

Who is affected

  • Architects and licensed engineers (registered design professionals) — explicitly authorized to perform the work.
  • Fire protection and exterior-stair contractors — those who work on fire escapes must obtain appropriate certification or employ certified individuals.
  • Business entities that install/maintain fire escapes — will need to secure the new "Fire Escape Contractor" certification.
  • Building owners, landlords, tenants, and local code enforcement/fire safety officials — may see changes in inspection, repair, and contracting practices and potential changes to compliance procedures.
  • The Department/Commissioner of Community Affairs — responsible for adopting implementing regulations and issuing certifications.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Safety and quality: centralizing authorization and certification aims to ensure qualified personnel perform structural/egress work on existing buildings.
  • Regulatory/compliance burden: contractors will face a new certification process and standards established by the Commissioner; costs and administrative burdens may rise for some providers.
  • Market effects: may narrow the pool of contractors eligible to perform fire escape work unless businesses obtain certification or retain licensed design professionals.
  • Implementation timeline depends on the Commissioner’s regulatory rulemaking following enactment.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Bill amends P.L.2001, c.289 (C.52:27D-25n et seq.). Committee-amended version reported Jan. 16, 2025.
  • Next steps: action by Assembly committees to which it has been referred (Housing; Children and Families) and further floor action; companion S2948 in the Senate follows its own path.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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