The Missouri Senate has voted to delay a sprinkler system mandate for residential care centers that was adopted after a deadly fire in November 2006.
Eleven people were killed in the fire at the Anderson Guest House for the mentally ill and disabled in southwest Missouri. The facility was not equipped with sprinklers.
The next year, the Legislature passed a bill requiring nursing, assisted living and residential care facilities with at least 20 beds to install sprinklers by the end of 2012.
The Senate gave initial approval Monday to legislation moving the deadline by two years to Dec. 31, 2014. There was no debate on the change. The legislation needs another Senate vote to move to the House.
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Sprinkler bill is SB118.
Online:
Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov