This legislation rolls all existing COLA's up and provides for a 5% COLA effective January 1, 2021.  Note:  The amounts listed in bill include all existing COLA's already awarded since 2006 to update the code, the only "new" salary increase is 5% on top of all the COLA's.

This bill stipulates that local governments shall treat/regulate battery-charged "fence detection systems" as they do other alarm systems as defined in law.  A fence detection system is an alarm system or electronic security system and ancillary components attached to the system that must be surrounded by a nonelectric perimeter fence or wall that is at least five feet tall and marked with conspicuous warning signs reading "Warning-Electric Fence".   These fences may only be deployed in industrial and commercial districts.    

This preemption legislation, following on the heels of HB 302 and SB 172, prohibits cities and counties from regulating any building material, product or construction practice for single-family homes if these are approved in the state minimum standard codes - unless permission is granted from an advisory committee at DCA through a lengthy building code amendment process. Residential building design standards for aesthetic purposes would not be allowed (even with the DCA committee's permission) since the only local building code amendments allowed under state law must be based solely on local climatic, geologic, topographic, or public safety factors.  ACCG opposes state preemption of local land use decisions, to include design standards, believing these decisions are best made at the local level by county commissioners elected by, and accountable to, the communities they serve.

To view ACCG and GMA's talking points on HB 937, please click here.