Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2019

To amend title 40, United States Code, to direct the Administrator of General Services to incorporate bird-safe building materials and design features into public buildings, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2019 2. Use of bird-safe building materials and design features (a) In general Chapter 33 3319. Use of bird-safe building materials and design features (a) Construction, alteration, and acquisition of public buildings Each public building constructed, acquired, or of which more than 50 percent of the facade is substantially altered (in the opinion of the Commissioner of Public Buildings) by the Administrator of General Services shall meet, to the maximum extent practicable, as determined by the Administrator, the following standards: (1) At least 90 percent of the exposed facade material from ground level to 40 feet— (A) shall not be composed of glass; or (B) shall be composed of glass employing— (i) elements that preclude bird collisions without completely obscuring vision, such as secondary facades, netting, screens, shutters, and exterior shades; (ii) ultraviolet (UV) patterned glass that contains UV-reflective or contrasting patterns that are visible to birds; (iii) patterns on glass designed in accordance with a rule that restricts horizontal spaces to less than 2 inches high and vertical spaces to less than 4 inches wide, commonly referred to as the 2 × 4 rule (iv) opaque, etched, stained, frosted, or translucent glass; or (v) any combination of the methods described in this subparagraph. (2) At least 60 percent of the exposed facade material above 40 feet shall meet the standard described in paragraph (1)(A) or (1)(B). (3) There shall not be any transparent passageways or corners. (4) All glass adjacent to atria or courtyards containing water features, plants, and other materials attractive to birds shall meet the standard described in paragraph (1)(B). (5) Outside lighting shall be appropriately shielded and minimized subject to security and other mission related requirements. (b) Monitoring The Administrator shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that actual bird mortality is monitored at each public building. (c) Existing buildings and lighting (1) In general The Administrator, where practicable and consistent with security and other mission related requirements, as determined by the Administrator, shall reduce exterior building and site lighting for each public building. This paragraph shall not apply to buildings in which the Administrator does not have control of the exterior building and site lighting. (2) Use of automatic control technologies In carrying out paragraph (1), the Administrator shall make use of automatic control technologies, including timers, photo-sensors, and infrared and motion detectors. (d) Additional methods In carrying out the requirements of this section, the Administrator may employ any available methods and strategies that are in accordance with existing effective best practices to reduce bird mortality. (e) Exception for significant cost The requirements of this section shall not apply to any acquisition or substantial alteration described in subsection (a) if the Administrator, after consideration of multiple options, determines that the use of the required building materials and design features would result in a significant additional cost for the project. (f) Exempt buildings This section shall not apply to— (1) any building or site listed, or eligible for listing, on the National Register of Historic Places; (2) the White House and its grounds; (3) the Supreme Court building and its grounds; or (4) the United States Capitol and its related buildings and grounds. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 33 3319. Use of bird-safe building materials and design features. .

Summary: Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2019 This bill requires each public building constructed, acquired, or of which more than 50% of the facade is substantially altered by the General Services Administration (GSA) to meet the following standards: at least 90% of the exposed facade material from ground level to 40 feet shall not be composed of glass or shall be composed of glass which employs any combination of the methods of modification described in this bill; at least 60% of the exposed facade material above 40 feet shall meet such modified glass standard; there shall not be any transparent passageways or corners; all glass adjacent to atria or courtyards containing water features, plants, and other materials attractive to birds shall meet the standard; and outside lighting shall be appropriately shielded and minimized subject to security and other mission related requirements. The GSA must (1) ensure that actual bird mortality is monitored at each public building; and (2) reduce exterior building and site lighting for each public building, where practicable and consistent with the requirements for outside lighting. The bill exempts from these requirements buildings and sites listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, the White House and its grounds, the Supreme Court building and its grounds, and the U.S. Capitol and its related buildings and grounds.