I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3250 
To establish the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones Fire Suppression Dem-
onstration Incentive Program within the Department of Education to 
promote installation of fire sprinkler systems, or other fire suppression 
or prevention technologies, in qualified student housing and dormitories, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 24, 2011 
Ms. FUDGE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To establish the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones Fire Sup-
pression Demonstration Incentive Program within the 
Department of Education to promote installation of fire 
sprinkler systems, or other fire suppression or prevention 
technologies, in qualified student housing and dor-
mitories, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Honorable Stephanie 
Tubbs Jones College Fire Prevention Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROVED FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM.— 
The term ‘‘approved fire suppression system’’ means 
a fire suppression system that— 
(A) meets with applicable codes and stand-
ards for the jurisdiction where it is being in-
stalled, or the standards promulgated by na-
tional model code organizations such as the Na-
tional Fire Protection Association or the Inter-
national Code Council; 
(B) ensures that the safety of students 
with disabilities is met; and 
(C) may include— 
(i) an automatic fire sprinkler system; 
(ii) a fire and smoke alarm and detec-
tion system; and 
(iii) a mass communication system 
that can be used in the event of a fire, dis-
aster, or other emergency. 
(2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 102 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002). 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Education. 
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SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HONORABLE STEPHANIE 
TUBBS 
JONES 
FIRE 
SUPPRESSION 
DEM-
ONSTRATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM. 
(a) GRANTS.—The Secretary, in consultation with 
the United States Fire Administration, shall establish a 
demonstration program to award grants on a competitive 
basis to any eligible entity for the purpose of installing 
approved fire suppression systems in student housing and 
dormitories owned or controlled by that eligible entity. 
(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—In this Act, the term ‘‘eligi-
ble entity’’ means any of the following: 
(1) An institution of higher education, including 
an institution eligible to receive assistance under 
part A or B of title III or title V of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1057 et seq.; 20 
U.S.C. 1060 et seq.; 20 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.). 
(2) A social fraternity or sorority exempt from 
taxation under section 501(a) of the Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501(a)), the active 
membership of which consists primarily of students 
in attendance at an institution of higher education. 
(c) SELECTION PRIORITY.—In making grants under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to eligible 
entities that demonstrate the greatest financial need. 
(d) RESERVED AMOUNTS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Of the amount made avail-
able to the Secretary for grants under this section 
for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall award— 
(A) not less than 10 percent to eligible en-
tities that are institutions described in sub-
section (b)(1) that are eligible to receive assist-
ance under part A or B of title III or title V 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1057 et seq.; 20 U.S.C. 1060 et seq.; 20 
U.S.C. 1101 et seq.); and 
(B) not less than 10 percent to eligible en-
tities that are social fraternities and sororities 
described in subsection (b)(2). 
(2) PLAN REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall de-
velop a plan to inform entities described in subpara-
graphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) that such enti-
ties may be eligible to apply for grants under this 
section. 
(3) INSUFFICIENT
APPLICANTS.—If the Sec-
retary determines that there are an insufficient 
number of qualified applicants to award the reserved 
amounts required in accordance with paragraph (1), 
the Secretary shall make available the remainder of 
such reserved amounts for use by other eligible enti-
ties. 
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(e) APPLICATION.—To seek a grant under this sec-
tion, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the 
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied 
by such information as the Secretary may require. 
(f) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—As a condition of re-
ceipt of a grant under subsection (a), the eligible entity 
shall provide (directly or through donations from public 
or private entities) non-Federal matching funds in an 
amount equal to not less than 50 percent of the cost of 
the activities for which assistance is sought. 
(g) SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.—Funds made 
available under this program shall be used to supplement, 
not supplant, other funds that would otherwise be ex-
pended to carry out fire safety activities. 
(h) LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.— 
Not more than 2 percent of a grant made under subsection 
(a) may be expended for administrative expenses with re-
spect to the grant. 
(i) REPORTS.—Not later than 12 months after the 
date of the first award of a grant under this section and 
annually thereafter until completion of the program, the 
Secretary shall provide to Congress a report that in-
cludes— 
(1) the number and types of eligible entities re-
ceiving assistance under this section; 
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(2) the amount of assistance received under this 
section, the amount and source of non-Federal fund-
ing leveraged for activities under grants under this 
section, and any other relevant financial information; 
(3) the number and types of student housing 
fitted with fire suppression or prevention tech-
nologies with assistance under this section, and the 
number of students protected by such technologies; 
(4) the types of fire suppression or prevention 
technologies installed with assistance under this sec-
tion, and the costs of such technologies; 
(5) identification of any Federal, State, or local 
policy that presents an impediment to the develop-
ment and installation of fire suppression or preven-
tion technologies; and 
(6) any other information determined by the 
Secretary to be useful to evaluating the overall effec-
tiveness of the program established under this sec-
tion in improving the fire safety of student housing. 
(j) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 
2012 through 2014. 
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SEC. 4. ADMISSIBILITY AS EVIDENCE. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law and subject to subsection (b), any application 
for assistance under this Act, any negative determination 
on the part of the Secretary with respect to such applica-
tion, or any statement of reasons for the determination, 
shall not be admissible as evidence in any proceeding of 
any court, agency, board, or other entity. 
(b) EXCEPTION.—This section does not apply to the 
admission of an application, determination, or statement 
described in subsection (a) as evidence in a proceeding to 
enforce an agreement entered into between the Secretary 
and an eligible entity under section 3. 
Æ 
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