H-0925.1          _______________________________________________

 

                                  HOUSE BILL 1535

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Cooper, Horn, Grant, May, R. Meyers, Hochstatter and Orr.

 

Read first time January 31, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Environmental Affairs.  Referred 2\5\91 to Committee on Energy & Utilities.Requiring radon testing.


     AN ACT Relating to radon testing required by the state building code council; adding a new section to chapter 19.27 RCW; and creating a new section.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.      The legislature has required the state building code council to establish interim requirements for the maintenance of indoor air quality, including requirements that in areas of the state where monitored data indicate action is necessary to inhibit indoor radon gas contamination from exceeding appropriate health standards, entry of radon gas into homes shall be minimized through appropriate foundation construction measures.

     The data available to identify the areas of the state where action is necessary is inadequate and incomplete.  An effective radon testing program is a worthwhile task for the state to undertake because the state would benefit from more complete data before long-term standards or requirements for radon mitigation are put in place in 1993.

     The task of gathering data will best be undertaken by a state agency and local governments and should not rely on private industry to be responsible for the gathering of such important information.  The possibility for error will decrease if a testing program is endorsed and supported by the credibility of state and local government.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 19.27 RCW to read as follows:

     The building code council shall administer a radon testing program for the state of Washington.  If radon test kits are required for newly constructed residential buildings, the building code council shall supply them.  The test kits may be distributed through the building departments of local governments, but neither the building code council nor any local government may require that kits be provided by private industry.

     Funding for radon test kits may be obtained from either state or federal funding sources.  If funding is not available, kits shall not be required for newly constructed residential buildings.