HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1590

BYRepresentatives Cooper, Beck, Nutley, J. Williams, Sutherland, Holm, Todd and Unsoeld

Certifying mobile home installers.

House Committe on Housing

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Nutley, Chair; Leonard, Vice Chair; Armstrong, Barnes, Padden, Sanders, Todd, J. Williams and Wineberry.

House Staff:Charlie Gavigan (786-7340)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HOUSING JANUARY 28, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The state of Washington enacted the State Building Code in 1985, incorporating several national codes, including the Uniform Building Code, the Uniform Fire Code, and the Uniform Plumbing Code.  These codes are administered by the State Building Code Council and enforced by the state and local government.  A permit system is a part of the enforcement process, as is mandatory inspections.  Generally, electrical permits are issued and inspected by the state Department of Labor and Industries, while other permits, such as building permits, plumbing permits, and water permits are issued and inspected by the local government.

Contractors are licensed by statute to build, repair, remodel, demolish, or otherwise work on structures pursuant to a building or other permit.  Some contractors are general contractors, which means they employ specialty contractors, while other contractors are specialty contractors.  A specialty contractor is not a general contractor and usually focuses on a specific skill, such as an electrician or a plumber.  A certificate of competency or other proof of the necessary knowledge or expertise is required by statute for some specialty contractors.

Mobile homes or manufactured homes are built in factories, the construction of which, since 1976, has been regulated by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.  These homes are built with wheel chassis and are generally moved to a site on the public highways.  Once at the site, the wheels, hitch, and axles are often removed to make the home more permanent.  The home must be installed at the site by the owner, a contractor, or the dealer or manufacturer.

The Department of Labor and Industries has enacted standards for the installation of mobile homes on sites. These standards are not part of the state building codes.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  A contractor who installs a mobile home on a site must be a licensed contractor as required by statute and must also have a certificate of competency from the Department of Labor and Industries (the department).  This certificate is to demonstrate that the contractor has the knowledge necessary to properly install a mobile home.

The department, with the assistance of a present advisory committee, is to develop an examination.  The department may enact rules necessary to carry out the issuance and administration of the certificate of competency, including conducting investigations and revoking the certificate.

Contractors who are properly licensed and are engaged in the business of installing mobile homes when the proposed legislation takes effect are not required to have the certificate of competency for one year after the department develops procedures for the issuance of the certificate.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Procedures for investigating and addressing violations are provided, including notice of the violation and a hearing before an administrative law judge.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 18, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Ron Clarke, Washington Manufactured Housing Association; Jim Barber.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Contractors who are familiar with the building codes are not always familiar with standards on installing mobile homes.  Some mobile homes are installed improperly because of a lack of knowledge or expertise.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.