Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department of labor and industries (L&I) is considering changes and a fee increase in the elevator rules, chapter 296-96 WAC, Safety regulations and fees for all elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators and other conveyances.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: L&I is considering changes to the elevator rules to improve public safety, based on a review of the rules and proposals from stakeholders. The changes under consideration would update and clarify existing rules, increase fees, make housekeeping and other rule changes.

During 2018, L&I engaged in rule making that adopted new safety codes and made changes to the licensing rules. During the past 2018 process, L&I received proposals from stakeholders for additional potential rule revisions.

On January 22, 2019, L&I filed a preproposal statement of inquiry (CR-101) to initiate rule making to address requests from stakeholders held over from the past 2018 rule-making process and to further update and clarify the existing rules (WSR 19-03-162). The CR-101 listed specific sections of chapter 296-96 WAC under consideration for possible changes.

Washington's elevator stakeholders were invited to participate in the review of the existing rules, submit proposals for changes to the rules, and provide recommendations to the department regarding possible rule changes.

In April and May 2019, a technical advisory committee (TAC) of industry experts and the elevator safety advisory committee (ESAC) reviewed proposals and provided recommendations to the department on adoption of the rules.

Since some of the recommended changes where [were] outside the scope of the CR-101 filed on January 22, 2019, the CR-101 was withdrawn. L&I is filing this new CR-101 to expand the scope of the rule making to include consideration of the department, TAC, and ESAC 2019 recommended changes and other possible changes to chapter 296-96 WAC that may be identified during this rule-development process. This rule making will also consider increasing fees by 5.08 percent to support operating expenses for inspections and other public safety activities for the elevator program. This is the office of financial management's maximum allowable fiscal growth factor rate for fiscal year 2020.

Process for Developing New Rule: Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rules and formulation of the proposed rules before publication by contacting the individual listed below. The public can also participate, after amendments are proposed by providing written comments and/or testimony during the public hearing and comment process.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Alicia Curry, Field Services and Public Safety Division, Department of Labor and Industries, P.O. Box 44400, Olympia, WA 98504-4400, phone 360-902-6244, fax 360-902-5292, email Alicia.Curry@Lni.wa.gov, website http://www.Lni.wa.gov.