HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1821

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                          Judiciary

Title:  An act relating to the fraudulent installation of fire protection sprinkle systems.

Brief Description:  Making the fraudulent installation of fire protection sprinkler systems a felony.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives R. Meyers, Ferguson, Schmidt, Zellinsky, Sheldon, Winsley, D. Sommers, Bowman, Paris, Miller, Riley, R. Johnson, Brough, Silver, Roland, Cooper, Horn, Chandler and Moyer.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Judiciary, March 5, 1991, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

JUDICIARY

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 1821 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 17 members:  Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Ludwig, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Minority Member; Paris, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Belcher; Broback; Forner; Hargrove; Inslee; R. Meyers; Mielke; H. Myers; Riley; Scott; D. Sommers; Tate; and Vance.

Staff:  Jeff Fishel (786-7191).

Background:  Under Washington law, various frauds and swindles are designated as crimes that range in seriousness from misdemeanors to felonies.

Persons convicted of class C felonies are subject to imprisonment for a maximum of five years, a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.  Persons convicted of a gross misdemeanor are subject to imprisonment of up to a year and a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.

Washington requires that a person or business must be licensed as a fire sprinkler contractor to install fire sprinkler systems.  Only the state director of fire protection may issue these licenses.  To qualify, the contractor must employ a holder of a certificate of competency, also issued by the state director of fire protection, meet minimum insurance requirements, and apply to the state director.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  A person is guilty of a class C felony if he or she willfully and maliciously constructs, installs, or maintains a fire sprinkler system and knows that the system is inoperable.

A person is also guilty of a class C felony if he or she willfully and knowingly impairs the operation of a sprinkler system.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill is not changed, but a section is added making a violation of the licensing requirements a gross misdemeanor.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Experience of fire inspectors in other states is that there is a potential for deliberate wrongdoing.  Inspections have shown systems hooked up to the test valve so tests are impossible to make.  An amendment to make licensing violations by fire sprinkler installers a gross misdemeanor was suggested.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Gordon Walgren, Washington Fire Chiefs Association (pro - with suggestions for an amendment); Paul O'Connor, Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board of Puget Sound (pro); and Otto Jensen, State Fire Chief (pro).