FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 2290

                         C 116 L 92

                     Synopsis As Enacted

Brief Description:  Regulating fire protection sprinkler system contractors.

By Representatives R. Meyers, Ferguson, Schmidt, Zellinsky, Winsley, Wilson, Paris and Sheldon; by request of Department of Community Development.

House Committee on Judiciary

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background:  A 1990 Washington law provides for the licensing of persons who install fire sprinkler systems.  To be licensed, a contractor must employ a holder of a certificate of competency issued by the state director of fire protection, must meet minimum insurance requirements, and must pay a license fee.

Summary:  It is a class C felony for a licensed sprinkler system contractor to maliciously construct, install, or maintain a fire sprinkler system in a way that threatens the safety of someone in a fire.  It is also a gross misdemeanor for an unlicensed fire sprinkler system contractor to construct, install, or maintain a system in any dwelling other than an owner-occupied, single-family dwelling.  However, a prime contractor or a building owner cannot be found criminally liable unless he or she is shown to have had actual knowledge of an illegal installation.

The state attorney general and county prosecutors are given authority to enforce the fire sprinkler system licensing law through civil proceedings.

The state director of fire protection is to adopt rules establishing a special category for general and specialty contractors who install underground systems that service fire protection sprinkler systems.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  89   0

Senate 43   4   (Senate amended)

House  96   0   (House concurred)

Effective:    March 31, 1992