HOUSE BILL REPORT

                      HB 2673

                     As Reported By House Committee on:

                                  Housing

Title:  An act relating to building codes.

Brief Description:  Concerning residential buildings moved into a city or county.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Hargrove and Nelson.

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Housing, February 5, 1992, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HOUSING

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 7 members:  Representatives Nelson, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Mitchell, Ranking Minority Member; Winsley, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Ballard; Leonard; and Ogden.

Staff:  Kenny Pittman (786-7392).

Background:  The state building code and state energy code are comprehensive technical documents used to provide minimum standards for the construction, alteration, moving, demolition, repair, use, and energy efficiency of all buildings or structures in the state.  Counties, cities and towns are responsible for enforcement of the state building code and the state energy code.

The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) has general responsibility for the development and enforcement of the state electrical code.  This includes establishing the electrical wiring requirements for all types of residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings or structures.  Only cities and towns, with L&I approval, may enforce the requirements of the state electrical code.

In 1989, the Legislature revised both the construction and energy standards so that residential buildings or structures moved into or within a county, city or town would not be required to meet all of the requirements of the latest editions of the uniform codes that comprise the state building code and the requirements of the state energy code.  The exemption only applied to moved buildings or structures: (a) that meet existing building or energy codes at the time the building or structure was built; and (b) where the original occupancy of the building or structure was not changed as a result of the move.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Residential buildings or structures that are moved into or within a county, city or town are not required to meet all of the requirements of the latest edition of the state electrical code.  The exemption from the latest code requirements applies to moved buildings or structures: (a) that meet the requirement of existing electrical codes at the time the building or structure was built; and (b) where the original occupancy of the building or structure was not changed as a result of the move.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute bill places the language that exempts moved buildings from all the requirements of the latest edition of the state electrical code in the correct statute.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Moved structures are a source of affordable housing.  The Legislature addressed part of the problem of excessive building and energy code requirements being applied to a moved structure in 1989.  Now it appears that the electrical code requirements for moved buildings need to be addressed.  This bill does that.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Hargrove, Sponsor (pro); and Chuck Monroe, Monroe House Movers (pro).