FINAL BILL REPORT

                                   SSB 5322

                                  C 139 L 91

                              SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Permitting emergency exemptions from building codes.

SPONSORS:Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Senators Conner, Rasmussen, Snyder, Pelz and McCaslin).

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING

BACKGROUND:

Vacant buildings occasionally become available that could be converted into emergency shelters or transitional housing of some type.  Under current law such use can occur only if the buildings are brought in compliance with the State Building Code, and local variations, relating to residential occupancy.

SUMMARY:

Local government legislative authorities are allowed to exempt certain buildings from State Building Code requirements whose use or occupancy has been changed in order to provide shelter and housing for homeless people.

The exemption must be limited to existing buildings and resulting code deficiencies must pose no threat to human life, safety, or health.  The building must be owned or administered by a public agency or nonprofit corporation.  The exemption is limited to a five-year duration, but can be renewed by the same procedure.  The State Building Code Council is required to adopt guidelines for cities and counties who wish to exempt buildings.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate      44    3

House 87    0

EFFECTIVE:July 28, 1991