SENATE BILL REPORT
SSB 6487
AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 15, 1994
Brief Description: Exempting espresso machines from boiler regulations.
SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce (originally sponsored by Senators Moore, Winsley and McAuliffe)
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6487 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Moore, Chairman; Prentice, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Deccio, Fraser, McAuliffe, Newhouse, Pelz, Prince, Sellar, Sutherland, Vognild and Wojahn.
Staff: Jonathan Seib (786‑7427)
Hearing Dates: January 31, 1994; February 4, 1994
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR
BACKGROUND:
Espresso coffee machines used in commercial coffee shops contain small boilers that have been determined to be subject to regulation and inspection by the state and some local jurisdictions.
There is concern that such regulation will serve little public benefit while imposing a substantial burden on small businesses, and not be the best use of limited government resources.
SUMMARY:
All electric boilers having a tank volume of not more than one and one-half cubic feet, with a maximum working pressure of 80 pounds per square inch or less, and meeting certain national or international standards are exempt from state boiler regulations.
Local jurisdictions are prohibited from regulating boilers exempt from state law by this act.
Appropriation: none
Revenue: none
Fiscal Note: none requested
TESTIMONY FOR:
Research has revealed few, if any, injuries have been caused by faulty boilers in espresso machines. Engineering studies indicate that the boilers pose little threat to public safety. Regulation would impose an unnecessary burden on many small businesses.
TESTIMONY AGAINST: None
TESTIFIED: Barbara Douma, John Blackwell, Espresso Specialists (pro)
HOUSE AMENDMENT(S):
It is clarified that the approval of a boiler by a foreign testing laboratory or code must be by a recognized laboratory or code.