HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1660
As Reported By House Committee On:
Commerce & Labor
Title: An act relating to department of labor and industries inspections and approvals.
Brief Description: Authorizing the director of labor and industries to issue approvals based on national consensus codes and external professional certification.
Sponsors: Representatives Lisk and Romero; by request of Governor Lowry.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Commerce & Labor: 2/16/95, 3/1/95 [DPS].
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Lisk, Chairman; Hargrove, Vice Chairman; Thompson, Vice Chairman; Cairnes; Fuhrman; Goldsmith and Horn.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 4 members: Representatives Romero, Ranking Minority Member; Conway, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cody and Cole.
Staff: Chris Cordes (786-7117).
Background: The Department of Labor and Industries administers and enforces statutes requiring inspection of electrical work in construction projects. The department also regulates the body and frame design, and the installation of plumbing, heating, and electrical equipment in mobile homes, commercial coaches, and recreational vehicles. For factory built housing and commercial structures, the department must assure structural soundness and the safety of the plumbing, heating, and electrical systems.
The department is authorized to adopt rules to implement these requirements and to make inspections as necessary to enforce the requirements.
Summary of Substitute Bill: In carrying out inspections and approvals under the electrical inspection statute, the director of the Department of Labor and Industries is authorized to adopt rules that provide for approval of products that have been certified as meeting a national consensus code, if the national code meets or exceeds Washington standards.
The director may also adopt rules, with respect to the statutes regulating the manufacturing of mobile homes, commercial coaches, recreational vehicles, and factory built structures, that permit the approval of plans that are certified as meeting state requirements by a professional who is licensed or certified in a state whose licensure or certification requirements meet or exceed Washington requirements.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The substitute bill changes the new rule authority relating to the electrical inspection statute by limiting the new rules to those that would allow approval of products certified as meeting an approved national consensus code. With respect to the statutes regulating manufacturing of mobile homes, recreational vehicles, and factory built structures, the new rule authority is limited to rules that provide for approval of a plan that is certified by an approved professional.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: This bill would allow the Department of Labor and Industries to concentrate their efforts in the places that need the most work and relieve them of repeating work now being performed by others. It gives the department flexibility in determining the products or the experts that meet state standards. This would result in more timely plan reviews by the department. The proposal is a product of the regulatory reform task force.
Testimony Against: The bill is too broad and could result in deregulation of the manufacturing of mobile homes, recreational vehicles and factory built structures.
Testified: (In favor) Jerry Walden, NortHomes Modular Homes; Robert Harrison, Evergreen Mobile Company; Ross May, Evergreen Modular Homes; and Mike Watson, Department of Labor and Industries. (Opposed) Dan Sexton, Washington State Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters.