HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1660

                    As Passed Legislature

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:  By House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Lisk and Romero; by request of Governor Lowry).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Commerce & Labor:  2/16/95, 3/1/95 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/15/95, 63-32.

Senate Amended.

House Concurred.

Passed Legislature.

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 regulating 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 Bill:  The director of the Department of Labor and Industries may adopt rules, under 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.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of 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.