SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1660

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

            Labor, Commerce & Trade, March 28, 1995

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

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor, Commerce & Trade:  3/20/95, 3/28/95 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & TRADE

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Pelz, Chair; Fraser, Hale, Newhouse and Palmer.

Staff:  Traci Ratzliff (786-7452)

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 Amended Bill:  The director may 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.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The provision allowing the department to adopt rules providing for the approval of products that are certified as meeting a national consensus code is deleted.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This bill is a product of the regulatory reform task force.  It will give the Department of Labor and Industries the ability to manage its workload more efficiently by allowing the department to certify third party contractors who can approve plans for mobile homes, commercial coaches, recreational vehicles and factory built structures.

Testimony Against:  The bill would compromise the safety and protection of citizens by contracting out the approval of plans for mobile homes, etc. to third party individuals who may not be qualified to approve such plans.

Testified:  Mike Watson, Deputy Director, Dept. of Labor and Industries (pro); Dan Sexton, Plumber and Pipefitters, Compliance and Inspection Personnel, Dept. of Labor and Industries (con); Dick King, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 46 (con).