SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 2240

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

          Labor, Commerce & Trade, February 22, 1996

Title:  An act relating to hazardous devices.

Brief Description:  Providing additional exemptions from state law for the handling of hazardous devices.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Sterk, Robertson, L. Thomas, Delvin and Carlson).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor, Commerce & Trade:  2/20/96, 2/22/96 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & TRADE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Pelz, Chair; Heavey, Vice Chair; A. Anderson, Deccio, Franklin, Fraser, Newhouse and Wojahn.

Staff:  Katie Healy (786-7403)

Background:  The Washington State Explosives Act governs the manufacture, possession, use, sale, and transportation of explosives.  The Department of Labor and Industries approves the use of explosives.  No person may manufacture, possess, store, sell, purchase, transport, or use explosives unless licensed by the department.

Specific uses are exempt from the explosives act and the regulations adopted by the department to implement the act.  For example, the normal and emergency operations of federal agencies, including the military, involving transportation, storage, and use of explosives are exempt.  Only emergency operations of state agencies, police, and any municipality or county involving such activities are exempt.

Some activities of explosive disposal (bomb) units operating within local governments may be subject to restriction in handling and storing explosives. 

Some training exercises conducted with explosive materials and other normal operations of the unit are restricted by regulations governing the handling and possession of explosives.

Summary of Bill:  Certain work by hazardous devices technicians is exempt from the state explosives act.  The type of work that is exempt includes normal and emergency operations, handling evidence, and operating and maintaining specially designed emergency response vehicles that carry no more than ten pounds of explosive material.  Training activities conducted by a hazardous devices technician whose employer possesses the minimum safety equipment prescribed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation are also exempt.  A hazardous devices technician is a person who has graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation hazardous devices school and who is employed by a state, county, or municipality.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill brings law enforcement agencies in compliance with the Department of Labor and Industries rules and regulations.  This is a limited exemption.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Mark Sterk, prime sponsor; Martin O'Leary, Spokane Sheriff's Office.