HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1234

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Commerce & Labor

Title:  An act relating to the board of plumbers.

Brief Description:  Modifying the size of the state advisory board of plumbers.

Sponsors:  Representatives Cairnes, Mason, Clements, Mulliken, Thompson, McMorris, Reams, Honeyford, Sterk, Kenney, Blalock, Cody, Keiser, Conway, Cooper, O'Brien, Tokuda, Dunshee, Wood, Fisher and Kastama.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Commerce & Labor:  2/3/97, 2/6/97 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives McMorris, Chairman; Honeyford, Vice Chairman; Conway, Ranking Minority Member; Wood, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Boldt; Clements; Cole; Hatfield and Lisk.

Staff:  Selwyn Walters (786-7117).

Background:  The state Advisory Board of Plumbers was created in 1973. The board has three members; a journeyman plumber, a person engaged in the plumbing business, and a member of the public with knowledge of the business and trade of plumbing.  The Governor appoints the members of the board for three-year staggered terms.

The board advises the director of the Department of Labor and Industries on rules regulating the trade of plumbing, and on criteria for examinations of persons who wish to engage in the plumbing trade.  The board may also conduct hearings on the revocation of a certificate of competency.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The membership of the board increases to five members. Added to the board are one additional journeyman and one additional member conducting a plumbing business.  The bill specifies expiration dates for each member.  The term of one journeyman member expires July 1, 1998, and the term of the other journeyman member expires July 1, 2000.  The term of one member conducting a plumbing business expires July 1, 1999, and the term of the other member conducting a plumbing business expires July 1, 2000.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Clarifies the expiration dates for the members of the board. The term of the second journeyman member expires July 1, 2000, and the term of the second journeyman member conducting a plumbing business expires July 1, 2000.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The additional members will enable the board to achieve a quorum, the result of which will be an increase in efficiency and output.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Dan Sexton, Washington State Building Trades.