SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESHB 2313

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

              Commerce & Labor, February 26, 1998

Title:  An act relating to enforcement of the elevator and other conveyances law.

Brief Description:  Revising the regulation of elevators, escalators, and other conveyances.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Wood, Boldt and Conway; by request of Department of Labor & Industries).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Commerce & Labor:  2/24/98, 2/26/98 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Schow, Chair; Horn, Vice Chair; Franklin, Fraser, Heavey and Newhouse.

Staff:  Genevieve Pisarski (786-7488)

Background:  Various kinds of conveyances are regulated by the Department of Labor and Industries to assure public and worker safety.

Conveyances in grain elevators and grain terminals are inspected by the workplace safety and health program.

A limited use permit allows temporary use of construction elevators.

Conveyances in private residences are exempt from annual inspections.

If a conveyance is found to be unsafe and is not repaired, it can be ordered out of operation or lose its permit.

Summary of Bill:  "Elevating device" is added to the definition of "conveyance" and a set of specific definitions of different elevating devices is added.

Responsibility for inspecting conveyances located in grain elevators is returned to the elevator program.

A "limited use" permit allows use for construction personnel, tools, and materials only.

Private residence conveyances are exempt from an operating permit, unless requested.

The Department of Labor and Industries is authorized to assess penalties if owners fail to correct violations within ninety days of notification or fail to submit official notification of corrections made.

The department cannot impose new fees or increase existing fees without prior approval of the Legislature.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  The new section requiring prior legislative approval of fees must be removed.  It will hinder timely response to need.  Fees are necessary to cover program costs.

Testified:  CON:  Jan Gould, L&I; Don Habben, Sound Elevator Co.; Gary Shively, Elevator Constructors Local #19.