SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5575

              As Passed Senate, February 7, 2000

Title:  An act relating to membership on the state building code council.

Brief Description:  Adding an ex officio member to the building code council.

Sponsors:  Senators Haugen, Johnson, Patterson and T. Sheldon; by request of Washington State Patrol.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  2/8/99, 2/11/99 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/17/99, 45-0; 2/7/00, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, Kline and McCaslin.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  The State Building Code Council adopts and maintains the various codes that constitute the State Building Code.  Among other responsibilities, the council must approve or deny all county or city amendments to the State Building Code to the extent the amendments apply to single or multifamily (as defined) residential buildings.  The council may issue advisory opinions relating to the codes at the request of a local official charged with the duty to enforce the codes.

The State Building Code Council consists of 15 members, two of whom must be county- elected legislative body members or elected executives and two of whom must be city-elected legislative body members or mayors.  One member must be a local government building code enforcement official and one of the members must be a fire service official.  Representation of specialists is also specified.  Ex-officio, nonvoting members include two members of the House of Representatives, one from each caucus, and two members of the Senate, one from each caucus, as well as an employee of the Electrical Division of the Department of Labor and Industries.

Summary of Bill:  The State Director of Fire Protection within the Washington State Patrol is added to the State Building Code Council as an ex-officio nonvoting member.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The state director should be on the council and attend its meetings.  Fire prevention is becoming a priority concern and we need that added expertise and viewpoint.

Testimony Against:  The State Building Code Council is finely balanced and the Director of Fire Protection=s views can always be sought.

Testified:  PRO:  Tim Nogler, State Building Code Council; Eric Robertson, WSP; Mark Triplett, WA State Assn. of Building Officials; CON:  Dick Ducharme, BIAW.