SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6201

As Passed Senate, February 3, 2004

Title: An act relating to regulating liquified petroleum gas.

Brief Description: Regulating liquified petroleum gas.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water (originally sponsored by Senators Honeyford and Prentice).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Natural Resources, Energy & Water: 1/23/04, 1/28/04 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 2/3/04, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, ENERGY & WATER

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6201 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Morton, Chair; Hewitt, Vice Chair; Doumit, Fraser, Honeyford, Oke and Regala.

Staff: Richard Rodger (786-7461)

Background: It has been reported that unauthorized individuals have requested the filling of liquified petroleum containers, the owners of which are then billed for the costs of the fuel. Additionally, some containers have been emptied of their fuel, without the owner's consent, causing a financial loss to the owner.

Summary of Bill: Only the owner of a liquified petroleum gas container, or a person authorized in writing by the owner, may: (a) fill or refill a liquified petroleum gas container with liquified petroleum gas or any other gas or compound; or (b) deface, erase, obliterate, cover up, or otherwise remove or conceal any name, mark, initial, or device on a liquified petroleum gas container.

This provision does not apply to cylinders. A cylinder is defined as a portable container that has less than 239 pounds of water capacity and that is capable of storing liquified petroleum gas.

A violation of these provisions is punishable by a fine of $1,000 payable to the county where the violation occurs.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: Liquifiable gases are nontoxic and nonpolluting. The gas containers used for these gasses are usually owned by the gas distributor who sells the gas to their customers. This bill will help prevent unauthorized individuals from filling containers that do not belong to them, and will prevent damage from being inflicted on the equipment. The provisions of this bill have been adopted in 30 other states.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Mel Sorensen, Bob Labrouse, Northwest Propane Gas Association (pro).