SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6586

As Passed Senate, February 12, 2004

Title: An act relating to requirements for electrical work on boilers.

Brief Description: Concerning electrical work on boilers.

Sponsors: Senators Honeyford and Prentice.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Commerce & Trade: 2/4/04, 1/30/04 [DP].

Passed Senate: 2/12/04, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & TRADE

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Honeyford, Chair; Hewitt, Vice Chair; Franklin, Keiser and Mulliken.

Staff: John Dziedzic (786-7784)

Background: The Board of Boiler Rules (Boiler Board) advises the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) on the regulation and inspection of boilers and unfired pressure vessels. The scope of these regulations does not extend to most electrical work on boilers.

The Electrical Board advises L&I regarding rules governing electrical installations and standards. These rules require electrical permits and inspections for all new boiler installations and major conversions of boiler systems. Although most routine electrical maintenance work on boilers is exempt from these permitting and inspection requirements, such work must be performed only by licensed electrical contractors and certified electricians.

Chapter 399, Laws of 2003 provided that, until July 1, 2004, L&I must stop enforcing the licensing, certification, inspection and permitting requirements, "as applied to maintenance work on the electrical controls of a boiler performed by an employee of a service company." That legislation also directed the Boiler Board and the Electrical Board to "jointly evaluate whether electrical licensing, certification, inspection, and permitting requirements" should apply to such maintenance work. The boards were directed to submit their "joint findings and recommendations" to the Legislature by December 1, 2003.

The boards jointly submitted a report containing findings, but it contains no recommendations.

Summary of Bill: The July 1, 2004, ending date of the enforcement moratorium is postponed to July 1, 2005. The boards are redirected to report their joint findings and recommendations on the issues posed to them by December 1, 2004.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: The Boiler Board and the Electrical Board need more time to work through the many intricate issues involved in protecting the health and safety of workers and the public with regard to this area, where two independently hazardous activities come together. There should be a way for this industry to efficiently interact with one part of the Department of Labor and Industries, instead of two. This bill allows the two boards to continue to work on this important subject.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Gary Smith, Independent Business Association; Collin Smith, Sheet Metal Local 66.