FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6649

C 137 L 04

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Retaining fees for mobile/manufactured homes and factory built housing and commercial structures.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Financial Services, Insurance & Housing (originally sponsored by Senators Benton, Keiser, Berkey and Winsley; by request of Department of Labor & Industries).

Senate Committee on Financial Services, Insurance & Housing

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background: In 2001 the Legislature created a joint legislative task force to review the regulation of mobile/manufactured home alteration and repair. In 2002 the Legislature supported the task force's recommendations and encouraged the relevant agencies to conduct a pilot project to test an interagency coordinated system for processing mobile/manufactured home alteration permits. As part of implementing the pilot project, the Department of Labor and Industries was authorized to adopt a temporary statewide fee schedule, allowing the department to restructure its fees and billing process.

The temporary fee schedule decreased fees for mobile/manufactured home alteration permits and increased fees for plan review and inspection services for factory-built housing and commercial structures. These fee increases were allowed to exceed the fiscal growth factor by up to 40 percent, as necessary, to fund the cost of administering the factory-assembled structures program. Indigent permit applicants may obtain a fee waiver for mobile/manufactured home alteration permits.

On April 1, 2004, the department's authority to adopt a temporary fee schedule expires. After expiration, the department must adopt the fee schedule that was in place prior to the temporary pilot schedule, adjusted for inflation.

Summary: The expiration date for the department's authority to adopt statewide fee schedules is extended from April 1, 2004, to April 1, 2009. Therefore, the department may continue to operate under the fee schedule system currently in use and is not required to revert back to the fee schedule that was in place prior to the temporary schedule established in 2002.

The department's authority to increase fees above the fiscal growth factor is removed.

It is clarified that the bill's purpose is not related to a pilot project and that indigent applicants may continue to obtain fee waivers for mobile/manufactured home alteration permits.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       48  0

House       92  3    (House amended)

Senate       48  0    (Senate concurred)

Effective: March 31, 2004