BILL REQ. #:  H-3969.1 

Read first time 01/20/2004.   Referred to Committee on Local Government.

     AN ACT Relating to the state building code; and amending RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.110.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 19.27.031 and 2003 c 291 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, there shall be in effect in all counties and cities the state building code which shall consist of the following codes which are hereby adopted by reference:
     (1)(a) The International Building Code, published by the International Code Council(([,])), Inc.;
     (b) The International Residential Code, published by the International Code Council, Inc.;
     (2) The ((International)) Uniform Mechanical Code, published by the International ((Code Council[,] Inc., except that the standards for liquified petroleum gas installations shall be NFPA 58 (Storage and Handling of Liquified Petroleum Gases) and ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54 (National Fuel Gas Code))) Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials;
     (3) The ((International)) Uniform Fire Code, published by the ((International Code Council[,] Inc., including those standards of the)) National Fire Protection Association ((specifically referenced in the International Fire Code: PROVIDED, That,)). However, notwithstanding any wording in this code, participants in religious ceremonies shall not be precluded from carrying hand-held candles;
     (4) Except as provided in RCW 19.27.170, the Uniform Plumbing Code and Uniform Plumbing Code Standards, published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials: PROVIDED, That any provisions of such code affecting sewers or fuel gas piping are not adopted; and
     (5) The rules adopted by the council establishing standards for making buildings and facilities accessible to and usable by the physically disabled or elderly persons as provided in RCW 70.92.100 through 70.92.160.
     In case of conflict among the codes enumerated in subsections (1), (2), (3), and (4) of this section, the first named code shall govern over those following.
     The codes enumerated in this section shall be adopted by the council as provided in RCW 19.27.074. The council shall solicit input from first responders to ensure that fire fighter safety issues are addressed during the code adoption process.
     The council may issue opinions relating to the codes at the request of a local official charged with the duty to enforce the enumerated codes.

Sec. 2   RCW 19.27.110 and 2003 c 291 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     Each county government shall administer and enforce the ((International)) Uniform Fire Code in the unincorporated areas of the county: PROVIDED, That any political subdivision or municipal corporation providing fire protection pursuant to RCW 14.08.120 shall, at its sole option, be responsible for administration and enforcement of the ((International)) Uniform Fire Code on its facility. Any fire protection district or political subdivision may, pursuant to chapter 39.34 RCW, the interlocal cooperation act, assume all or a portion of the administering responsibility and coordinate and cooperate with the county government in the enforcement of the ((International)) Uniform Fire Code.
     It is not the intent of RCW 19.27.110 and 19.27.111 to preclude or limit the authority of any city, town, county, fire protection district, state agency, or political subdivision from engaging in those fire prevention activities with which they are charged.
     It is not the intent of the legislature by adopting the state building code or RCW 19.27.110 and 19.27.111 to grant counties any more power to suppress or extinguish fires than counties currently possess under the Constitution or other statutes.
     Each county is authorized to impose fees sufficient to pay the cost of inspections, administration, and enforcement pursuant to RCW 19.27.110 and 19.27.111.