HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2941
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Reported by House Committee On:
Commerce & Labor
Title: An act relating to concerning fees for explosives licenses.
Brief Description: Concerning licensing fees under the explosives act.
Sponsors: Representatives Moeller and Conway; by request of Department of Labor & Industries.
Brief History:
Commerce & Labor: 1/22/08, 1/29/08 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Conway, Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Crouse, Green, Moeller and Williams.
Staff: Joan Elgee (786-7106).
Background:
A license is required to manufacture, purchase, sell, use, and store explosives, and failure to
have a valid license is a class C felony. Explosives include dynamite, nitroglycerin, and
blasting caps. Fingerprint-based criminal history record checks are required for every new
and renewal applicant. As a result of recent reviews by the Washington State Patrol (WSP)
and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the explosives section of the Department of
Labor and Industries (Department) must now pay the WSP for the WSP and FBI record
checks.
Annual minimum and maximum license fees for each license type are set in statute. In
addition, the Department may charge a fee of up to $20 for the criminal history check.
The Department issues explosives licenses and otherwise administers the explosives
provisions under the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act. Amounts collected are
deposited into the State General Fund.
Summary of Bill:
License fees for explosives licenses are raised as follows:License Type Minimum Fee Maximum Fee Current Proposed Current Proposed Purchaser $ 5 $25 $ 15 $100 Storage $10 $50 $100 $400 User $ 5 $50 $ 15 $200 Manufacturer $25 $50 $ 50 $200 Seller (dealer) $25 $50 $ 50 $200
The Department must (rather than may) charge the applicant the current federal and state fee
for the criminal history record check.
All license fees and criminal history check fees must be deposited into the accident and
medical aid funds rather than the State General Fund.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) This bill gives the Department the authority to increase fees in response to an
FBI and a WSP review which determined that the explosives section was not a criminal
justice agency and could not access criminal background check information. This would
allow the Department to increase fees to pay for the background checks through the WSP.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Moeller, prime sponsor; and Josh Swanson and Dan McMurdie, Department of Labor and Industries.