Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Local Government Committee

HB 1295

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.

Brief Description: Concerning the installation of residential fire sprinkler systems.

Sponsors: Representatives Van De Wege, Hurst, Tharinger, Fitzgibbon and Liias.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Allows fire protection contract license fund expenditures to be used for generating residential fire sprinkler educational materials.

  • Exempts persons installing a residential fire sprinkler system from paying the fire operations portion of the impact fee not including the individual's fair share of emergency medical service delivery costs.

  • Expressly defines water distribution system leakage standards.

  • Provides immunity to public water systems for damages resulting from water to a residential home with an installed fire sprinkler system being shut off under certain circumstances.

Hearing Date: 2/8/11

Staff: Miranda Leskinen (786-7291) and Ethan Moreno (786-7386).

Background:

A fire protection sprinkler system is a series of pipes connected to the primary water supply of a residence that transfers water to extinguish, control, or contain a fire. Sprinkler systems provide protection from exposure to fire or other combusted materials.

Fire Protection Contractor License Fund.

Fire protection sprinkler systems contractors must obtain and maintain a license issued by the State Director of Fire Protection. An annually-renewed certificate of competency is also required of individuals who install sprinkler systems. Both the contractor's license and certificate of competency are subject to a required annual renewal fee, the proceeds of which are placed in the fire protection contractor license fund along with funds generated from related rules and regulations.

Expenditures of this fund may be used for limited purposes, including:

Impact Fees.

Counties, cities, and towns planning under the Growth Management Act may impose impact fees on development activity to help pay for public facilities. Persons required to pay impact fees cannot also be required to pay a fee for comparable purposes under the state Environmental Policy Act.

Role of the Department of Health.

The Department of Health (Department) must develop leakage standards for water distribution systems as part of an overall effort to promote water use efficiency. The Department must establish a compliance process for municipal water suppliers regarding these standards, as well as provide technical and compliance assistance to municipal water suppliers and local governments upon request.

Summary of Bill:

Fire Protection Contractor License Fund.

Fire Protection Contractor License Fund expenditures may be used for generating educational material related to residential fire sprinkler effectiveness.

Impact Fees.

Individuals installing a residential fire sprinkler system in a single-family home are exempted from paying the fire operations portion of the impact fee not including their fair share of the costs for emergency medical services delivery.

Role of the Department of Health.

Water distribution system leakage standards are expressly defined to include:

A public water system is provided immunity from damages incurred from shutting off the water to a residential home with an installed fire sprinkler system if the shut off is due to the following:

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.