Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Labor Committee

HB 1387

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.

Background:

Code Officials Apprenticeship Program.

The Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council (Council), which is part of the Department of Labor and Industries, establishes apprenticeship program standards, approves apprenticeship training programs, and otherwise governs the programs. Apprenticeship programs are sponsored by either joint employer and employee groups, or individual employers, or employer associations.

The Code Officials Apprenticeship Program (Program) was initially approved by the Council in 2009 and is sponsored by the Washington Association of Building Officials.

The State Building Code.

The State Building Code (SBC) provides statewide minimum performance standards and requirements for construction and construction materials. The SBC is comprised of model codes (such as building, residential, fire, and plumbing codes) adopted by reference in statute, as well as rules developed and adopted by the State Building Code Council.

Counties, cities, and towns are required to enforce the SBC, and may amend the codes as it applies within their jurisdictions, so long as the minimum performance standards of the codes are not diminished.

Building Permit Fee.

Building permits for structures are issued by local jurisdictions. The State Building Code Act requires that a fee of $4.50 be charged on each building permit issued by a county, city, or town. An additional surcharge of $2 for each residential unit, not including the first unit, is imposed on each building containing more than one residential unit. With limited exceptions, counties, cities, and towns may impose fees different than the building permit fee set forth in statute.

Counties, cities, and towns must collect building permit fees and remit the money collected to the State Treasury on a quarterly basis. The funds are deposited into the Building Code Council Account to be used by the State Building Code Council.

Summary of Bill:

Legislative findings are made regarding the need to train new building officials and to provide continuing training for existing officials.

A $2 fee is imposed on each building permit issued by a county or city. Counties and cities must remit moneys collected to the State Treasury, to be deposited into the newly created Code Officials Apprenticeship and Training Account.

Moneys must be appropriated to the Department of Enterprise Services for distribution to the sponsor of the Code Officials Apprenticeship Program. The money must be used for:

expenses related to the establishment and operation of the Program;
administrative expenses of the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee for the Program; and
expenses related to training for code officials provided by public and private entities.