FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5471

C 151 L 19

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Extending the validity of temporary elevator licenses, expanding membership of the elevator safety advisory committee, and allowing homeowners to remove certain conveyances from their residences.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce (originally sponsored by Senators King and Keiser; by request of Department of Labor & Industries).

Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce

House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards

Background: Elevator Licensing and Permits. The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) regulates elevators, escalators, moving walks, and other specified devices, known as conveyances. In general, the law requires elevator contractors to obtain permits from L&I before conveyances are installed, moved, or altered.

With some exceptions, persons performing conveyance work must obtain an elevator mechanic license. An applicant must have an acceptable combination of experience and education, which must include not less than three years' experience performing conveyance work, and pass an examination.

Temporary elevator mechanic licenses are issued to those certified as qualified and competent by elevator contractors. L&I also requires that a temporary mechanic also have at least 75 percent of the education and training hours to obtain a mechanic license. A temporary license is valid for 30 days, and may be renewed. To renew a license, a person must complete at least eight hours of continuing education within one year of the renewal.

Elevator Safety Advisory Committee. The Elevator Safety Advisory Committee advises L&I on adopting rules that apply to conveyances, methods of enforcing and administering the laws related to conveyances, and matters of concern to the conveyance industry. The advisory committee consists of seven members appointed by the director of L&I. The membership consists of:

• one representative of licensed elevator contractors;

• one representative of elevator mechanics licensed to perform all types of conveyance work;

• one representative of owner-employed mechanics;

• a registered architect or professional engineer representative;

• a building owner or manager representative;

• a registered general commercial contractor representative; and

• one ad hoc member representing a municipality maintaining jurisdiction of conveyances

Summary: Elevator Safety Advisory Committee. The number of members on the advisory committee is changed from seven members to a maximum of nine members. In addition to the one member required by statute, L&I has the discretion to add a second representative to the advisory committee for the following groups:

• licensed elevator contractors;

• elevator mechanics licensed to perform all types of conveyance work;

• owner-employed mechanics;

• building owners or manager representatives; and

• general commercial contractors.

Temporary Elevator Licenses. The length of time a temporary elevator mechanic license is valid is changed from 30 days to one year.

Stairway Chair Lifts. Homeowners, or persons employed by homeowners, may permanently remove a stairway chair lift or platform lift located in a private residence without an elevator mechanic license.

Votes on Final Passage: