SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5366

BYSenators Halsan and Kreidler;by request of Office of the Governor

Revising various boards and commissions.

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 10, 1987; March 2, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5366 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Halsan, Chairman; Garrett, Vice Chairman; DeJarnatt, Talmadge.

Senate Staff:Barbara Howard (786-7410); Eugene Green (786-7405)

                  March 9, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS, MARCH 2, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Law Revision Commission.  The Law Revision Commission, created in 1982, was intended to study Washington law, recommend elimination of obsolete statutes, and encourage clarification of the Revised Code of Washington.  The enabling legislation was partially vetoed and the Commission was never funded or staffed.  It has operated intermittently as a citizen organization.

Board of Electrical Examiners.  The Board of Electrical Examiners consists of nine members appointed by the Governor.  The Board establishes both general and specialty electrical contractors licenses, and prepares and administers written license examinations to ensure the competence of electricians.  The Board also advises the Director of the Department of Labor and Industries on the need for additional electrical inspectors.  Members are compensated and are paid for travel expenses.

Electrical Advisory Board.  The Electrical Advisory Board advises the Director of the Department of Labor and Industries on regulation of electrical installations, primarily as they relate to the electrical code.  The Board consists of seven members appointed by the Governor with advice from the Director of Labor and Industries from lists of nominees submitted by interested groups.  Members are appointed from an electrical utility, an installation contractor, a manufacturer of electrical materials, and the public.  Other members include a "recognized" electrician, a professional engineer, and the state chief electrical inspector.  Members are not compensated but are reimbursed for travel expenses.

Work-Study Advisory Committee.  The Work Study Advisory Committee (referred to in statute as a panel) was created as part of the College Work Study Program in 1974.  It advises the Higher Education Coordinating Board on the structure, operating rules, and allocation of funds for the Work Study Program.  The ten-member Committee has representatives from four-year public universities, four-year private universities, community colleges, vocational-technical schools, and labor.

State Board for Certification of Librarians.  The State Board for Certification of Librarians was created in 1935 to establish testing and educational procedures and issue required certificates for professional librarians.  The Board consists of the State Librarian, the Director of the School of Librarianship at the University of Washington, and a member nominated by the Washington Library Association, and appointed by the Governor.

Energy Advisory Council.  The Energy Advisory Council was created in 1981 to aid and advise the State Energy Office.  The Council has nine voting members, appointed by the Governor, along with two non-voting members representing the Legislature.  The Council has not met in over a year and all appointments to the Council have expired.  The State Energy Office currently works with seven different advisory groups, which provide advice on specific programs.  It has been suggested that the Advisory Council is thus unnecessary.

Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Advisory Board.  The Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Advisory Board advises the Director of the Department of Labor and Industries on design standards, construction, inspection procedures, and rules and regulations on the manufacture of mobile homes and recreational vehicles.  The Board consists of eight members appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Director of Labor and Industries.

Factory Built Housing Advisory Board.  The Factory Built Housing Advisory Board advises the Director of the Department of Labor and Industries on rules and regulations relating to the safety and structural soundness of factory built structures.  The Board is composed of eleven members, appointed by the Governor, who are broadly representative of industries and professions involved in factory built structures.

State Commission on Equipment.  The Commission on Equipment adopts and enforces rules and regulations on vehicles, vehicle equipment, and tow truck operators who tow vehicles at the request of the State Patrol.  The Commission consists of the Chief of the Washington State Patrol, the Director of Licensing, and the Secretary of Transportation.

Board of Examiners for Water and Wastewater Operator Certification.  The Board of Examiners for Wastewater Operator Certification prepares and administers examinations for operators of wastewater treatment facilities and public water systems.  The Board is composed of one representative each from the Department of Ecology and Department of Social and Health Services, plus seven representatives from specific interests.

Forest Practices Advisory Committee.  The Forest Practices Advisory Committee was created in April 1974 to propose regulations for the Forest Practices Board.  The Committee completed its work in August 1974 and is not active.

SUMMARY:

The statutes concerning the Law Revision Committee are repealed.

The Electrical Advisory Board is renamed the Electrical Board and the number of members is increased from seven to nine.  The Board of Electrical Examiners is abolished and its duties are assumed by the new Board.  Representation on the new Board is the same as that of the Electrical Advisory Board, with three exceptions:  (1) The chief electrical inspector is removed, (2) the number of members from a firm involved in electrical installations is increased from one to two, and (3) the number of "recognized" electricians is increased from one to three.  The requirement that appointees be selected from submitted lists is removed.  Board members are compensated ($50 per day) in addition to receiving reimbursement for travel expenses.

The references to a panel which makes recommendations to the Higher Education Coordinating Board on the state's Work Study Program are eliminated, and the functions are assumed by the Board.

The State Board for Certification of Librarians is abolished, and its powers and duties are assigned to the State Library Commission.

The Energy Advisory Council is abolished.  The Director of the State Energy Office is given authority to appoint ad hoc advisory groups as needed.

The Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Advisory Board is renamed the Mobile Home, Recreational Vehicle, and Factory Built Housing Advisory Board.  The Factory Built Housing Advisory Board is abolished and its duties are transferred to the new Board.  The new Board consists of nine members who are representative of consumers and the regulated industries and are appointed by the Director of Labor and Industries, instead of the Governor.

The Commission on Equipment is abolished and its duties transferred to the Chief of the Washington State Patrol.  Statutory references to the Commission are changed to the State Patrol.

The Board of Examiners for Water and Wastewater Operator Certification is abolished and its functions relating to wastewater operator certification are assumed by the Director of the Department of Ecology (DOE).  The Board's functions relating to water purification plant operator certification are assumed by the Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).  The respective agency heads must consult with affected parties and with each other in implementing the programs; each may also form committees to achieve additional consultation.

The section of law creating the Forest Practices Advisory Committee is repealed.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The Mobile Home, Recreational Vehicle, and Factory Built Housing Board is renamed the Factory Assembled Structures Advisory Board.  Its membership is reconstituted to include allied professionals, as well as representatives of consumers and the regulated industries.  The obsolete reference to Chief Supervisor is changed to Chief Inspector (of L&I).  The Board is required to meet at least quarterly.

With respect to wastewater systems, the Director of DOE must designate and consult with a committee of representatives of certified wastewater treatment plant operators and their employees, as well as of sewer districts and consult with DSHS on certification exams, reciprocity requests, and revocation hearings.  Similar provisions are made for the Secretary of DSHS with respect to matters concerning certified waterworks operators and water districts.

On the Winter Recreation Advisory Committee, the Snowmobile Advisory Committee, and the Forest Practices Board, state agency representatives or representatives of county legislative authorities may be reimbursed by the state for travel and subsistence, from which they were previously excluded. 

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Nancy Zussy, Wa. State Library; Bert Lysen, S.W. Suburban Sewer District; Joe Daniels, Wa. Assn. of Water and Wastewater Districts; Eric Slagle, DSHS; Lt. Gary Hallett, WSP; Paul Briggs, Electrical Advisory Board; Gary Lowe, Washington State Association of Counties; Steve Washburn, National Electrical Contractors Assn.; Larry Stevens, National Electrical Contractors of Wa. State; Dave Janse, DOE; Jim Salatino, IBEW; Denise Lahmann, City of Centralia; Joe Dear, L & I; Fred Hellberg, Office of the Governor; Dobbe Spasosevia, WSECA