HOUSE BILL REPORT

 

 

                                    HB 2516

 

 

BYRepresentatives Todd, Winsley, Nutley, Leonard and Jacobsen

 

 

Authorizing building code education and training programs.

 

 

House Committe on Housing

 

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (8)

      Signed by Representatives Nutley, Chair; Leonard, Vice Chair; Winsley, Ranking Republican Member; Anderson, Inslee, Padden, Rector and Todd.

 

      House Staff:Kenny Pittman (786-7392)

 

 

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

 

Majority Report:  The substitute bill by Committee on Housing be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (23)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Appelwick, Belcher, Bowman, Braddock, Brekke, Dorn, Doty, Ebersole, Hine, Inslee, May, Padden, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.

 

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (3)

      Signed by Representatives Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; McLean and Nealey.

 

House Staff:      Susan Nakagawa (786-7145)

 

 

          AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS FEBRUARY 3, 1990

 

BACKGROUND:

 

The State Building Code Council (SBCC) was established to develop and maintain the various codes that establish construction standards for residential, commercial and industrial structures in the state.  These codes and related standards comprise the State Building Code.

 

The application of the state building code is the responsibility of the building officials and their staff located in the 268 cities and towns and 39 counties of the state.  While the state building code provides the minimum construction standards, the interpretation of the code is left to the building official in each jurisdiction.

 

Currently, there is no education or training process which ensures consistent interpretations of the state building code by all building officials.

 

In the State of Washington, general contractors are not required to have any knowledge of construction codes or practices prior to obtaining a certificate of registration as a contractor.  The state only requires contractors to satisfy specified insurance and financial responsibility requirements.

 

SUMMARY:

 

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The State Building Code Council (SBCC) is directed to conduct or sponsor continuing education or training programs for state or local code enforcement personnel, contractors engaged in residential, commercial or industrial construction, and building material suppliers.  The continuing education or training programs must cover the technical, legal, and administrative aspects of the uniform codes that comprise the state building code.  Code enforcement personnel is defined as the officer or duly authorized representative charged with the administration and enforcement of the uniform codes that comprise the state building code.

 

The SBCC shall adopt rules to implement the continuing education and training programs, including but not limited to standards for continuing education or training courses including courses on recent changes in the state building code, new products, and construction techniques.

 

A nine member Education and Training Advisory Committee is established in the SBCC.  The membership consists of:  (a) three representatives of the construction industry; (b) three representatives of local government code enforcement and fire service officials; (c) two representatives of the building design profession; and (d) the chair of the SBCC to act as chair of the advisory committee.  The chair shall be a nonvoting member, except in the case of a tie.  The members of the advisory committee shall be appointed by the SBCC based on recommendations from the appropriate interest groups.

 

The Education and Training Advisory Committee must:  (1) consult and cooperate with state and national building officials' and fire service organizations to ensure that the education or training programs meet the requirements for their educational training programs; (2) conduct an assessment of existing education and training needs of state and local code enforcement personnel and contractors engaged in the construction industry; and (3) provide a written report to the House of Representatives Committee on Housing and the Senate Governmental Operations Committee by July 1, 1991, on the status and progress of the continuing education and training programs.

 

A surcharge on building permit fees imposed by all local governments is used to fund the continuing education or training programs conducted or sponsored by the SBCC.  The surcharge is based on 2 percent of the building permit fee charged on all building permits issued by a city or county.

 

The building code education and training account is created in the custody of the state treasurer for deposit of the surcharge imposed on all building permits issued by local governments.

 

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The substitute bill removes the mandatory requirement for continuing education or training courses for local code enforcement personnel and contractors engaged in residential, commercial, or industrial construction.

 

The nine member Education and Training Advisory Committee is created in the State Building Code Council.  The surcharge on building permit fees, imposed by local governments, to fund the continuing education and training programs is lowered from 3 percent to 2 percent.

 

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS:  None.

 

Appropriation:    $500,000 is appropriated from the building code education and training account to the Department of Community Development.

 

Revenue:    The bill has a revenue impact.

 

Fiscal Note:      Available.

 

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Housing)  David Williams, Association of Washington Cities and the Washington State Association of Counties (with concern); Scott Merriman, Washington State Energy Office; and Otto Jensen, Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs.

 

(Appropriations)  No one.

 

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Housing)  No one.

 

(Appropriations)  No one.

 

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Housing)  The problems faced by the State Building Code Council were due to lack of consistent interpretations of the uniform codes.  A program of continuing education and training would help both inspectors and contractors.  The bill should allow education and training in the state's energy codes, at least for gas heated homes.  The only concern is over funding based on permit activity.  A more secure source of funding should be tied to program.  The existing federal funds that are available should be used for energy code training not the funds generated by this program.

 

(Appropriations)  None.

 

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Housing)  None.

 

(Appropriations)  None.