AN ACT Relating to radon studies and education; amending RCW 70.98.050; adding a new section to chapter 70.98 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 19.27 RCW; and making appropriations.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. Section 5, chapter 207, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 1, chapter 383, Laws of 1985 and RCW 70.98.050 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department of social and health services is designated as the state radiation control agency, hereinafter referred to as the agency, and shall be the state agency having sole responsibility for administration of the regulatory, licensing and radiation control provisions of this chapter.

(2) The secretary of social and health services shall be director of the agency, hereinafter referred to as the secretary, who shall perform the functions vested in the agency pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

(3) The agency shall appoint a state radiological control officer, and in accordance with the laws of the state, fix his compensation and prescribe his powers and duties.

(4) The agency shall for the protection of the occupational and public health and safety:

(a) Develop programs for evaluation of hazards associated with use of ionizing radiation;

(b) Develop a state-wide radiological baseline beginning with the establishment of a baseline for the Hanford reservation;

(c) Implement an independent state-wide program to monitor ionizing radiation emissions from radiation sources within the state;

(d) Develop programs with due regard for compatibility with federal programs for regulation of byproduct, source, and special nuclear materials;

((~~(c) [(e)]~~)) (e) Conduct environmental radiation monitoring programs which will determine the presence and significance of radiation in the environment and which will verify the adequacy and accuracy of environmental radiation monitoring programs conducted by the federal government at its installations in Washington and by radioactive materials licensees at their installations;

(f) Formulate, adopt, promulgate, and repeal codes, rules and regulations relating to control of sources of ionizing radiation;

(g) Advise, consult, and cooperate with other agencies of the state, the federal government, other states and interstate agencies, political subdivisions, and with groups concerned with control of sources of ionizing radiation;

(h) Have the authority to accept and administer loans, grants, or other funds or gifts, conditional or otherwise, in furtherance of its functions, from the federal government and from other sources, public or private;

(i) Encourage, participate in, or conduct studies, investigations, training, research, and demonstrations relating to control of sources of ionizing radiation, including the collection of statistical data and epidemiological research, where available, on diseases that result from exposure to sources of ionizing radiation;

(j) Collect and disseminate information relating to control of sources of ionizing radiation; including:

(i) Maintenance of a file of all license applications, issuances, denials, amendments, transfers, renewals, modifications, suspensions, and revocations;

(ii) Maintenance of a file of registrants possessing sources of ionizing radiation requiring registration under the provisions of this chapter and any administrative or judicial action pertaining thereto; and

(iii) Maintenance of a file of all rules and regulations relating to regulation of sources of ionizing radiation, pending or promulgated, and proceedings thereon;

(k) Maintenance of a program to educate and inform the public concerning radon gas and radon progeny. The program shall include the origin and health effects of radon, how to measure radon, and construction and mitigation techniques to reduce exposure to radon; and

(l) In connection with any ((~~contested case~~)) adjudicative proceeding as defined by RCW ((~~34.04.010~~)) 34.05.010 or any other administrative proceedings as provided for in this chapter, have the power to issue subpoenas in order to compel the attendance of necessary witnesses and/or the production of records or documents.

(5) In order to avoid duplication of efforts, the agency may acquire the data requested under this section from public and private entities that possess this information.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 70.98 RCW to read as follows:

(1) By July 31, 1989, the state radiation control agency shall begin or shall contract to begin a study of existing data, supplemented by selected testing as needed, to determine the presence or absence of radon in schools, in state buildings, and in individual residential structures in the state.

(2) The state and any official of the state, in promoting or participating in studies to determine radon levels in the environment, shall be immune from liability arising out of the failure of any radon testing contractor to accurately measure and supply information collected.

(3) The results of the study under this section, and any recommendations based thereon, shall be submitted to the governor and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature by December 1, 1990.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 19.27 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The state building code council, in consultation with other state agencies, shall conduct a review of techniques to reduce and mitigate indoor radon pollution through building codes.

(2) The review shall include an assessment of federal, regional, and state efforts to reduce or mitigate indoor radon pollution and identification of codes or standards that may be appropriate for consideration by the state of Washington.

(3) The building code council shall report the findings of its review to the governor and appropriate standing committees of the legislature by December 1, 1989.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The sum of two hundred sixty thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the department of social and health services for the purposes of sections 1 and 2 of this act.

(2) The sum of thirty-two thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the department of community development for the purposes of section 3 of this act.