AN ACT Relating to building code education and training programs; amending RCW 18.27.060; adding a new section to chapter 19.27 RCW; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the education and training of code enforcement officials and contractors is essential to uniform enforcement and application of the state building code. A program of continuing education and training will enhance the professional capabilities of those involved in the construction and inspection of residential, commercial, and industrial structures. The benefit of enhanced professional capabilities will go directly to the person taking out the building permit.

The legislature further finds that in order to increase the professional capabilities of those involved in the construction and inspection of residential, commercial, and industrial structures that a state-wide program of continuing education and training on the technical, legal, and administrative aspects of the state building code is needed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 19.27 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The building code council may conduct or sponsor in-service education or training programs that cover the technical, legal, and administrative aspects of the state building code as adopted and amended in RCW 19.27.031 for state and local code enforcement personnel, contractors engaged in residential, commercial, or industrial construction, and building material suppliers. For this purpose it may cooperate and contract with educational institutions, local, regional, state, or national building officials' and fire service organizations, or home builder associations, and any other appropriate organization. As used in this section, "code enforcement personnel" means the officer or duly authorized representative charged with the administration and enforcement of the uniform codes that comprise the state building code as adopted and amended in RCW 19.27.031.

(2) The building code council may reimburse state and local code enforcement personnel and other employees of the state and its subdivisions for related expenses incurred by them for attendance at in-service education and training programs approved by the building code council.

(3) The building code council shall adopt rules to implement this section, including but not limited to: (a) Standards for in-service education and training courses including courses on recent changes in the state building code, new building products, and construction techniques for state and local code enforcement personnel, contractors engaged in residential, commercial, or industrial construction, and building material suppliers; (b) in- service education and training courses required by local code enforcement personnel designated to enforce the state building code as adopted and amended in RCW 19.27.031; and (c) required education and training courses for contractors engaged in residential, commercial, or industrial construction as a condition of renewal of the certificate of registration required in RCW 18.27.060.

(4) In the establishment and administration of education and training programs, the state building code council shall consult and cooperate with state and national building officials' and fire service organizations in order to facilitate the acceptance of these programs as meeting the requirements for their educational training programs.

(5) The building code education and training programs shall be funded by a surcharge on building permit fees for construction activities covered by the state building code as adopted and amended in RCW 19.27.031 and imposed by all local governments of the state. The department of community development shall develop and implement a method of collecting the surcharge. The surcharge shall be three percent of the building permit fee charged on each building permit issued by a county or city. All moneys collected from the surcharge shall be deposited in the building code education and training account.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The building code education and training account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from surcharges collected under section 2 of this act shall be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the purposes stated in section 2 of this act.

Sec. 4. Section 6, chapter 77, Laws of 1963 as last amended by section 19, chapter 2, Laws of 1983 1st ex. sess. and RCW 18.27.060 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A certificate of registration shall be valid for one year and shall be renewed on or before the expiration date. The department shall issue to the applicant a certificate of registration upon compliance with the registration requirements of this chapter.

(2) If the department approves an application, it shall issue a certificate of registration to the applicant. The certificate shall be valid for:

(a) One year;

(b) Until the bond expires; or

(c) Until the insurance expires, whichever comes first. The department shall place the expiration date on the certificate.

(3) The department shall require that prior to the renewal of a certificate of registration, the contractor provide proof of attendance at a specified number of courses approved by the state building code council as part of its continuing education and training program under section 2 of this act. This subsection shall apply only to contractors engaged in residential, commercial, and industrial construction.

(4) A contractor may supply a short-term bond or insurance policy to bring its registration period to the full one year.

((~~(4)~~)) (5) If a contractor's surety bond or other security has an unsatisfied judgment against it or is canceled, or if the contractor's insurance policy is canceled, the contractor's registration shall be automatically suspended on the effective date of the impairment or cancellation. The department shall give notice of the suspension to the contractor.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The sum of .......... dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the building code education and training account to the department of community development for the purposes stated in section 2 of this act.