HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1767

             As Reported By House Committee On:

            Economic Development, Housing & Trade

Title:  An act relating to building codes.

Brief Description:  Revising building code law.

Sponsors:  Representatives Romero, Cairnes, Campbell, Miloscia and Sullivan.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Economic Development, Housing & Trade:  2/16/99, 3/2/99 [DPS].

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Removes rulemaking authority for the Plumbing Code and Standards from the State Building Code Council and gives it to the Department of Labor and Industries.

CRequires the State Treasurer to transfer up to 20 percent of all moneys generated by the state building permit surcharge to the plumbing certificate fund for administration of the plumbing code by the Department of Labor and Industries.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING & TRADE

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Van Luven, Republican Co-Chair; Veloria, Democratic Co-Chair; Eickmeyer, Democratic Vice Chair; Ballasiotes; Miloscia; Radcliff; Skinner and Wolfe.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 4 members:  Representatives Dunn, Republican Vice Chair; Gombosky; Morris and D. Sommers.

Staff:  Kenny Pittman (786-7392).

Background:

The State Building Code Council (SBCC) exercises rulemaking authority to adopt and revise the State Building Code (SBC).  The SBC is a technical set of documents that sets the minimum standards for the construction, reconstruction, or improvement of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings and structures.  These documents include the uniform codes setting building, mechanical, fire protection and plumbing standards, and rules for barrier-free design, and the State Energy Code.

The SBCC is responsible for the review and approval of all amendments to the various codes that comprise the SBC.  Any amendment proposed by local governments, that affect single and multifamily residential buildings, must be submitted to the SBCC for review and approval.  The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development provides the administrative and clerical support to the SBCC.

There is imposed a surcharge of $4.50 on all building permits issued by a city, town, or county within the state.  The moneys collected from the surcharge are deposited, on a quarterly basis, into the building code council account and used for the administration of the SBCC.

The SBCC exercises rulemaking authority to adopt and revise the SBC.  The SBC is a technical set of documents that sets the minimum standards for the construction, reconstruction, or improvement of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings and structures.  These documents include the uniform codes setting building, mechanical, fire protection and plumbing standards, and rules for barrier-free design, and the State Energy Code.

The SBCC is responsible for the review and approval of all amendments to the various codes that comprise the SBC.  Any amendment proposed by local governments, that affect single and multifamily residential buildings, must be submitted to the SBCC for review and approval.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The authority to adopt and revise the uniform Plumbing Code and Standards is removed from the SBCC and placed in the Department of Labor and Industries.  The Advisory Board for Plumbers, within the Department of Labor and Industries, must:  (1) adopt and maintain the Plumbing Code and Standards; (2) approve or deny all county or city amendments to the Plumbing Code and Standards that affect single and multifamily residential buildings; and (3) propose a budget for the operation of the advisory board.

The Advisory Board for Plumbers may also: (1) appoint technical advisory committees; (2) employ permanent and temporary staff and contract for services; and (3) conduct research into matters relating to the Plumbing Code and Standards.

The State Treasurer must transfer up to 20 percent of all moneys collected from the existing $4.50 surcharge imposed on all building permits issued by a local government into the plumbing certification fund within the Department of Labor and Industries.  The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development and the Department of Labor and Industries must enter into an interagency agreement, on a biennial basis, to determine the amount of money needed to administer the State Plumbing Code by the State Advisory Board of Plumbers.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute bill adds the requirement that the State Treasurer must transfer up to 20 percent of all moneys collected from the existing $4.50 surcharge imposed on all building permits issued by a local government into the plumbing certification fund within the Department of Labor and Industries.  The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development and the Department of Labor and Industries must enter into an interagency agreement to determine the amount of money needed to administer the State Plumbing Code by the State Advisory Board of Plumbers.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  (Substitute Bill) Requested March 2, 1999.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  (Original Bill) The SBCC is the wrong place for the plumbing code.  The administration of the plumbing code needs to be under the plumbers advisory board within the Department of Labor and Industries.  The plumbers advisory board has the technical expertise needed to review and approve  amendments that are proposed by local governments.

Testimony Against:  (Original Bill) What is needed is a balanced group to review all codes together.  The SBCC consists of interest groups that represent all aspects of the construction industry and local government that must enforce the codes.  Removing the administration of the plumbing code from the council would fragment the code review and approval process.

Testified:  (In support) Larry Stevens, Mechanical Contractors Association; Dan Sexton, Washington Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters; and Art Favinger, Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors of Washington.

(Opposed) Bill Huyette, Building Industry Association of Washington; Larry Ward, State Building Code Council; Gordon Walgren, International Conference of Building Officials; and Mark Triplett, Washington Association of Building Officials.