HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                    SSB 5669

Brief Description:  Regulating conversion vending units and medical units.

Sponsors:  Senators Snyder and Brown      

Hearing:  March 22, 1999

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$The Department of Labor and Industries will adopt specific rules for vehicles converted or built for vending purposes at temporary locations or to provide mobile medical services.

BACKGROUND:

Trailers and motor vehicles may be converted for a variety of uses.  Converted vehicles and trailers are often used to sell food or other items at temporary locations such as county fairs.  Medical units may be used to deliver medical services at temporary locations, including rural areas that can not support permanent facilities. 

These units are regulated by the Department of Labor and Industries as commercial coaches under the factory assembled structures statutes.  The units must meet structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, ventilation, and design standards. 

In 1996, the department adopted a new subcategory of rules specific to vendor units.  The rules were adopted to address the difficulty some operators were having meeting the broad structural commercial coach requirements.  The department continues to assist many operators who have difficulty complying with the commercial coach rules.

SUMMARY OF BILL:

The Department of Labor and Industries is instructed to adopt rules for conversion vending units and medical units.  The rules must protect the occupants against fire and address other life safety issues. The structural requirements of these units are reduced, requiring a design capable of supporting a concentrated load of 500 pounds.

Conversion vendor units and medical units are defined.  Conversion vendor units are motor or recreational vehicles that have been built or converted for commercial sales.  They are limited to eight feet, six inches in width, and 40 feet in length.  Medical units are self-propelled units providing medical services, not including emergency vehicles.

The statutes regulating factory assembled structures are amended to reflect the addition of  conversion vendor and medical units.

RULES AUTHORITY:  The bill does contain provisions addressing the rule making powers of an agency.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of a session in which bill is passed.