FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 6586

C 67 L 04

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning electrical work on boilers.

Sponsors: Senators Honeyford and Prentice.

Senate Committee on Commerce & Trade

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background: The Board of Boiler Rules (Boiler Board) advises the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) on the regulation and inspection of boilers and unfired pressure vessels. The scope of these regulations does not extend to most electrical work on boilers.

The Electrical Board advises L&I regarding rules governing electrical installations and standards. These rules require electrical permits and inspections for all new boiler installations and major conversions of boiler systems. Although most routine electrical maintenance work on boilers is exempt from these permitting and inspection requirements, such work must be performed only by licensed electrical contractors and certified electricians.

Chapter 399, Laws of 2003 provided that, until July 1, 2004, L&I must stop enforcing the licensing, certification, inspection and permitting requirements, "as applied to maintenance work on the electrical controls of a boiler performed by an employee of a service company." That legislation also directed the Boiler Board and the Electrical Board to "jointly evaluate whether electrical licensing, certification, inspection, and permitting requirements" should apply to such maintenance work. The boards were directed to submit their joint findings and recommendations to the Legislature by December 1, 2003.

The boards jointly submitted a report containing findings, but it contains no recommendations.

Summary: The July 1, 2004, ending date of the enforcement moratorium is postponed to July 1, 2005. The boards are redirected to report their joint findings and recommendations on the issues posed to them by December 1, 2004.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       48  0

House       95  0

Effective: June 10, 2004