BILL REQ. #:  H-0895.1 

Read first time 02/03/2003.   Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

     AN ACT Relating to regulating fire protection sprinkler system contractors; amending RCW 18.160.030; adding a new section to chapter 18.160 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 18.160.030 and 2000 c 171 s 35 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) This chapter shall be administered by the state director of fire protection.
     (2) The state director of fire protection shall have the authority, and it shall be his or her duty to:
     (a) Issue such administrative regulations as necessary for the administration of this chapter;
     (b)(i) Set reasonable fees for licenses, certificates, testing, and other aspects of the administration of this chapter. However, the license fee for fire protection sprinkler system contractors engaged solely in the installation, inspection, maintenance, or servicing of NFPA 13-D fire protection sprinkler systems shall not exceed one hundred dollars, and the license fee for fire protection sprinkler system contractors engaged solely in the installation, inspection, maintenance, or servicing of NFPA 13-R fire protection sprinkler systems shall not exceed three hundred dollars;
     (ii) Adopt rules establishing a special category restricted to contractors registered under chapter 18.27 RCW who install underground systems that service fire protection sprinkler systems. The rules shall be adopted within ninety days of March 31, 1992;
     (iii) Subject to section 2 of this act, adopt rules defining infractions under this chapter and fines to be assessed for those infractions;
     (c) Enforce the provisions of this chapter;
     (d) Conduct investigations of complaints to determine if any infractions of this chapter or the regulations developed under this chapter have occurred;
     (e) Assign a certificate number to each certificate of competency holder; and
     (f) Adopt rules necessary to implement and administer a program which requires the affixation of a seal any time a fire protection sprinkler system is installed, which seal shall include the certificate number of any certificate of competency holder who installs, in whole or in part, the fire protection sprinkler system.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 18.160 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A fire protection sprinkler system contractor found to have committed an infraction under this chapter as defined in rule under RCW 18.160.030(2)(b)(iii) shall be assessed a fine of not less than two hundred dollars and not more than five thousand dollars.
     (2) A fire protection sprinkler system contractor who fails to obtain a certificate of competency under RCW 18.160.040 shall be assessed a fine of not less than one thousand dollars and not more than five thousand dollars.
     (3) All fines collected under this section shall be deposited into the fire protection contractor license fund.