Read first time 01/28/2004.   Referred to Committee on Commerce & Trade.

     AN ACT Relating to providing the department of labor and industries with the rule-making authority to address recommendations of the elevator safety advisory committee relating to the licensing of private residence conveyance work; amending RCW 70.87.240; adding a new section to chapter 70.87 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that individuals performing conveyance work on private residence conveyances must be licensed by the department of labor and industries. However, the licensing requirements for this type of work need not be to the same level as those established for conveyance work in circumstances where the general public has access to the conveyances. The legislature further finds that the department of labor and industries should be given the authority to develop the licensing requirements for this type of work using the normal rule-making process established under chapter 34.05 RCW. Lastly, the legislature finds that private residence conveyance maintenance work that is performed by an owner or at the direction of the owner is exempt from licensing if the owner resides in the residence at which the conveyance is located and the conveyance is not accessible to the general public.

Sec. 2   RCW 70.87.240 and 2003 c 143 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Any person, firm, public agency, or company wishing to engage in the business of performing conveyance work within the state must apply for an elevator contractor license with the department on a form provided by the department and be a registered general or specialty contractor under chapter 18.27 RCW.
     (2) Except as provided by RCW 70.87.270, any person wishing to perform conveyance work within the state must apply for an elevator mechanic license with the department on a form provided by the department.
     (3) An elevator contractor license may not be granted to any person or firm who does not possess the following qualifications:
     (a) Five years' experience performing conveyance work, as verified by current and previous elevator contractors licensed to do business; or
     (b) Satisfactory completion of a written examination administered by the department on this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter.
     (4) Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, section 3 of this act, and RCW 70.87.245, an elevator mechanic license may not be granted to any person who does not possess the following qualifications:
     (a) An acceptable combination of documented experience and education credits: Not less than three years' experience performing conveyance work, as verified by current and previous employers licensed to do business in this state or public agency employers; and
     (b) Satisfactory completion of a written examination administered by the department on this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter.
     (5) Any person who furnishes the department with acceptable proof that he or she has performed conveyance work in the category for which a license is sought shall upon making application for a license and paying the license fee receive a license without an examination. The person must have:
     (a) Worked without direct and immediate supervision for a general or specialty contractor registered under chapter 18.27 RCW and engaged in the business of performing conveyance work in this state. This employment may not be less than each and all of the three years immediately before March 1, 2004. The person must apply within ninety days after the effective date of rules adopted under this chapter establishing licensing requirements;
     (b) Worked without direct and immediate supervision for an owner exempt from licensing requirements under RCW 70.87.270 or a public agency as an individual responsible for maintenance of conveyances owned by the owner exempt from licensing requirements under RCW 70.87.270 or the public agency. This employment may not be less than each and all of the three years immediately before March 1, 2004. The person must apply within ninety days after the effective date of rules adopted under this chapter establishing licensing requirements;
     (c) Obtained a certificate of completion and successfully passed the mechanic examination of a nationally recognized training program for the elevator industry such as the national elevator industry educational program or its equivalent; or
     (d) Obtained a certificate of completion of an apprenticeship program for an elevator mechanic, having standards substantially equal to those of this chapter, and registered with the Washington state apprenticeship and training council.
     (6) A license must be issued to an individual holding a valid license from a state having entered into a reciprocal agreement with the department and having standards substantially equal to those of this chapter, upon application and without examination.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 70.87 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall, by rule, establish licensing requirements for conveyance work performed on private residence conveyances. These rules shall include an exemption from licensing for maintenance work on private residence conveyances performed by an owner or at the direction of the owner, provided the owner resides in the residence at which the conveyance is located and the conveyance is not accessible to the general public. However, maintenance work performed on private residence conveyances located in or at adult family homes licensed under chapter 70.128 RCW, boarding homes licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW, or similarly licensed caregiving facilities must comply with the licensing requirements of this chapter.
     (2) The rules adopted under this section take effect July 1, 2004.