BILL REQ. #:  H-0097.1 

Prefiled 12/18/2006. Read first time 01/08/2007.   Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

     AN ACT Relating to requiring professionals working in the building trades to wear and visibly display licenses and certificates; amending RCW 19.27.050, 18.106.170, 19.28.251, and 70.87.120; adding a new section to chapter 19.28 RCW; 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 dishonest construction contractors sometimes hire persons without proper licensing and certification to do electrical, plumbing, and conveyance work. This practice gives honest contractors an unfair competitive disadvantage and leaves workers and customers vulnerable. Requiring persons with proper licensing and certification to visibly display their licenses and certificates while doing such work will help address the problems of the underground economy in the construction industry, level the playing field for honest contractors, and protect workers and consumers.

Sec. 2   RCW 19.27.050 and 1985 c 360 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
     The counties and cities shall enforce the state building code required by this chapter ((shall be enforced by the counties and cities)), and refer alleged or apparent violations of sections 4 and 6 of this act and RCW 18.106.170 to the department of labor and industries for investigation and appropriate enforcement action. Any county or city not having a building department shall contract with another county, city, or inspection agency approved by the county or city for enforcement of the state building code within its jurisdictional boundaries.

Sec. 3   RCW 18.106.170 and 1983 c 124 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) An authorized representative of the department may investigate alleged or apparent violations of this chapter, and shall investigate referrals of alleged or apparent violations of subsection (2) of this section from local government officials charged with the duty to enforce building codes under chapter 19.27 RCW. An authorized representative of the department upon presentation of credentials may inspect sites at which a person is doing plumbing work for the purpose of determining whether that person has a certificate or permit issued by the department in accordance with this chapter or is supervised by a person who has such a certificate or permit. ((Upon request of the authorized representative of the department,))
     (2) A person doing plumbing work shall ((produce evidence that the person has a)) wear and visibly display his or her certificate or permit ((issued by the department in accordance with this chapter or is supervised by a person who has such a certificate or permit)), which shall include photo identification. A person doing plumbing work need not wear and visibly display his or her certificate or permit if doing so would create a danger or unsafe condition for the person or for the public, as long as the person can produce evidence that he or she has a certificate or permit to an authorized representative of the department.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 19.28 RCW to read as follows:
     Certificate holders engaging in the electrical construction trade shall wear and visibly display their certificates, which shall include photo identification. A certificate holder need not wear and visibly display his or her certificate if doing so would create a danger or unsafe condition for the certificate holder or for the public, as long as the certificate holder can demonstrate proof of his or her certificate to electrical inspectors appointed by the director of labor and industries and by the officials of incorporated cities and towns where electrical inspections are required by local ordinances.

Sec. 5   RCW 19.28.251 and 2001 c 211 s 18 are each amended to read as follows:
     The director may ((promulgate)) adopt rules, make specific decisions, orders, and rulings, including demands and findings, and take other necessary action for the implementation and enforcement of RCW 19.28.161 through 19.28.271. The director shall investigate referrals of alleged or apparent violations of section 4 of this act from local government officials charged with the duty to enforce building codes under chapter 19.27 RCW. In the administration of RCW 19.28.161 through 19.28.271 the department shall not enter any controversy arising over work assignments with respect to the trades involved in the construction industry.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   A new section is added to chapter 70.87 RCW to read as follows:
     Licensees performing conveyance work shall wear and visibly display their licenses, which shall include photo identification. A licensee need not wear and visibly display his or her license if doing so would create a danger or unsafe condition for the licensee or for the public, as long as the licensee can demonstrate proof of his or her license to an elevator inspector of the department or an elevator inspector of a municipality having in effect an elevator ordinance under RCW 70.87.200.

Sec. 7   RCW 70.87.120 and 1998 c 137 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall appoint and employ inspectors, as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, under the provisions of the rules adopted by the Washington personnel resources board in accordance with chapter 41.06 RCW.
     (2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, the department shall cause all conveyances to be inspected and tested at least once each year. Inspectors have the right during reasonable hours to enter into and upon any building or premises in the discharge of their official duties, for the purpose of making any inspection or testing any conveyance contained thereon or therein. Inspections and tests shall conform with the rules adopted by the department. The department shall inspect all installations before it issues any initial permit for operation. Permits shall not be issued until the fees required by this chapter have been paid.
     (b)(i) Private residence conveyances operated exclusively for single-family use shall be inspected and tested only when required under RCW 70.87.100 or as necessary for the purposes of subsection (4) of this section and shall be exempt from RCW 70.87.090 unless an annual inspection and operating permit are requested by the owner.
     (ii) The department may perform additional inspections of a private residence conveyance at the request of the owner of the conveyance. Fees for these inspections shall be in accordance with the schedule of fees adopted for operating permits pursuant to RCW 70.87.030. An inspection requested under this subsection (2)(b)(ii) shall not be performed until the required fees have been paid.
     (3) If inspection shows a conveyance to be in an unsafe condition, the department shall issue an inspection report in writing requiring the repairs or alterations to be made to the conveyance that are necessary to render it safe and may also suspend or revoke a permit pursuant to RCW 70.87.125 or order the operation of a conveyance discontinued pursuant to RCW 70.87.145.
     (a) A penalty may be assessed under RCW 70.87.185 for failure to correct a violation within ninety days after the owner is notified in writing of inspection results.
     (b) The owner may be assessed a penalty under RCW 70.87.185 for failure to submit official notification in writing to the department that all corrections have been completed.
     (4) The department may investigate accidents and alleged or apparent violations of this chapter, and shall investigate referrals of alleged or apparent violations of section 6 of this act from local government officials charged with the duty to enforce building codes under chapter 19.27 RCW.