FINAL BILL REPORT

ESHB 1295

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background:

A fire protection sprinkler system is a series of pipes connected to the primary water supply of a residence that transfers water to extinguish, control, or contain a fire. Sprinkler systems provide protection from exposure to fire or other combusted materials.

Fire protection sprinkler systems contractors must obtain and maintain a license issued by the State Director of Fire Protection. An annually renewed certificate of competency is also required of individuals who install sprinkler systems. Both the contractor's license and certificate of competency are subject to a required annual renewal fee, the proceeds of which are placed in the Fire Protection Contractor License Fund (Fund) along with funds generated from related rules and regulations.

Expenditures of the Fund may be used for limited purposes, including: hospital fire protection inspections, and assistance with activities that identify recalled sprinkler system components.

Counties, cities, and towns planning under the Growth Management Act may impose impact fees on development activity to help pay for public facilities. Persons required to pay impact fees may not also be required to pay a fee for comparable purposes under the State Environmental Policy Act.

Summary:

Expenditures from the Fund may be used to develop and publish educational materials related to residential fire sprinkler effectiveness. Individuals installing a residential fire sprinkler system in a single-family home are exempted from paying the fire operations portion of the impact fee but remain responsible for the proportionate share of the impact fee related to the delivery of emergency medical services.

Public water systems are not liable for damages resulting from shutting off water to a residential home with an installed fire sprinkler system if the shut off is due to:

routine maintenance or construction;
customer nonpayment for service; or
a water system emergency.

Any governmental or municipal corporation, including but not limited to special districts, is deemed to be exercising a governmental function when it acts or undertakes to supply water, within or without its corporate limits, to a residential home with an installed fire sprinkler system.

Votes on Final Passage:

House	95	2
Senate	43	4	(Senate amended)
House	96	0	(House concurred)