Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Labor & Workplace Standards Committee |
HB 2443
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. |
Brief Description: Concerning the compliance of certain conversion vending units and medical units with certain department of labor and industries requirements.
Sponsors: Representatives Sells and Kilduff; by request of Department of Labor & Industries.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/18/16
Staff: Joan Elgee (786-7106).
Background:
The Department of Labor and Industries (Department) regulates factory assembled structures, including manufactured and mobile homes, conversion vendor units, and medical units. A "conversion vendor unit" is a motor or recreational vehicle that is either converted or built for commercial sales at temporary locations, such as a food truck. A "medical unit" is a self-propelled unit used for medical and dental services. Emergency response vehicles are not included.
The Department must adopt rules for conversion vendor and medical units to protect occupants from fire, address underlying safety issues, and ensure the unit will support a concentrated load of 500 pounds or more. Under the Department's review process, plans for each conversion vending or medical unit must be approved by the Department and the units are inspected. An approved unit receives an insignia indicating approval.
Conversion vending and medical units manufactured and used outside Washington for six months or more are generally not required to meet Washington's standards.
Summary of Bill:
The exemption from standards for conversion vendor and medical units manufactured out of state is deleted.
The requirements for plan approval are modified for conversion vending units. The requirements apply to units that have concentrated loads exceeding 500 pounds or contain:
fuel gas piping systems;
solid fuel burning equipment;
fire suppression systems;
commercial hoods;
electrical systems and equipment in excess of 30A/120V;
electrical systems with more than five circuits or which incorporate photovoltaic cells, fuel cell energy, or other alternative energy systems; or
plumbing drainage systems for solid or bodily waste.
Professional engineer or architect approval is only required for conversion vending units with concentrated loads exceeding 500 pounds.
The Department may exempt units with any of the listed components by rule. The Department must establish and consult with an advisory committee to identify any conversion vending units to exempt from plan review. Committee membership consists of:
one representative from:
the factory assembled structures board;
the state fire marshal;
local building officials;
restaurants; and
cities
at least one but not more than two representatives from:
food truck vendors; and
manufacturers of conversion vending units
at least one nonvoting representative from:
local public health officials; and
county fairs.
The committee may also recommend statutory changes. The committee must report any recommended statutory changes to the legislature by September 30, 2017.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.