HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6420

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.

As Passed House - Amended:

March 4, 2020

Title: An act relating to underground utilities and safety committee.

Brief Description: Concerning underground utilities and safety committee.

Sponsors: Senators Takko and Short.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Local Government: 2/25/20, 2/26/20 [DPA].

Floor Activity:

Passed House - Amended: 3/4/20, 97-0.

Brief Summary of Bill

(As Amended by House)

  • Provides that facility operators are not required to indicate the depth of underground facilities when marking underground facilities.

  • Requires excavators who damage an underground facility resulting in an emergency to call 911 to alert the appropriate local public safety agencies.

  • Removes a representative of the insurance industry from the safety committee and adds a representative of a water-sewer district.

  • Changes the composition of the review committee to be a balanced group including at least one excavator and one facility operator.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 5 members: Representatives Pollet, Chair; Duerr, Vice Chair; Kraft, Ranking Minority Member; Goehner and Senn.

Staff: Elizabeth Allison (786-7129).

Background:

Excavators' and Facility Operators' Duties.

Excavators and facility operators each have duties that must be performed before an excavation can begin. An excavator must mark with white paint or otherwise identify the boundary of the area to be excavated. If marking the boundary is infeasible, the excavator must work with the facilities operators to ensure the boundary of the excavation area is accurately identified. The excavator must also provide notice of the scheduled commencement of excavation to all facility operators through a one-number locator service.

After notice is given, the facility operator must provide the excavator with reasonably accurate information of locatable underground facilities by marking their location and provide the excavator with available information on the location of unlocatable underground facilities. Marking can be done with stakes, paint, or other identifiable material, and locate marks must include identification letters indicating the specific type of the underground facility.

Once the underground facilities are marked by the facilities operator, the excavator is responsible for maintaining the accuracy of the markings of the facilities for a specified period of time.

A facilities operator is any person who owns an underground facility or is in the business of supplying any utility service or commodity for compensation.

Reporting Damage.

An excavator who contacts or damages an underground facility in the course of excavation is required to notify the facility operator and a one-number locator service, and report the damage to the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC). If the damage causes an emergency condition, the excavator must also alert the appropriate local public safety agencies and take all appropriate steps to ensure public safety.

Safety Committee.

The UTC is required to contract with a statewide nonprofit entity whose purpose is to reduce damages to underground and above-ground facilities, promote safe excavation practices, and review complaints of alleged violations. The contracting entity must create a safety committee to advise the UTC and other state agencies, the Legislature, and local governments on best practices and training to prevent damage to underground utilities, and policies to enhance worker and public safety. The committee must also review complaints alleging violations of rules related to underground facilities.

The committee consists of 13 members who are representatives of:

To review complaints of alleged violations, the safety committee must appoint a review committee with at least three but no more than five members. The review committee must include the same number of members representing excavators and facility operators. One member representing a facility operator must also be a representative of a pipeline company or a natural gas utility. The review committee must also include a member representing the insurance industry.

Summary of Amended Bill:

Facility Operators' Duties.

Facility operators are not required to indicate the depth of the underground facility when marking the location of underground facilities.

Reporting Damage.

When an excavator damages an underground facility and the damage causes an emergency condition, the excavator must call 911 to alert the appropriate local public safety agencies.

Safety Committee.

The safety committee is not required to include a representative from the insurance industry, but must include a representative from a water-sewer district.

The review committee must be a balanced group including at least one excavator and one facility operator.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The current law works well, but adjustments need to be made from time to time. The work group met several times and unanimously agreed that the four changes in the bill will streamline practices and make the current law work better. The provision requiring excavators to call 911 if damage to utilities occurs brings the state law more into alignment with federal law.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Senator Takko, prime sponsor; Marian Dacca, Tacoma Public Utilities; Don Evans, Washington 811; and Jason Lewis, Utilities and Transportation Commission.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.