HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1514
As Passed House:
March 4, 2023
Title: An act relating to the purchase and distribution of insignia to manufacturers of recreational vehicles and/or park trailers.
Brief Description: Addressing the purchase and distribution of insignia to manufacturers of recreational vehicles and/or park trailers.
Sponsors: Representatives Robertson, Berry, Schmidt, Ormsby, Doglio, Reed and Fosse.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Labor & Workplace Standards: 2/1/23, 2/10/23 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 3/4/23, 95-0.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows manufacturers of recreational vehicles and park trailers to purchase and distribute insignia from the Department of Labor and Industries (Department) if the manufacturer has an approved quality control program and submits its plans for the model or prototype of its recreational vehicle or park trailer to the Department.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & WORKPLACE STANDARDS
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 9 members:Representatives Berry, Chair; Fosse, Vice Chair; Robertson, Ranking Minority Member; Schmidt, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bronoske, Connors, Doglio, Ormsby and Ortiz-Self.
Staff: Trudes Tango (786-7384).
Background:

The Department of Labor and Industries (Department) enforces safety regulations for the manufacturing of recreational vehicles (RVs) and park trailers sold or leased in the state.  An RV is a vehicle primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreational camping, travel, or seasonal use that either has its own motive power or is mounted on or towed by another vehicle.  They include camping trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, motor homes, travel trailers, and truck campers. 
 
An RV or park trailer sold or leased in the state must have an insignia issued by the Department.  To obtain the appropriate insignia, the Department must approve the manufacturer's design plans and specifications.  The manufacturer may submit its plans and specifications to the Department and be subject to the Department's review process.  In the alternative, the manufacturer may use a self-certification process, whereby the manufacturer's design plans are reviewed by a Department-approved licensed professional and the manufacturer has a quality control process approved by the Department. 


Once the Department approves a manufacturer's plans and conducts an inspection, and the manufacturer pays the appropriate fees, the Department issues the insignia.  Insignia are attached to the finished vehicle before it leaves the manufacturer's location.
Summary of Bill:

The Department must permit the purchase and distribution of insignia to a manufacturer of RVs and park trailers with an approved quality control program, if the manufacturer submits plans and specifications of a model or production prototype of an RV or park trailer and pays the review fees to the Department.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: 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 backlog at the Department for issuing these insignia has been cleared, but this bill will help streamline the process.  It will ensure there is no gap in the inventory.  Consumers will go to other states to buy RVs and trailers if there is a shortage in this state.  Manufacturers will be able to purchase insignia as long as they provide the Department with a quality control plan.  This is codifying a process that is already being done at the Department.
Persons Testifying: Representative Eric Robertson, prime sponsor; and Nicholas Rudowich and Grant Nelson, Recreational Vehicle Industry Association.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.