HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1803

BYRepresentatives Todd, Cooper, Leonard, J. Williams, Barnes, Sayan, Nutley and Butterfield

Changing provisions relating to requirements for factory-assembled structures.

House Committe on Housing

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (8)

      Signed by Representatives Nutley, Chair; Leonard, Vice Chair; Armstrong, Barnes, Sanders, Todd, J. Williams and Wineberry.

House Staff:Kenny Pittman (786-7392)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HOUSING FEBRUARY 4, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Labor and Industries (Department) is authorized to enforce rules and regulations governing the construction of factory built housing or factory built commercial structures in the state.

The department in considering its rules and regulations, for the construction of factory built housing or factory built commercial structures, is guided by the 1976 editions of: (a) the Uniform Building Code; (b) the Uniform Plumbing Code; (c) the Uniform Mechanical Code; and (d) the 1975 edition of the National Electrical Code.  These uniform codes are comprehensive sets of technical standards that are published by the International Conference of Building Officials, the Western Fire Chiefs Association, and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials.

Amendments to these codes are published annually and new editions are published every three years by the respective associations.  Currently, statutes must be amended in order to update these codes which are adopted by reference.

The department is authorized to set a fee schedule to cover the costs incurred in the administration and enforcement of the construction of mobile homes, commercial coaches, recreational vehicles, and factory built housing and factory built commercial structures.  This fee is collected for inspection services and compliance certification with applicable standards.

SUMMARY:

Reference to specific editions of the uniform codes used for the construction of factory built housing or factory built commercial structures is removed.

The construction and inspection of factory built housing or factory built commercial structures is guided by the uniform codes as amended and maintained by the State Building Code Council.  These codes consist of: (a) the uniform energy code; (b) the uniform building code; (c) the uniform plumbing code; and (d) the uniform mechanical code.

The installation of electrical systems is guided by the national electrical code and rules adopted by the department.

A factory-assembled structures and recreational vehicles account (Account) is established in the custody of the state treasurer. Funding for this account is provided from inspection and insignia fees collected by the Department of Labor and Industries on mobile homes, commercial coaches, recreational vehicles, and factory built homes and factory built commercial structures.

The revenue in the account must be used for cost incurred by the department in the administration and enforcement of provisions relating to mobile homes, commercial coaches, recreational vehicles, factory built housing and factory built structures and up to twenty-five percent, of the revenue in the account, may be used for mobile or manufactured housing industry training or education, recommended by the factory-assembled structures advisory board.

Allocations from the account, for training and education purposes are authorized by the director of the department.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 1, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Ron Clarke, Washington Manufactured Housing Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The use of excess inspection and certification fees that are collected from the manufactured home industry, not used for the administration of the program, to pay for training and education of the industry is a good idea.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.