WSR 98-22-105

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF

LABOR AND INDUSTRIES

[Filed November 4, 1998, 11:25 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: 4.18% increase in contractor registration (chapter 296-200A WAC), factory assembled structures (chapters 296-150C, 296-150F, 296-150M, 296-150P, and 296-150R WAC), electrical permit (WAC 296-46-910), elevators (chapter 296-86A WAC), fees, clarification of old fees and possible new fees for electrical licensing (WAC 296-46-915) and electrical certification (WAC 296-401A-700).

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 18.27 RCW, Registration of contractors; chapter 43.22 RCW, Factory assembled structures (FAS); chapter 19.28 RCW, Electrical; and chapter 296-86A WAC, Elevators.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: A 4.18% fee increase, which is the Office of Financial Management's maximum allowable fiscal growth rate factor for fiscal year 1999, is necessary to maintain the operational effectiveness of the contractor registration, FAS, electrical and elevator programs.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The department is the sole agency charged with setting plumbing, contractor registration, elevator, electrical and most FAS fees. However, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will review any proposed increase in manufactured home fees.

Process for Developing New Rule: The department will solicit input from the director's FAS Advisory Board, the Elevator Board, the Electrical Board, an ad hoc committee, individual stakeholders, other stakeholder groups and the public hearing process in developing this rule proposal.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Kevin Morris, Chief Contractor Compliance/Plumber Certification, phone (360) 902-5578 or fax (360) 902-5292, Department of Labor and Industries, Specialty Compliance Services Division, P.O. Box 44470, Olympia, WA 98504-4470; Dan Wolfenbarger, Chief Factory Assembled Structures Inspector, phone (360) 902-5225 or fax (360) 902-5292, Department of Labor and Industries, Specialty Compliance Services Division, P.O. Box 44440, Olympia, WA 98504-4440; Becky Ernstes, Acting Chief Elevator Inspector, phone (360) 902-6128 or fax (360) 902-6132, Department of Labor and Industries, Specialty Compliance Services Division, P.O. Box 44480, Olympia, WA 98504-4480; or Janet Lewis, Chief Electrical Inspector, phone (360) 902-5249 or fax (360) 902-5292, Department of Labor and Industries, Specialty Compliance Services Division, P.O. Box 44460, Olympia, WA 98504-4460.

November 2, 1998

Gary Moore

Director