AWC Legislative Bulletin - Volume 31, No. 8
February 29, 2008  (Plain Text Version)

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In this issue:
What You Need to Know Now
Creating "Cooler" Communities – Municipal Responses to Climate Change
From the Director: Budgets Take Center Stage
Energy & Telecommunications
General Local Government
Infrastructure, Transportation & Economic Development
Land Use & Housing
Law & Justice
Municipal Finance
Personnel & Labor Relations
Online Legislative Advocacy Tools
AWC Legislative Contacts & Officers

General Local Government

Exempting Agricultural Structures from Building Code Requirements (SSB 6609)

House Local Government Committee had a hearing this week on SSB 6609. A panel representing counties testified in opposition and cities signed in opposed. The bill limits building permit fees for qualifying specialty agricultural buildings to a maximum of $75.00 and defines specialty agricultural buildings as buildings that house farm equipment or agricultural products and are not used for human habitation.

AWC is concerned that the bill specifically limits local government permit fees to a level that does not cover the costs incurred by cities or counties to conduct inspections and pay for staff time. The Committee voted down an amendment to allow cities and counties to charge actual costs for processing permits and performing inspections. Instead the bill was passed out of committee on a 6-1 vote without changes. It now goes to the House Rules Committee for further review.

Construction Warranty – Building Inspector Liability (SSB 6385)

SSB 6385, was heard in the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, February 26. An amended bill passed out of the Committee on February 28. The amendment changed the duty of "construction professionals involved in the construction of improvements for residential real property" to exercise reasonable care in the construction to a warranty that the construction was suitable for ordinary uses, free from defective materials, and was in compliance with all laws then applicable.

Because cities had raised concerns that building inspectors could be considered a part of the broad group of "construction professionals" required to warrant the construction to homeowners, the definition of construction professional was amended to exclude local government building inspectors acting in their official capacity. AWC is now satisfied that this version of the bill will not adversely affect cities, and has removed our opposition.

Driver Abstracts (SB 6885)

SB 6885 allows state colleges, universities, agencies for employment and risk management purposes, and units of local government that are authorized to self-insure, to receive driving record abstracts for risk management purposes. It passed out of the House Transportation Committee on February 26. AWC has been supportive of this measure that would allow cities access to driving abstracts of employees for insurance purposes.