Washington State Legislative Hearings - Week of January 18, 2010

Steve Goldblatt, recently retired, longtime University of Washington Construction Management faculty member specializing in design and construction law, has been covering the legislative scene in Olympia for more than 25 years.

I've invited Steve to contribute guest blog posts on bills under consideration in the Washington State Legislature relating to public works and contracting, architects/engineers, and contractors. 

In this entry, Steve summarizes a number of bills that will receive a hearing in Olympia for the week of January 18, 2010.

• CPARB Membership: HB 2575 would add a regional transit authority representative to the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (RCW 39.10.220). Hearing on Tuesday, January 19, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. in the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee.

• Board and Commission Elimination: HB 2617 would eliminate dozens of boards and commissions, including the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (RCW 39.10.220) and the Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee (RCW 43.34.080). Hearing on Thursday, January 21, 2010, at 8:00 a.m. in the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee.

• Building Code Council: HB 2775 would make gubernatorial appointments to the State Building Code Council subject to Senate confirmation (RCW 19.27.070). Hearing on Thursday, January 21, 2010, at 8:00 a.m. in the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee.
  
  
• Electrical Trainee Classroom Training: HB 2546 would require electrical apprentices and trainees to take 48 hours of approved classroom training biennially (RCW 19.28.161). Hearing on Friday, January 22, 2010, at 8:00 a.m. in the House Commerce and Labor Committee.

• Labor and Industries Electrical Subpoenas: HB 2555 would authorize Labor and Industries to issue subpoenas to enforce Chapter 19.28 RCW. Hearing on Friday, January 22, 2010, at 8:00 a.m. in the House Commerce and Labor Committee.

• Prevailing Wages: HB 1992 would apply prevailing wage requirements (RCW 39.12.020) to construction projects that involve tax incentives, loans provided by a public entity, or public land or property that is sold or leased. This bill didn't come to a vote in committee last session. Hearing on Friday, January 22, 2010, at 8:00 a.m. in the House Commerce and Labor Committee.

• Contractor Registration: HB 2826 would alter penalty reduction conditions by Labor and Industries for first-time contractor registration offenders (RCW 18.27.340). Hearing on Friday, January 22, 2010, at 8:00 a.m. in the House Commerce and Labor Committee.

• Underground Economy Subpoenas: HB 2789 would authorize subpoenas for investigations of underground economic activities by Labor and Industries (RCW 51.04.040), Employment Security (RCW 50.12.130), and Revenue (Chapter 82.32 RCW). Hearing on Friday, January 22, 2010, at 8:00 a.m. in the House Commerce and Labor Committee.
  
  
• Small Business Compliance: HB 2603 would provide businesses with no more than 250 employees a copy of any state law or agency rule violation and 48-hours' opportunity to correct the violation (Chapter 34.05 RCW). Hearing on Friday, January 22, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. in the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee.
  
  
• GC/CM Subcontractor Selection: HB 2675 would authorize an alternative selection method for electrical and mechanical subcontractors on general contractor/construction manager projects (Chapter RCW 39.10). Hearing on Friday, January 22, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. in the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee.