Legislative Hearings for the Week of Feb. 1, 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 a series of 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 February 1, 2010.

• GC/CM Subcontractor Selection: HB 2675 would authorize an alternative selection method for electrical and mechanical subcontractors on general contractor/construction manager projects (Chapter 39.10 RCW). Hearing on Monday, February 1, 2010, at 3:30 p.m. in the House Committee on Capital Budget.

• Off-Site Prefabrication: HB 2805 would require—on public works projects estimated to cost over $1 million—contractors to submit lists of specified information regarding certain prefabricated items produced outside WA to the awarding agency and Labor & Industries, and contractors who produce certain prefabricated items outside WA to submit certified payroll records to the awarding agency and L&I upon request of an interested party (Chapter 39.12 RCW). This bill passed out of the House Committee on Commerce and Labor last week. A virtually identical bill (EHB 1836) was defeated in the Senate last session when it failed to receive the necessary majority by a single vote. Hearing on Wednesday, February 3, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. in the House Committee on Capital Budget.

• Wastewater Treatment Systems Designers: SHB 2589 would modify licensing provisions for on-site wastewater treatment systems designers (Chapter 18.210 RCW), including experience and experience verification requirements. This substitute bill passed out of the House Committee on Commerce and Labor two weeks ago. Hearing on Thursday, February 4, 2010, at 8:00 a.m. in the House Committee on General Government Appropriations.