Date: 03/19/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-064

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved a conceptual amendment to grant localities tTIE



12:37 PM

The committee recessed.


12:42 PM -- Senate Bill 09-064

The committee returned to order. Representative Massey, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 09-064, concerning building inspections relating to utilities. Representative Massey explained the effect of the bill, and provided background on the need for the legislation.


12:47 PM

The following persons testified regarding Senate Bill 09-064:


12:47 PM --
Mr. Steve Callahan, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Committee members received copies of e-mails from Eagle County School District officials expressing opposition to Senate Bill 09-064 (Attachments D and E). Mr. Callahan suggested that the legislation is unnecessary due to a lack of a problem with utility inspections in schools. Mr. Callahan discussed the lack of safeguards that would be in place to ensure proper building inspections by local governments if the bill were to pass. Mr. Callahan then read from attachments D and E. Discussion ensued regarding the potential for amending the bill to allow local governments to employ inspectors with certain qualifications for school inspections, rather than requiring them to do so.

090319AttachD.pdf 090319AttachE.pdf


12:58 PM

Discussion ensued regarding adherence to various building codes. Mr. Callahan discussed the schedule for performing building inspections on schools.


01:00 PM --
Mr. Kurt Steenhook, representing Plumbers Union 3, testified in opposition to Senate Bill 09-064. Mr. Steenhook discussed the lack of problems with public school building inspections under current law, and the overall lack of need for the legislation. Mr. Steenhook also discussed the potential impact of the bill on the cost of school construction, and the quality of inspections performed under current law. Mr. Steenhook discussed the benefits of adhering to one inspection standard at the state level. Mr. Steenhook recounted an issue he experienced in Douglas County with replacement of plumbing fixtures that did not meet code.


01:10 PM --
Mr. David Sanger, representing the American Federation of Teachers of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Sanger discussed the sufficiency of current school building inspection requirements, and also stated that the Colorado Education Association also opposes the bill.


01:11 PM --
Mr. Phil Hayes, representing the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations, testified in opposition to Senate Bill 09-064. Mr. Hayes discussed a situation involving complaints associated with school inspections in El Paso County, and the lack of a problem with current school building inspection requirements overall. Mr. Hayes also discussed disparities among building codes at the local level, and the varying degrees of experience that local inspectors have with differing codes. Mr. Hayes suggested that legislation might be warranted in the future to address the problems that the bill seeks to address. Discussion ensued regarding the ability of inspectors, plumbers, and electricians to abide by various building codes.


01:22 PM --
Mr. Wayne Blazek, representing the Douglas County School District, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Blazek discussed problems associated with the current system of inspecting school building projects, and the potential cost savings that may be realized as a result of providing choice to schools in building inspections. Mr. Blazek then recounted an instance where Douglas County attempted to install waterless urinals in certain schools, only to be refused based on code issues.


01:27 PM --
Ms. Becky Baker, representing the Colorado chapter of the International Code Council, testified in favor of Senate Bill 09-064. Ms. Baker discussed the qualifications of and types of work performed by local code inspectors. Ms. Baker also discussed the merits of the bill. Ms. Baker responded to questions regarding the level of competence among state and local building inspectors.


01:31 PM --
Mr. Chris Lines, representing the Department of Regulatory Agencies, testified from a neutral position on the bill. Mr. Lines discussed the level of complaints received by the department from public schools based on building inspections. Mr. Lines responded to questions regarding the number of complaints that were based on the timing of inspections.


01:34 PM

Discussion ensued regarding amending the bill to make it permissive in nature, rather than compulsory.


BILL:SB09-064
TIME: 01:37:12 PM
MOVED:Massey
MOTION:Moved a conceptual amendment to grant localities the option to use local inspectors, as well as the Department of Regulatory Agencies. The motion was withdrawn at the committee's March 24th meeting.
SECONDED:McCann
VOTE
Casso
Court
Hullinghorst
Lambert
Massey
McCann
Miklosi
Murray
Nikkel
Labuda
Excused
Todd
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE




01:40 PM

The committee adjourned.