Enrolled SB 87: Relating to a lumber grading training program and lumber grading certificates; relating to use of lumber graded and certified by a person holding a lumber grading training program certificate; and providing for an effective date.
00Enrolled SB 87 01 Relating to a lumber grading training program and lumber grading certificates; relating to use 02 of lumber graded and certified by a person holding a lumber grading training program 03 certificate; and providing for an effective date. 04 _______________ 05 * Section 1. AS 41.17 is amended by adding new sections to read: 06 Article 6A. Lumber Grading. 07 Sec. 41.17.610. Lumber grading training program. (a) The division shall 08 establish a lumber grading training program to train mill operators to grade lumber. 09 (b) The training program must be offered at least once each year. 10 (c) The division shall prescribe the 11 (1) content of the training program; 12 (2) qualifications for instructors; and 13 (3) requirements for completing the training program, including 14 requirements for issuing and renewing lumber grading certificates.
01 Sec. 41.17.620. Lumber grading certificates. (a) The division shall issue a 02 lumber grading certificate to an individual who successfully completes the lumber 03 grading training program established under AS 41.17.610. A certificate expires five 04 years after the date of issuance. A certificate must include the date of issuance and 05 expiration. 06 (b) The division may issue an initial lumber grading certificate to an 07 individual who has not completed the lumber grading training program if the 08 individual provides proof to the division that the individual 09 (1) holds a current certification from a lumber grading agency 10 accredited by the American Lumber Standard Committee, Incorporated; or 11 (2) has a bachelor's or postgraduate degree in forest products or wood 12 science and technology, or an equivalent degree as determined by the division. 13 (c) An individual holding a certificate, including an individual who received 14 an initial certificate under (b) of this section, must successfully complete the lumber 15 grading training program to renew the individual's lumber grading certificate. 16 (d) The division may revoke a lumber grading certificate for good cause, after 17 giving the certificate holder notice of the reason for revocation and an opportunity for 18 hearing. A certificate holder may appeal a revocation in writing to the state forester 19 within 10 days after revocation. 20 Sec. 41.17.630. Use of graded and certified lumber. (a) Load-bearing 21 dimensional lumber graded and certified in accordance with this section may be used 22 in one-, two-, and three-family dwellings in this state. 23 (b) Load-bearing dimensional lumber graded and certified under this section 24 must be milled in a manner that meets or exceeds the requirements of the applicable 25 building code adopted for one-, two-, and three-family dwellings for the location 26 where the lumber will be used or, if a building code for that location has not been 27 adopted, the building code most broadly used in the state, as determined by the 28 division. 29 (c) An individual holding a lumber grading certificate issued under 30 AS 41.17.620 may grade load-bearing dimensional lumber that the individual mills. 31 The individual shall provide written certification that the lumber meets the
01 requirements of (b) of this section. The certification must be 02 (1) on a form prescribed by the division; 03 (2) accompanied by a copy of the individual's lumber grading 04 certificate. 05 (d) Load-bearing dimensional lumber graded and certified under this section 06 may be used in a dwelling only if the individual holding the lumber grading certificate 07 sells the lumber directly to a building contractor, the owner of the dwelling, or a 08 person acting on behalf of the owner of the dwelling. 09 (e) Upon receiving written certification required by (c) of this section, an 10 inspector authorized to review plans or inspect the dwelling under applicable local 11 building codes may authorize the use of the lumber, reject the use of the lumber, or 12 authorize the use of the lumber subject to more restrictive construction requirements, 13 including requirements as to size, spacing, length of spans, and design. 14 * Sec. 2. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).