04/07/1999 06:07 PM Senate FIN

                                                                                                                                
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 8(STA)                                                                                                   
"An Act relating to the minimum plumbing fixtures                                                                               
required for females and males in the state plumbing                                                                            
code; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This was the second hearing for this bill.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair John Torgerson asked if the department had put                                                                         
together the information requested at the last hearing.                                                                         
Senator Dave Donley said the handout he provided and the                                                                        
proposed amendment was at the request of the department.                                                                        
The handout conformed to the amendment.  He said Senator                                                                        
Gary Wilken's map showing the number of toilets that would                                                                      
be required was correct. However, the facility's capacity                                                                       
numbers had to be reduced by one-half to consider that half                                                                     
of the visitors would be women and half men. Therefore, all                                                                     
the number quoted at the previous meeting should be reduced                                                                     
by one-half. The largest facility in the State of Alaska                                                                        
was the Sullivan Arena and held approximately 6,250. That                                                                       
figure would be reduced by one-half to calculate the number                                                                     
of toilets required. The Sullivan Arena would need 41                                                                           
toilets total under these calculations.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
He asked the Al Dwyer to explain the amendment.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
AL DWYER, Director, Division of Labor Standards and Safety,                                                                     
Department of Labor recommended the amendment be adopted                                                                        
and explained that the current language contained the                                                                           
oversight of including the total capacity rather than one-                                                                      
half the total capacity.  The department wanted to maintain                                                                     
the criteria from the Uniform Building Code that required                                                                       
fewer facilities for men.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Dave Donley explained that the amendment would just                                                                     
adopt a uniform method for establishing the number of                                                                           
lavatories in relation to the number of toilets, water                                                                          
closets and urinals.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator Dave Donley made a motion to adopt Amendment #3. He                                                                     
clarified for Co-Chair John Torgerson that this amendment                                                                       
would not affect that changes made by Amendment #2. Senator                                                                     
Lyda Green objected to the motion for question.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
BREAK 6:13PM / 6:13 PM                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Lyda Green asked if the formula would take the                                                                          
number of occupants and divide that by two to determine the                                                                     
amount of females who would use the facilities. Al Dwyer                                                                        
affirmed.  Senator Lyda Green asked if that was currently                                                                       
in state statute.  Al Dwyer again affirmed.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair John Torgerson asked about facilities that were                                                                        
remodeled and did not have to be grandfathered in. Al Dwyer                                                                     
responded that remodels that did not add to the occupancy                                                                       
load would be exempt unless the plumbing system was                                                                             
completely changed.  Co-Chair John Torgerson asked were                                                                         
that was stipulated. Al Dwyer answered it was contained in                                                                      
the department's regulations.  Co-Chair John Torgerson                                                                          
referred to the issue of deferred maintenance projects and                                                                      
wanted assurance that this bill would not affect those. Al                                                                      
Dwyer gave that reassurance.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Amendment #3 was adopted without objection.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Dave Donley offered a motion to move CS SB 8 (FIN)                                                                      
from committee.  Senator Loren Leman objected to comment on                                                                     
the record research he had did to determine the cost for                                                                        
each toilet. The architect he spoke to estimated the cost                                                                       
to be approximately $10,000. He removed his objection.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Without objection, the bill was reported out of committee.