05/10/1999 01:45 PM House FIN

SENATE BILL NO. 50                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
An Act relating to certain boiler and pressure vessel                                                                           
inspections and inspectors; and providing for an                                                                                
effective date.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
DWIGHT PERKINS, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,                                                                       
noted that the Department is currently severely backlogged                                                                      
in its inspections of boilers and pressure vessels.  Of the                                                                     
6,000 vessels that are overdue for inspection, over half are                                                                    
of this type.  The proposed legislation would allow the                                                                         
Commissioner to identify certain state employees as approved                                                                    
inspectors for the purpose of performing routine annual                                                                         
inspections on this type of overdue vessel.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Perkins suggested that this action would free up the                                                                        
National Board approved boiler inspectors to address those                                                                      
vessels that are of a larger, more complex nature, such as                                                                      
high capacity pressure vessels and large capacity commercial                                                                    
and industrial boilers.  This strategy should assist the                                                                        
Department in addressing the backlog of boilers and pressure                                                                    
vessels that are overdue for inspection.  The legislation                                                                       
will allow cross training and more efficient utilization of                                                                     
existing staff to benefit of the public.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
In response to Co-Chair Therriault's query, Mr. Perkins                                                                         
stated that the size of the projects would be six-plex or                                                                       
small commercial buildings.  He reiterated that the high-                                                                       
pressure steam and boiler inspectors would be freed up.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative J. Davies asked if the problem resulted from                                                                     
the positions not being authorized or cut from the operating                                                                    
budget.  Mr. Perkins replied that the Department does not                                                                       
have the authorization for the positions while at the same                                                                      
time suffer from a severe backlog.  The intent is to                                                                            
increase inspections biannually.  Currently, they are                                                                           
serviced annually.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
AL DWYER, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF LABOR STANDARDS AND SAFETY,                                                                     
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, added that the backlog could be                                                                            
partially addressed within six months.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Foster voiced concern with the workload of                                                                       
plumbing inspectors in his area.  Mr. Dwyer replied that the                                                                    
Department's plumbing inspectors are generally located in                                                                       
the major city hubs such as Anchorage and Fairbanks from                                                                        
which they fly into the smaller communities to perform                                                                          
inspections.  The Department attempts to utilize employees                                                                      
fully while they are on the road.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Foster noted his concern with the boiler                                                                         
situation in Bush area schools.  He recommended that schools                                                                    
receive priority inspections.  Mr. Dwyer noted that the                                                                         
Department prioritizes all jobs in all communities.  He                                                                         
acknowledged that there had been five boiler-related fires                                                                      
in Representative Foster's area, and that four had been                                                                         
related to arson.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dwyer addressed the fiscal note.  He commented that the                                                                     
change would allow the Department to increase efficiency by                                                                     
better utilizing the skills of the existing inspector                                                                           
personnel.  By having certain State employees perform                                                                           
limited boiler inspections on a part-time basis, the current                                                                    
rate of growth in inspection backlog should be stopped and a                                                                    
positive reduction of the existing backlog could be                                                                             
achieved.  Inspections performed by inspectors are expected                                                                     
to generate additional receipts.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Foster MOVED to report SB 50am out of                                                                            
Committee with individual recommendations and with the                                                                          
accompanying fiscal note.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                     
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SB 50am was reported out of Committee with a "do pass"                                                                          
recommendation and with a fiscal note by the Department of                                                                      
Labor dated 2/19/99.