04/28/1994 04:02 PM Senate RLS

 CHAIRMAN HALFORD brought  HB 180 am  (AHFC HOUSING INSPECTION                 
 REQUIREMENTS) before the committee as the next order of business.             
                                                                               
 SENATOR LITTLE directed attention to a proposed amendment to HB
.  She explained it keeps the intent of the bill intact and                
 allows flexibility in areas where an ICBO certified inspector isn't           
 reasonably available, as well as allowing for the inspector to make           
 a case-by-case determination.  She believes it is a better way to             
 handle the problem than the video tape idea as proposed in the bill           
 before the committee.                                                         
                                                                               
 DAVID HARDING, staff to the prime sponsor of the legislation,                 
 Representative Eileen MacLean, said it was unclear exactly what the           
 amendment would accomplish.  He thinks the approval on a case-by-             
 case basis would be overly burdensome to AHFC.  He also pointed out           
 that in vast areas of the Bush there aren't any ICBO inspectors,              
 because the volume of new construction is so small.  The intent of            
 the bill was to create some built in flexibility and opportunity              
 for some qualified people to be able to do these inspections                  
 without having each case reviewed by AHFC.  He noted AHFC thinks              
 the language proposed in the bill is fine.                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR LITTLE said her real problem is with the video taping and             
 the possible liability.  She has been a building inspector and she            
 can see a situation where a person video taping a structure could             
 avoid an area, either purposely or accidently, and could miss a big           
 problem with a structure.                                                     
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN HALFORD asked Mr. Harding if he thought the sponsor would            
 object to having inspections performed by a licensed architect or             
 by a license engineer, whether or not the inspections are in rural            
 areas.  SENATOR LITTLE commented that she would like to keep the              
 rural provision in there since that's where the difficulty is.                
 She said she would be willing to work with the sponsor to come up             
 with something that gets the problem resolved, but is a little more           
 acceptable.                                                                   
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN HALFORD stated action on HB 180 am would be withheld until           
 Senator Little and the sponsor get together to discuss her                    
 concerns.