AB 641

This bill allows the Department of Safety and Professional Services to appoint

certain cities, villages, towns, and counties (local governments) to approve

construction, alteration, and plumbing plans for public buildings and places of

employment and makes other related changes. Under current statutory law, such

construction, alteration, and plumbing is subject to the commercial building code

and the state plumbing code, both of which DSPS has promulgated by rule.

For construction and alteration, current statutory law allows first and second

class cities to approve plans, but DSPS must certify second class cities to do so.

Current statutory law also allows first class cities and certified second class cities to

grant variances from commercial building code requirements. For other cities, as

well as towns, villages, and counties, current statutory law allows DSPS to certify

local governments to approve plans and grant variances, but only for construction

of buildings with volumes smaller than 50,000 cubic feet and alterations to buildings

with volumes smaller than 100,000 cubic feet. In addition, DSPS has promulgated

rules that allow DSPS to appoint local governments as agents with authority to

approve plans for construction and alteration of larger buildings. The bill repeals

those rules and gives DSPS statutory authority to make those appointments. The

bill also includes requirements for local governments to apply to DSPS for the

appointments, which are based on the rules repealed by the bill. If DSPS appoints

a local government to approve plans under the bill, the local government may also

grant variances.

For plumbing, DSPS has promulgated rules that allow DSPS to appoint local

governments to approve plans for certain installations in public buildings and places

of employment. The bill gives DSPS statutory authority to appoint local

governments to review plans for plumbing installations specified by DSPS.

The bill also requires DSPS to establish requirements for local governments to

renew the certifications and appointments described above every five years. The

requirements apply to construction, alteration, and plumbing plan review. If DSPS

certified or appointed a local government before the bill's effective date, the process

established by DSPS must specify deadlines for renewing the certification or

appointment.