SB 5694 — Establishing a statewide boiler operator certification.

ENGROSSEDS-0808.1 SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5694 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By SenateSenator LaborKing &AN CommerceACT (originallyRelating sponsoredto bya Senatorstatewide King)boiler READoperator FIRSTcertification; TIME 02/21/25.

AN ACT Relating to a statewide boiler operator certification;

1 ESSBSB 5694 unification of the existing certification and training expectations for the entire state to ensure portability of the certification and that the workers in this field possess the necessary skills, training, and abilities for the safe operation, maintenance, and repair of boilers.

The board shall formulate definitions and rules for the safe and proper construction, installation, repair, use, and operation of boilers ((andand for)),certification of boiler operators for the safe and proper construction, installation, and repair of unfired pressure vessels in this state,state. and for certification of boiler operators.

However, all rules adopted by the board shall be adopted in p.

2 ESSBSB 5694 adopted by the board shall be adopted in compliance with the ((Administrative Procedure Act)) administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW, as now or hereafter amended.

(1) The board shall promulgate rules and regulations for the safe and proper installation, repair, useuse, , and operation of boilers, and for the safe and proper installation and repair of unfired pressure vessels which were in use or installed ready for use in this state prior to the date upon which the first rules and regulations under this chapter pertaining to existing installations became effective, or during the ((twelve months)) 12-month period immediately thereafter.

(5) Approved pressure vessels (hot water heaters, hot water storage tanks, hot water supply boilers, and hot water heating boilers listed by a nationally recognized testing agency), with approved safety devices including a pressure relief valve, with a nominal water containing capacity of ((one hundred twenty)) 120 p.

3 ESSBSB 5694 nominal water containing capacity of ((one hundred twenty)) 120 gallons or less having a heat input of ((two hundred thousand b.t.u.'s per hour)) 200,000 Btu/h or less, at pressure of ((one hundred sixty)) 160 pounds per square inch or less, and at temperatures of ((two hundred ten)) 210 degrees Fahrenheit or less:

4 ESSBSB 5694 NEW SECTION.

(1) The department, with the consent of the board, shall prepare examinations to be administered to applicants for boiler operator certification.

(2) The departmentdepartment, with the consent of the board, may enter into a contract with a nationally recognized testing agency to develop, administer, and score any examinations required by this section.

5 ESSBSB 5694 (iii) Attended a recognized training program and has an aggregate of four years' experience operating high or low pressure boiler plants or equivalent experience.

6 ESSBSB 5694 (5) The board shall, by rule, establish the requisite level, not less than eight hours every four years, of continuing education units required for renewal of boiler operator certification.

7 ESSBSB 5694 under this section shall be issued a certification by the department upon making an application as provided in the rules adopted by the board.

The notice must list the allegations against the certificate holder and give the certificate holder the opportunity to request,request within 20 days of receiving the notice, a hearing before the board.

The hearing must be conducted in p.

8 ESSBSB 5694 The hearing must be conducted in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW.

(4) The department shall immediately suspend the boiler operator certificate of a person who has been certified pursuant to RCW 74.20A.324 by the department of social and health services as a person who is not in compliance with a support order.

If the person has continued to meet all other requirements for reinstatement during the suspension, reissuance of the certificate shall be automatic upon the department's receipt of a release issued by the department of social and health services stating that the licensee is in compliance with the order.

(1) It is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or othercorporation entity to operate a boiler covered under this chapter without a valid boiler operator certification.

(2) The department may assess a penalty against a person, firm, partnership, corporation, or othercorporation entity violating a provision of this chapter.

p.(4) The department must notify the violator of its action, and the reasons for its action, in writing.

9 ESSB 5694 (4) The department must notify the violator of its action, and the reasons for its action, in writing.

A new section is added to chapter 70.79 RCW to read as follows:

Sections 7 through 12 of this act do not apply to:

(1) Individuals employed by an owner or operator of a refinery engaged in activities described in code 324110, 325199, or 325110 of the North American industry classification system;

or (2) Steam boilers or unfired pressure vessels that are part of an electric generating facility that produces qualified biomass energy as defined in RCW 19.285.030.

NEW SECTION.

Sec.

14.

109 ESSBSB 5694