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Minutes for HB2005 - Committee on Water

Short Title

Excluding hot water supply boilers that have a nominal water capacity not exceeding 120 gallons from the provisions of the boiler safety act.

Minutes Content for Thu, Jan 28, 2021

Chairperson Highland opened the hearing on HB 2005 and turned control over to Vice Chair Orr so that he could testify for the bill.

Kyle Hamilton, Revisor, provided an overview of HB 2005 and the statutes that it affects (Attachment 2). HB 2005 would exclude hot water supply boilers that have a nominal water capacity not exceeding 120 gallons from the provisions of the boiler safety act. It would have a small fiscal effect due to decreased inspection fee revenue. (Attachment 3)

PROPONENT

Rep. Ron Highland appeared before the committee in support of HB 2005 (Attachment 4). He said his constituent, who is a motel owner in Wamego, asked for this because the Fire Marshal's office was treating his 95-gallon water heater as a boiler, and wanted him to make many expensive adjustments to provide for required safety measures. This is because a water heater qualifies as a boiler if it is above the 85-gallon limit set in the Kansas Boiler Safety Act. However, water heaters are much less dangerous than boilers because they do not heat water the same way, and do not have the risk of explosion that boilers do. Highland said this bill would raise the limit to 120 gallons, and help many motels and hotels across the state.

Written-only testimony in support of HB 2005 was received from:

NEUTRAL

Doug Jorgensen, State Fire Marshal, appeared before the committee (Attachment 6). He said that he was familiar with the hotel and that this issue happens frequently. He said his office had reached out to insurance providers and that they did not have concerns about this change because it brings Kansas in line with most other states and industry standards. He noted that making this change will have a small effect on the state general fund because of a reduction in inspection fees.

There were no opponents to HB 2005.

There being no further conferees, Vice Chairperson Orr closed the hearing and turned the gavel back over to Rep. Highland, who said the rules for voting in committee were being reviewed by the Revisors Office and will be sent out once approved.

There being no further business, Chairperson Highland adjourned the committee at 10:08am.