H.B. 582 Asbestos Amendments: transcript

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I will, uh, I believe I'm speaking to the, is there a second sub online? Just We're checking. We don't have a second sub online. Then this First sub is the one I want use. Okay. Then please talk to the first sub. All right, we're gonna do that. Thank you. Uh, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, uh, trying to keep all these straight is sometimes a goal. So, uh, what this bill does is it modifies our asbestos requirements for testing at local landfills, um, for residential properties of four or less units, uh, to comply with federal law. Uh, that it basically says that on or after January 1st, uh, 1981, you do not have to test for asbestos. It's, it's very commonly known that from 1981 on, we primarily got rid of asbestos. So if, if you're, if somebody is doing a, a project or if a, even if a builder is doing a project on four units or less, uh, and the home or the structure was built after 1981, they do not have to have, uh, inspections, uh, for asbestos done on that mat construction material. And there is a caveat from, uh, January 1st, 1981 to January 1st, 1992, where we still had asbestos in some specific materials. We've listed those materials on here. Uh, I've worked closely with DEQ to get this where we need it to be. It, it primarily matches the rule they have in place right now. Um, so with that, uh, that concludes my presentation and I'll, I'm happy to answer any questions.

Is that on this bill? Thank you.

Is it your goal to make selling a home easier for people? Because I really appreciate this.

It's, it's to help people that wanna remodel their home when there is no asbestos that could possibly be there to not have to go through the process of having it tested.

Yes, it's Mr. Chair. Alright, thank you. I'll start the timer and Thank you Mr. Chair and members of the committee. Uh, I'm Bryce Bird. I'm the director of the Division of Air Quality, and I want to thank Representative Peterson for, uh, codifying this. Uh, it is a deregulatory action. Need to do it closer. I'm sorry. Um, so at the Division of Air Quality, we, we do regulate, uh, both the, the as as projects that impact asbestos. And of course, this inspection requirement is an important part of that process to understand what MA materials will be impacted by a renovation or demolition activity. And then to have those inspected. And just to give you a, a, a sense of the, the current status, uh, most of the inspection work is actually done by the contractors that do the work. Uh, so a lot of the, uh, disaster response folks have asbestos inspectors on staff. Uh, many renovation contractors have an asbestos inspector on staff. And so with a few hours of training and certification, they're able to identify these materials. If they're not impacted by the demolition or renovation activity, then uh, they're done at that point. If there are materials that would be these suspect materials, then they'd be inspected. And what we're trying to avoid is cases where an unintended disturbance happens, and in that case, uh, the, the cost to, uh, remediate that becomes orders of magnitude higher. And so it's a, an important both, uh, public safety component of, of treating these materials. And then it goes in line with the existing code where it, uh, applies to only people who contract for hire and in areas of understanding public access. So it doesn't apply to a homeowner doing their work in their own homes. Thank you.

and give your comment. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Taaz Beon with the Utah Home Builders Association. I'd like the chair to know that it's normally difficult for a lawyer to say anything in a minute and a half, but I will break that rule today. The home builders supports this bill and, and we appreciate working with DEQ and, and we appreciate the sponsor. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, I'd like to make a motion to pass out House Bill 5 82 first sub. Um, the name of it, um, asbestos Amendments. That was too easy with a favorable rec, a very favorable recommendation.

I appreciate that motion.

Waive. Okay

We put that on the consent? I, I just can't imagine anybody not loving this bill.

Um, if you would like to go ahead with asbestos amendments. We're ready. Thank you, Madam Chair and members of the committee. It's a pleasure to be with you this afternoon. This is probably a really quick and easy bill for you. Um, this is just, uh, codifying some of the rule that we have in our, uh, DEQ rules, uh, regarding asbestos and when it is required to be tested on residential units of four units or less when the work is being done by a contractor. Um, it almost matches the rule with the exception of, uh, in line 1 47, a spray on textured ceiling treatment. We, we did remove, in the rule it says a spray on or painted on, uh, textured treatment, ceiling treatment. Uh, we just did modify that as there was some debate on that. Appreciate DEQ working through this with us as well as the HBA and the contractors. So I think this is a, a general consensus from everybody's standpoint, and it should be a pretty simple bill. Okay. That concludes your presentation.

Thank you, Madam Chairman. My name's Bryce Bird. I'm, uh, the, the director of the Division of Air Quality. I just wanna thank the committee and the sponsor of this bill, uh, for the, for the work that was done. Really, it was a, a full year process to identify, uh, changes that could be made to better regulate asbestos, but also remove regulation from those, uh, structures that are very unlikely, uh, after 1992 to contain asbestos. So appreciate the work and the stakeholders that were involved and encourage your support.

Alright, thank you. Madam Chair, Taz Binger, uh, with the Utah Home Builders Association. Uh, we su, uh, support this bill. We'd like to thank the sponsor for carrying it and with, uh, uh, Mr. Bur from, uh, air Vision of Air Quality for his, his work on this Bill, we, we ask that you, uh, support it. Thank you.

Thank you Madam Chair. I'm gonna move that we favorably recommend House Bill 5 82. First substitute to the full Senate.

Thank you Mr. Speaker, uh, colleagues hb uh, 5 82 is, is moving our asbestos rule that we have currently in state rule into statute and clarifying some things as far as what constitutes asbestos that has to be worried about if, if the construction project or the remodel project is being done by a contractor. As a homeowner, you don't have to go through all these testing procedures, but as contractors, they do have to go through these testing procedures. So what we're making sure we've done is to say previous, if the home was built after January of 1992, you do not have to do any testing. We've, we essentially eliminated all asbestos and construction materials from 1992 on if the home was built previous to 1992. But after January 1st, 1981, there are about five materials that we wanna make sure get tested for asbestos. And we've listed those in the bill. We did work with the DEQ as well as the Home Builders Association to try to fine tune what those materials are so there's no confusion. Uh, and that's, that's what this bill does.

Thanks Mr. President. Um, this bill refines the conditions under which testing for asbestos or related materials is required on residential properties with four or fewer units under the bill. The relevant regulatory board cannot require asbestos inspections on properties built on or before January 1st, 1992. Streamlining the requirements for newer homes, the bill still allows asbe rules when there's a planned renovation, demolition or disposal project that could disturb asbe of materials, protecting workers and public, uh, safety where risk is greatest by narrowing regulatory authority. Um, this bill prevents the board from imposing one size fits all inspections that could burden homeowners with little to no risk. The bill retains asbestos abatement oversight on older structures, especially those built for before 1981. And between 1981 and 92 where certain materials may have been present. The limiting mandatory testing for many residential properties potentially reduces unexpected costs and compliance requirements, especially for small property owners. The focus on requiring inspections only when asbestos may be disturbed helps ensure that regulatory, uh, resources are used when they matter most. That concludes my presentation. Mr. President, Thank you for the presentation.

Seeing no discussion, I'm gonna go to you for summation and a motion Call The question, Mr. President, the Question is, under suspension of the role shall first substitute House bill five eighty two pastoral call vote.