1     
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AMENDMENTS

2     
2019 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Casey Snider

5     
Senate Sponsor: David P. Hinkins

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill requires the reporting of recommendations regarding mass timber products for
10     building construction.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     defines "mass timber products";
14          ▸     requires the Uniform Building Code Commission to recommend building standards
15     for the use of mass timber products;
16          ▸     provides a repeal date; and
17          ▸     makes technical changes.
18     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19          None
20     Other Special Clauses:
21          None
22     Utah Code Sections Affected:
23     AMENDS:
24          15A-1-203, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 14
25     ENACTS:
26          63I-2-215, Utah Code Annotated 1953
27     

28     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
29          Section 1. Section 15A-1-203 is amended to read:

30          15A-1-203. Uniform Building Code Commission -- Unified Code Analysis
31     Council.
32          (1) There is created a Uniform Building Code Commission to advise the division with
33     respect to the division's responsibilities in administering the codes.
34          (2) The commission shall consist of 11 members as follows:
35          (a) one member shall be from among candidates nominated by the Utah League of
36     Cities and Towns and the Utah Association of Counties;
37          (b) one member shall be a licensed building inspector employed by a political
38     subdivision of the state;
39          (c) one member shall be a licensed professional engineer;
40          (d) one member shall be a licensed architect;
41          (e) one member shall be a fire official;
42          (f) three members shall be contractors licensed by the state, of which one shall be a
43     general contractor, one an electrical contractor, and one a plumbing contractor;
44          (g) two members shall be from the general public and have no affiliation with the
45     construction industry or real estate development industry; and
46          (h) one member shall be from the Division of Facilities Construction Management of
47     the Department of Administrative Services.
48          (3) (a) The executive director shall appoint each commission member after submitting
49     a nomination to the governor for confirmation or rejection.
50          (b) If the governor rejects a nominee, the executive director shall submit an alternative
51     nominee until the governor confirms the nomination. An appointment is effective after the
52     governor confirms the nomination.
53          (4) (a) Except as required by Subsection (4)(b), as terms of commission members
54     expire, the executive director shall appoint each new commission member or reappointed
55     commission member to a four-year term.
56          (b) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (4)(a), the executive director shall,
57     at the time of appointment or reappointment, adjust the length of terms to ensure that the terms

58     of commission members are staggered so that approximately half of the commission is
59     appointed every two years.
60          (5) When a vacancy occurs in the commission membership for any reason, the
61     executive director shall appoint a replacement for the unexpired term.
62          (6) (a) A commission member may not serve more than two full terms.
63          (b) A commission member who ceases to serve may not again serve on the commission
64     until after the expiration of two years [from the date of cessation of service] after the day on
65     which service ceased.
66          (7) A majority of the commission members constitute a quorum and may act on behalf
67     of the commission.
68          (8) A commission member may not receive compensation or benefits for the
69     commission member's service, but may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance
70     with:
71          (a) Section 63A-3-106;
72          (b) Section 63A-3-107; and
73          (c) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and
74     63A-3-107.
75          (9) (a) The commission shall annually designate one of [its] the commission's members
76     to serve as chair of the commission.
77          (b) The division shall provide a secretary to facilitate the function of the commission
78     and to record the commission's actions and recommendations.
79          (10) The commission shall:
80          (a) in accordance with Section 15A-1-204, report to the Business and Labor Interim
81     Committee;
82          (b) offer an opinion regarding the interpretation of or the application of a code if a
83     person submits a request for an opinion;
84          (c) act as an appeals board as provided in Section 15A-1-207;
85          (d) establish advisory peer committees on either a standing or ad hoc basis to advise

86     the commission with respect to matters related to a code, including a committee to advise the
87     commission regarding health matters related to a plumbing code; and
88          (e) assist the division in overseeing code-related training in accordance with Section
89     15A-1-209.
90          (11) A person requesting an opinion under Subsection (10)(b) shall submit a formal
91     request clearly stating:
92          (a) the facts in question;
93          (b) the specific citation at issue in a code; and
94          (c) the position taken by the persons involved in the facts in question.
95          (12) (a) In a manner consistent with Subsection (10)(d), the commission shall jointly
96     create with the Utah Fire Prevention Board an advisory peer committee known as the "Unified
97     Code Analysis Council" to review fire prevention and construction code issues that require
98     definitive and specific analysis.
99          (b) The commission and Utah Fire Prevention Board shall jointly, by rule made in
100     accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, provide for:
101          (i) the appointment of members to the Unified Code Analysis Council; and
102          (ii) procedures followed by the Unified Code Analysis Council.
103          (13) (a) As used in this Subsection (13), "mass timber products" means a type of
104     building component or system that uses large panelized wood construction, including:
105          (i) cross laminated timber;
106          (ii) nail laminated timber;
107          (iii) glue laminated timber;
108          (iv) laminated strand timber;
109          (v) dowel laminated timber;
110          (vi) laminated veneer lumber;
111          (vii) structural composite lumber; and
112          (viii) wood concrete composites.
113          (b) On or before October 1, 2019, the commission shall prepare and submit, in

114     accordance with Section 68-3-14, a written report to the Business and Labor Interim
115     Committee recommending building standards for the use of mass timber products for
116     residential and commercial building construction.
117          (c) In making the recommendations described in Subsection (13)(b), the commission
118     shall consider applicable national and international standards.
119          Section 2. Section 63I-2-215 is enacted to read:
120          63I-2-215. Repeal dates -- Title 15A.
121          Subsection 15A-1-203(13), which addresses mass timber products, is repealed
122     December 31, 2019.