Committee clears elevator and amusement‑ride rules, including inspector fee increase and electrical code updates

The House Regulations and Administrative Procedures, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Committee approved updated rules for the Office of Elevators and Amusement Rides, including an increase in inspector hourly charges and updated electrical‑code references for amusement rides.

Dwayne Scott, program administrator for the office at the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, told the committee inspections often fail and require multiple return visits, arguing the change would better cover the agency’s costs and discourage contractors from using the agency as a free troubleshooting resource. “The $75 an hour worked for a while,” Scott said, “but I thank my agency director for moving for a hundred and $50 an hour, which really does help the state to be able to make up the difference with the cost that we incur.”

Why it matters: The change raises the per‑hour inspector charge (including travel time) to better reflect the agency’s costs and aims to reduce repeated failed final inspections. The rules also update references to the National Electrical Code for amusement devices; Scott said the new code increases clearances of power lines from 10 feet to 15 feet, which he described as a public‑safety improvement.

Details and vote: The rulemaking corrects obsolete language, incorporates manufacturer requirements for amusement rides, increases inspection fees and updates code citations. Committee members asked whether code updates would impose retroactive upgrades; Scott responded that the changes apply to new installations and should not force retroactive work on existing equipment. Document 53‑53 (Office of Elevators and Amusement Rides) was approved by roll call (transcript records committee members voting in favor). The committee recorded the document as approved.

Ending: The Office of Elevators and Amusement Rides will apply the updated fee schedule and code references as the regulation advances through the administrative process.