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Administrative Services backs changes to support acting building officials, accessible EV parking and elevator safety in SB 1320
Summary
Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Michelle Gilman urged the Public Safety and Security Committee to pass Senate Bill 13‑20, saying the measure would help municipalities by clarifying authority for acting building officials, add provisions on accessible EV parking spaces and tighten elevator certificates of operation.
Michelle Gilman, commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services, told the Public Safety and Security Committee that the department supports Senate Bill 13 20 and urged passage.
"Senate Bill 13 20 does offer several changes to statutes to support municipalities increase, electric vehicle charging stations for, persons with disabilities and close a loophole regarding the safe operation of elevators," Gilman said in testimony. Gilman spoke with Deputy Commissioner Darren Hobbs, who oversees Real Estate and Construction Services at DAS, at the committee hearing.
The bill, Gilman said, includes three principal elements: authority for acting building officials where local jurisdictions face shortages of trained personnel; provisions on accessible electric vehicle parking spaces; and measures to continue oversight of elevator and escalator safety and renewal of their certificates of operation. "We're happy to provide additional background regarding these various provisions, but we do, believe strongly that they will assist, municipalities," she said, citing feedback from municipal building officials and professional organizations.
Deputy Commissioner Darren Hobbs told committee members the 30‑day period proposed in current code for certain building‑official actions aligns with practical local review timelines. Hobbs said a shorter 15‑day timeline requested by some stakeholders could be too short in many municipalities. "30 days coincides with the period of time that's in code right now for the time that a building official has to review an application and issue a permit or deny a permit," Hobbs said, adding the longer period reflects municipal processes.
Committee members pressed whether shorter time frames would reduce housing or construction delays; Hobbs said while shorter windows might be attractive in theory, local appointment and administrative timelines often make a 30‑day window more effective in practice.
The testimony centered on statutory clarity to allow municipalities to name acting building officials when vacancies or temporary absences occur, and on refining accessibility standards tied to EV chargers and elevator inspection and certificate renewals. Gilman also said the elevator and escalator provisions respond to frequent constituent concerns and property‑owner questions about safety and operation.
No formal action or vote on SB 13 20 was recorded during the hearing; committee members indicated they will take testimony under advisement and may request further technical detail from DAS.
