House Labor Relations Committee – 9:30 a.m.

The committee held a public hearing today to discuss HB 1349. The bill, introduced by Representative Thomas Killion (R-Delaware), would require those who work on elevators to be licensed by the state. Richard Kennedy, the president of Kencor Elevator Systems, testified before the committee first. Kennedy urged the committee to not commit the bill to the House floor, because it “would arbitrarily limit those who could service passenger elevators, freight elevators, escalators and even residential wheelchair lifts for the disabled.” Kennedy called the bill “unnecessary,” and explained that the state has a good elevator safety program in place already. Gregg Rogers, the National Coordinator for the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund (EIWPF), spoke of the need to establish minimum qualifications or licensing requirements for those who intend “to work on different types of conveyances.” Rogers stressed that elevators are powerful machines and they can be “unforgiving when they malfunction.” He urged the committee to adopt the bill, “so that we can save lives.” Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.