The route to making elevators great again, literally per the bill title, doesn’t even have opposition from Democrats in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Make Elevators Great Again, known also as House Bill 559, has made its way to the Senate with 112-0 support and a fiscal note saying net state impact is $2.2 million in the coming fiscal year and $2.6 million the next.
Safety standards and fees are the crux of the bill. If adopted as written, Republican Labor Commissioner Luke Farley – and others who succeed him – would be able to set “alternative standards that are reasonably equivalent” to the American National Safety Standards.
Caps on inspection and certificate issuing fees would be repealed.
Among the fee caps included in the proposal are $1,000 for an expedited special inspection fee; $500 for holiday and weekend inspections; $300 for water slide inspections; $250 for amusement major ride inspections; and $100 for amusement rock wall inspections.
Provisions of the proposal would become effective immediately upon the bill becoming law. The fee structure would go into effect July 1.
Elevators and inspections garnered attention in the Tarheel State this generation more than others in part because former five-term Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry, a Republican, came to be known as the Elevator Lady. The Labor Department inspection is posted in each, and her photo was on them.
Republican Josh Dobson was her successor, winning election in 2020, but declined to have his photo on the certificates. Republican Luke Farley won in November and pledged in his campaign and after winning to have a plan to instill public confidence, be sure inspections were not out of date, and return the commissioner photo to the inspection certificate in each vertical transport car.
Republican Reps. Kyle Hall of Stokes County, Karl Gillespie of Macon County, Mitchell Setzer of Catawba County and Julia Howard of Davie County have credit for running the bill. The Senate received the bill Thursday before lawmakers departed Raleigh for an Easter break.
No sessions are scheduled this week. The General Assembly convenes Monday of next week, with most action unlikely to happen before Tuesday. Crossover day is May 8.
