House Bill 817 Summary

• Creates the Mississippi Conveyance Safety Act to establish minimum safety standards for elevators, escalators, moving walks, platform lifts, dumbwaiters, stairway chairlifts, and related conveyances in buildings and structures.

• Requires licensing of elevator contractors, elevator mechanics, and elevator inspectors by the Commissioner of Insurance, with licenses valid for two years and renewable upon completion of eight hours of continuing education.

• Mandates that all conveyance owners register existing equipment by December 31, 2014, obtain permits before installation or alteration, and have conveyances inspected annually by licensed inspectors; establishes 30-day compliance deadline for correcting code violations.

• Prohibits unlicensed persons from erecting, constructing, installing, altering, maintaining, or testing conveyances; exempts conveyances in private residences from requirements.

• Establishes civil penalties and license suspension or revocation for violations; creates a special "Mississippi Elevator and Conveyance Fund" from licensing fees and penalties to support administration; effective July 1, 2013.