omha.info - Legislative Update

pdate
July 7, 2009
AB 566 passed out of Senate Trans and Housing on a 7 to 3 vote: one vote extra this hearing instead of one vote short last hearing. Senator Simitian, who had been elusive about his vote on the bill, was extremely instrumental in helping the bill move forward. The Senator repeatedly reminded the committee what the bill actually would do, thereby clearing the confusion that the MHP lobbyists continued to create during the long hearing. On the first vote Senators Lowenthal, Kehoe, Pavley, Simitian and Wolk voted "aye". Two hours later both Senators Oropeza and DeSaulnier added their "aye" votes, giving us a 7-vote victory.

AB 566 now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee which may or may not meet in the next couple of weeks. If the Legislature agrees to a revised budget , then they will recess 7/17 and return 8/17. We will check with the Senate Appropriations Committee in the next couple of days to determine whether will send it to their Suspense file or conduct a hearing. It appears much more likely that it will go to the Suspense file where it will remain until the Legislature returns in August.

We will be in touch with you as soon as anything occurs. When AB 566 is sent to the Senate floor, we will immediately alert you that your cards, letters, calls, local legislative visits should commence.

Great day in Sacramento!! We would have gotten this out sooner but those of us who traveled to Sacramento or were there all day continuing our work lining up the votes in favor of this bill are just now able to get the word out to you.

--Brian Augusta

ASSEMBLY BILLS

AB 481 (Ma) - OPPOSE - Not Heard in Assembly Housing, Two-year bill that may be heard in January
Description: Would provide that a mobilehome that is not owner-occupied would not be subject to local rent controls

AB 566 (Nava) - SUPPORT - Failed passage by one vote June 23 in Sen. Transportation & Housing Committee, granted reconsideration. Expected to be reheard July 7, 2009. Description: Would require that the currently-mandated survey of residents of a park slated for conversion to condominiums demonstrate that a majority of the residents support the conversion. The bill also would state that localities may enact reasonable measures to prevent sham conversions or to preserve affordable housing.

AB 761 (Calderon) - OPPOSE - Passed off Assembly Floor on June 25th, upon re-consideration. Expected to be referred to Senate Judiciary Committee. Hearing date unknown. Description: Would impose vacancy de-control restrictions on local mobilehome rent control ordinances. Upon a sale or vacancy of a mobilehome, the space rent would be set by the park, at market rate (i.e., "vacancy decontrol"). The bill would destroy billions of dollars of homeowner equity.

AB 869 (Mendoza) - SPONSOR - Bill will be taken up in January. Description: Would create a program of certification for, and continuing education of, mobilehome park managers.

AB 1108 (Fuentes) -SUPPORT - Passed Senate Utilities Committee. Headed to Senate Appropriations. Urge your member to support. Description: Would make various changes to requirements when electric or gas utilities are provided to mobilehome park residents and residential tenants through a master meter, including the following: (1) would allow the Public Utilities Commission to order repairs and maintenance of system; (2) Directs that the rate differential received by park owners be directed toward maintenance and repair; and (3) Would limit late fees on utility bills.

SENATE BILLS

SB 23 (Padilla) - SUPPORT - Passed the Senate (36-0). Scheduled in Assembly Housing Committee on July 8th. Urge your Assemblymember to Support. Description: Would require mobilehome parks to develop, implement, and post an emergency and fire safety plan; would allow cities and counties to adopt more stringent regulations.

SB 804 (Leno) SUPPORT -Passed the Senate (28-6). Referred to Assembly Housing and Judiciary; to be heard in Asm. Housing on July 8th. Description: Would prohibit a park from requiring a homeowner, who is replacing a mobilehome or manufactured home on a space in the park, to use a specific broker, dealer, or other person as an agent in the purchase or installation of the replacement home.

SB 111 (Correa) SUPPORT - Bill passed Assembly Housing (4-2) and is now pending on Assembly Floor. Urge your Assemblymember to Support. Description: Would reorganize the MRL to clean it up and make it more user-friendly by combining certain related sections and cleaning up other portions of the code.