BILL NUMBER: AB 2015 CHAPTERED 09/20/00 CHAPTER 542 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 20, 2000 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 18, 2000 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 31, 2000 PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 30, 2000 AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 25, 2000 AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 10, 2000 AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 15, 2000 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 26, 2000 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 11, 2000 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Dickerson (Coauthors: Assembly Members Oller, Robert Pacheco, and Strom-Martin) (Coauthor: Senator Chesbro) FEBRUARY 18, 2000 An act to amend Sections 18203.2 and 18215 of, and to add Sections 18219 and 18607 to, the Health and Safety Code, and to amend Section 5003.4 of the Public Resources Code, relating to mobilehome parks. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2015, Dickerson. Mobilehome parks: camping cabin. (1) The Mobilehome Parks Act requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to establish statewide regulations for the construction, maintenance, occupancy, use, and design of mobilehome parks, including an area or tract of land, or a separate designated section within a mobilehome park known as a "recreational vehicle park." Any person who knowingly violates any provision of the act, including its related rules or regulations, is guilty of a misdemeanor. This bill would redefine "recreational vehicle park" for purposes of the act to include also owners or users of camping cabins, as defined. It would authorize the installation or occupancy of camping cabins in only special occupancy parks or in specified state parks. The bill would impose specified requirements relating to the load capacity, exits, fire safety, and disabled access of camping cabins. Because the bill would expand the definition of a crime, it would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law requires each state park in which camping is permitted to have such parking facilities for house trailers as can be accommodated consistent with the object of providing camping facilities for the public in these parks. This bill would require each state park in which camping is permitted to provide those parking facilities for recreational vehicles that can be accommodated consistent with that objective. It also would authorize the Department of Parks and Recreation to install or permit the installation of camping cabins. (3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. (4) This bill would provide that its provisions to amend Sections 18203.2 and 18215 of the Health and Safety Code and to add Sections 18219 and 18607 to that code shall become inoperative on January 1, 2001, if SB 2131 is enacted and becomes effective on or before January 1, 2001, and this bill is enacted last. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 18203.2 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read: 18203.2. "Camping party" means a person or group of not more than 10 persons occupying a campsite or camping cabin for not more than 30 days annually. SEC. 2. Section 18215 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read: 18215. (a) "Recreational vehicle park" is any area or tract of land, or a separate designated section within a mobilehome park, where two or more lots are rented or leased, or held out for rent or lease, to owners or users of recreational vehicles, camping cabins, or tents. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), an area or tract of land zoned for agricultural purposes where two or more lots are rented or leased, or held out for rent or lease, to owners or users of recreational vehicles or tents for the purpose of housing 12 or fewer agricultural employees, shall not be deemed a recreational vehicle park. SEC. 3. Section 18219 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read: 18219. (a) "Camping cabin" is a relocatable hard sided shelter with a floor area less than 400 square feet (37 square meters) without plumbing that is designed to be used within a recreational vehicle park only by a campingparty. (b) A camping cabin may contain an electrical system and electrical space conditioning equipment complying with the electrical and mechanical regulations adopted pursuant to this part and supplied by the lot service equipment. (c) A camping cabin may be installed or occupied only in special occupancy parks, as defined by Section 18216.1, or in state parks and other state property pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 5001) of Division 5 of the Public Resources Code. SEC. 4. Section 18607 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read: 18607. (a) A camping cabin shall be designed to resist the following live loads: (1) floor live loads not less than 40 pounds per square foot of floor area; (2) horizontal live loads not less than 15 pounds per square foot of vertical wall and roof area; and (3) roof live loads not less than 20 pounds per square foot of horizontal roof area. In areas where snow loads are greater than 20 pounds per square foot, the roof shall be designed and constructed to resist these additional loads. (b) Each sleeping room in a camping cabin shall have a second exit to the outside of the camping cabin, except that a window exit may be permitted as an alternative if the opening is not less than 20 inches wide and 24 inches high and the bottom of the window is located not more than 44 inches above the floor. (c) Each sleeping room in a camping cabin shall be provided with an approved smoke detector. If the camping cabin contains an electrical system, the smoke detector shall be energized from that electrical system with a battery backup. If there is no electrical system in the camping cabin, a battery-operated smoke detector is permitted. (d) All wall and ceiling surfaces in a camping cabin shall have a flame spread rating of not more than 200. (e) Fuel-burning heating or cooking appliances shall not be operated within a camping cabin. (f) Access for disabled persons to camping cabins shall be provided in conformance with applicable state and federal laws. SEC. 5. Section 5003.4 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read: 5003.4. There shall be provided in each state park in which camping is permitted those parking facilities for recreational vehicles, as defined by Section 18010 of the Health and Safety Code, that can be accommodated within the park consistent with the objective of providing camping facilities for the public in these parks. In addition, the Department of Parks and Recreation may install or permit the installation of camping cabins, as defined by Section 18219 of the Health and Safety Code, within the units of the state park system if installation of camping cabins is consistent with the general plan of the unit. SEC. 6. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution. SEC. 7. Section 1 of this bill amends Section 18203.2 of the Health and Safety Code while Section 1 of SB 2131, which would become operative on January 1, 2002, proposes to repeal Section 18203.2 of the Health and Safety Code. Section 1 of this bill shall remain operative only until January 1, 2002, at which time Section 1 of SB 2131 shall become operative, if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2001, (2) this bill amends Section 18203.2 of the Health and Safety Code, while SB 2131 repeals it, and (3) this bill is enacted after SB 2131. SEC. 8. Section 2 of this bill amends Section 18215 of the Health and Safety Code while Section 9 of SB 2131, which would become operative on January 1, 2002, proposes to repeal Section 18215 of the Health and Safety Code. Section 2 of this bill shall remain operative only until January 1, 2002, at which time Section 9 of SB 2131 shall become operative, if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2001, (2) this bill amends Section 18215 of the Health and Safety Code, while SB 2131 repeals it, and (3) this bill is enacted after SB 2131. SEC. 9. Sections 3 and 4 of this bill, which add Sections 18219 and 18607 to the Health and Safety Code, respectively, shall remain operative only until January 1, 2002, if (1), SB 2131 and this bill are both enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2001, (2) this bill adds Sections 18219 and 18607 to the Health and Safety Code, while SB 2131 adds Sections 18862.5 and 18873.6 to the Health and Safety Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after SB 2131.