BILL ANALYSIS
SB 23
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Date of Hearing: August 19, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
SB 23 (Padilla) - As Amended: July 9, 2009
Policy Committee: Housing and
Community Development Vote: 6-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill requires the owner or operator of a mobilehome park or
a special occupancy park to adopt and post an emergency
preparedness plan. Specifically, the bill:
1)Requires a plan be adopted and posted by September 10, 2010
that incorporates emergency procedures identical or comparable
to those compiled by the former Office of Emergency Services.
2)Requires in parks with 50 more units that the park's
designated emergency contact person be familiar with any
emergency preparedness plans for the park.
3)Specifies that a state or local enforcement agency shall
determine whether park management has complied with the bill's
requirements, and requires park management to correct a
violation within 60 days of receiving notice from the
enforcement agency.
FISCAL EFFECT
The Department of Housing and Community Development indicates
that determinations of compliance with the new preparedness
requirements will be integrated into normal inspections, and
incremental costs related to this bill will be minor and
absorbable.
COMMENTS
1)Background . Under the Mobilehome Parks Act (MPA) and the
Special Occupancy Parks Act, the Department of Housing and
SB 23
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Community Development (HCD) regulates mobilehome parks and
recreational vehicle (RV) parks to assure protection of the
health, safety, and general welfare of all park residents.
HCD has adopted statewide regulations to enforce the MPA's
provisions. Local agencies have the option of assuming
enforcement authority for the MPA within their jurisdictions
through agreement with HCD. Enforcement agencies inspect
those parks that have a history of health and safety code
violations or about which the agency receives a complaint
regarding a potential health or safety code violation.
Existing law permits, but does not require, mobilehome park
management to adopt an emergency preparedness plan for the
park. Existing law also requires that, in every mobilehome
park and RV park, a person be available to respond in a timely
manner to emergencies concerning the operation or maintenance
of the park. In parks of 50 or more units, this person or his
or her designee must live in the park and have knowledge of
the emergency procedures of the park's utility systems and
common facilities. This bill additionally requires this
person to be familiar with the park's emergency preparedness
plans.
2)Rationale . According to the author, the bill is intended to
ensure that mobilehome park residents, especially senior
residents and residents with disabilities and health problems,
can be identified and evacuated in a safe and timely manner in
the event of an emergency. The bill is sponsored by the
California State Firefighters Association, which notes that "a
comprehensive emergency and fire preparedness plan?will help
ensure fire prevention and promote public awareness and
safety."
Analysis Prepared by : Brad Williams / APPR. / (916) 319-2081