BILL ANALYSIS
SB 111
Page 1
Date of Hearing: June 17, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Norma Torres, Chair
SB 111 (Correa) - As Amended: March 19, 2009
SENATE VOTE : 23-13
SUBJECT : Mobilehome residency law.
SUMMARY : Makes various non-substantive changes to the
Mobilehome Residency Law. Specifically, this bill :
1)Reorganizes the Mobilehome Residency Law (MRL) by renumbering
selected sections to group them into similar categories.
2)Groups certain existing sections of the MRL into a new Article
4 entitled "Utilities."
3)Adds a new section to the MRL stating that three existing
sections relate to the enforcement of park rules and
regulations.
4)Replaces the word tenant with resident in one existing
section.
5)States that nothing in the bill shall be construed to affect
the application of any other statute, regulation, or any
existing contract, lease, rental agreement, or related
document.
EXISTING LAW
1)The Mobilehome Residency Law (MRL) governs the relationship
between park owners or managers and residents in mobilehome
parks and manufactured housing communities (Civil Code 798 et
seq.).
2)Requires that a copy of the MRL be attached as an exhibit to a
rental agreement provided to a tenant in a mobilehome park
(Civil Code 798.15).
3)Requires that the management of a mobilehome park provide a
copy of the MRL to all homeowners prior to February 1 of each
year if a significant change was made by legislation chaptered
SB 111
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in the prior year (Civil Code 798.15).
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS :
Enacted in 1978, the Mobilehome Residency Law (MRL) governs the
relationship between park owners and managers and the residents
of the more than 4,800 mobilehome parks and manufactured housing
communities in California. Since its enactment, the MRL has
been amended numerous times, resulting in the placement of
sections in areas that do not always appear logical. Park
owners, managers, and residents rely upon the MRL to provide
guidance and direction in terms of their rights and
responsibilities. Existing law requires a copy of the MRL to be
attached to all rental agreements in mobilehome parks, and
requires park management to provide a copy of the MRL to all
homeowners prior to February 1 of each year if a significant
change was made to the law in the prior year.
In order to increase the readability and usefulness of the MRL,
this bill reorganizes various sections of the MRL to provide for
a more logical order, but does not make any substantive changes
to existing law. The bill renumbers some existing sections,
groups existing sections related to utilities under a new
heading, adds a new section directing residents and managers to
the three sections that relate to enforcement of park rules and
regulations, and makes other clarifying changes.
Arguments in Support
According to the author, "Over the last 30 years, the MRL has
grown in complexity. Except for the original codified version
of the Mobilehome Residency Law (MRL), enacted as Chapter 2.5 of
the Civil Code in 1978, most of the provisions enacted since
that time have been amended into the MRL on a piecemeal basis.
Some sections have been added to articles within the MRL to
which they do not always have a logical relationship. In some
cases they were placed there apparently because a missing
section number was available between two existing section
numbers. . . . As a result homeowners and residents of
mobilehome parks, in particular, who utilize this document to
understand their responsibilities and rights, tell the [Senate
Select Committee on Manufactured Homes and Communities] they are
not always able to locate, or easily find, some sections. The
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reorganization may also be helpful to park managers and other
laypersons who need to more easily locate a particular section
to help in managing the park or in resolving a problem or
issue."
Arguments in Opposition
Opponents argue that while well-intended, it is not clear that
SB 111 is necessary or that it will make the MRL any easier to
understand, and could actually have the opposite affect by
making the law more confusing for those who already have a basic
understanding of the MRL.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Golden State Manufactured-Home Owners League
Opposition
California Mobilehome Parkowners Alliance
Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association
Analysis Prepared by : Anya Lawler / H. & C.D. / (916)
319-2085