BILL ANALYSIS
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 166
Author: Runner (R)
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
SEN. TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE : 11-0, 3/31/09
AYES: Lowenthal, Huff, Ashburn, DeSaulnier, Harman,
Hollingsworth, Kehoe, Oropeza, Pavley, Simitian, Wolk
NO VOTE RECORDED: Vacancy, Vacancy
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT : Special occupancy parks: campers
SOURCE : Lance Camper Manufacturing Corporation
Recreation Vehicle Industry Association
DIGEST : This bill allows occupancy of a camper that is
dismounted from a pick-up truck in a special occupancy
park.
ANALYSIS : Existing law, known as the Special Occupancy
Parks Act, regulates the construction, maintenance,
occupancy, use and design of special occupancy parks to
ensure the health, safety, and general welfare of all park
occupants or residents. Special occupancy parks are
privately-owned parks or campgrounds for recreational
vehicles, camping cabins, truck campers, or tents,
including those portions of mobilehome parks dedicated to
recreational vehicles.
CONTINUED
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Existing law gives the Department of Housing and Community
Development (HCD) the responsibility to adopt regulations
for special occupancy parks and the truck campers in them
that are reasonable and necessary to protect life and
property in the parks and to protect the health and safety
of occupants.
HCD regulations that implement the Special Occupancy Parks
Act prohibit the occupancy of a dismounted truck camper in
a special occupancy park.
This bill states that it is unlawful for any person to
occupy a truck camper in a special occupancy park that has
been dismounted from a truck, unless the camper is equipped
with a permanently mounted jack on each of its four corners
and designed to be occupied when dismounted.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
SUPPORT : (Verified 4/21/09)
Lance Camper Manufacturing Corporation (co-source)
Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (co-source)
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : The sponsors of this bill note
that HCD's existing regulations, which prohibit occupying a
dismounted truck camper in a special occupancy park, are
out-of-date, treat truck campers in these parks differently
than they are treated in other locations, and are unique to
California.
In the early 1980's, when HCD adopted the regulatory
provision that prohibits a dismounted truck camper from
being occupied in a special occupancy park, truck camper
technology was much different than today. For many years,
truck campers have been designed for occupancy when
dismounted. They are equipped with either mechanical or
hydraulic jacks that are permanently mounted on the four
corners of the camper and are rated at 3000 pound capacity
each. This allows them to safely and securely accommodate
occupancy of a dismounted truck camper that weights between
1500 pounds to 4000 pounds. The author's office and
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sponsors argue, therefore, there is no reason to prohibit
occupancy of a truck camper since they are specifically
designed and constructed for occupancy when dismounted.
In addition, the proponents note that allowing the
occupancy of a dismounted camper in a special occupancy
park is consistent with permitted occupancy in other
locations in California. For example, a dismounted camper
is permitted to be occupied on private property and in
state parks. This being the case, there is no
justification for inconsistent laws and regulations
regarding the occupancy of a dismounted camper simply
because of where it is located when dismounted.
Proponents further point out, and HCD confirms, that no
other state has a statute or regulation that prohibits the
occupancy of a dismounted camper.
JJA:cm 4/21/09 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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