BILL ANALYSIS
SB 166
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Date of Hearing: July 1, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
SB 166 (Runner) - As Amended: June 3, 2009
Policy Committee: Housing and
Community Development Vote: 6-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill allows occupancy of a camper that is dismounted from a
pick-up truck in a special occupancy park when approved by park
management and the following conditions are met:
1)The truck camper is equipped with a permanently mounted jack
on each of its four corners.
2)The truck camper jacks are placed on footings that have a
minimum ground contact of at least eight square inches and
that have a minimum nominal thickness of two inches.
3)Immediately upon removal from the truck or other vehicle, the
truck camper is lowered to no more than 12 inches and no less
than six inches from the ground at its lowest point and is
reasonably level.
4)The truck camper does not remain in the special occupancy park
in a dismounted state for more than 30 consecutive days or a
period of time established at the discretion of park
management, whichever is less.
5)The owner or occupant of the truck camper has a readily
available, operable vehicle on which to remount the truck
camper if the dismounted truck camper becomes unstable.
FISCAL EFFECT
No significant state costs. Local costs, if any, not
state-reimbursable.
SB 166
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COMMENTS :
1)Background . The Special Occupancy Parks Act governs 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. The Department of Housing and
Community Development (HCD) is responsible for adopting
regulations for special occupancy parks 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.
2)Rationale . The sponsors of this bill note assert HCD's
existing prohibition on occupying a dismounted truck camper in
a special occupancy park is out of date. They note that the
regulations were adopted in 1980, and do not recognize the
changes in technology and design that have occurred in the
intervening years, which enable campers to be occupied when
dismounted. They also argue that (a) HCD regulations are
inconsistent with permitted occupancy on private property and
in state parks in California, and (b) no other state has a
statute or regulation that prohibits the occupancy of a
dismounted camper.
Analysis Prepared by : Brad Williams / APPR. / (916) 319-2081