BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1545|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 1545
Author: Costa (D)
Amended: 4/27/00
Vote: 21
SENATE HOUSING & COMM. DEV. COMMITTEE : 4-0, 5/1/00
AYES: Aarcon, Johannessen, Monteith, Vasconcellos
NOT VOTING: Bowen, Costa, Escutia
SUBJECT : Housing: employee housing
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill deletes the requirement that a
complainant wait five days before filing a civil action, as
specified, relating to a complaint alleging substandard
housing conditions.
ANALYSIS : Current law, the Employee Housing Act (EHA),
generally regulates housing provided by employers to five
or more employees and housing for agricultural workers.
The Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)
inspects for compliance with building code requirements and
permits all employee housing at least once every two years.
However, single family dwellings can be issued up to
five-year permits. Local agencies can assume the building
inspection and enforcement responsibilities.
At any time a resident of employee housing may file a
complaint alleging substandard housing conditions. If the
enforcement agency does not file a civil action within 34
CONTINUED
SB 1545
Page
2
days of receipt of the complaint, or within 5 days in the
case of imminent peril, the complainant may bring a civil
action for damages and injunctive relief.
This bill would delete the requirement that a complainant
wait five days before filing a civil action if the
complainant alleges, and the court finds, that residents
are in imminent peril.
Comments :
Purpose of the bill . According to the author's office,
this bill is a vehicle for a "consensus-based approach
being jointly undertaken by growers and farmworker
advocates to update, streamline, strengthen, and refocus
the inspection process and regulatory requirements for
licensed farmworker housing."
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/20/00)
Agricultural Council of California
Bank of America
California Building Industry Association
California Catholic Conference
California Church Impact
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation
Friends Committee on Legislation
Jericho
Lutheran Office of Public Policy
Manufactured Housing Institute
Western Center on Law and Poverty
Wine Institute
NC:jk 5/3/00 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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