HOUSE BILL REPORT

                      HB 2894

                              As Passed House

                             February 18, 1992

Title:  An act relating to relocation assistance in mobile home parks.

Brief Description:  Providing relocation assistance in mobile home parks.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Leonard, Winsley, Nelson, Mitchell, J. Kohl, Franklin and Wood.

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Housing, January 31, 1992, DP;

Passed House, February 18, 1992, 98-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HOUSING

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 7 members:  Representatives Nelson, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Mitchell, Ranking Minority Member; Winsley, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Ballard; Leonard; and Ogden.

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786-7092).

Background:  The Legislature amended the Mobile Home Relocation Assistance Act during the 1991 session to allow low-income owners of recreational vehicles to receive relocation assistance when a mobile home park closes or is converted to another use.

Relocation assistance to recreational vehicle owners is limited to their actual relocation expenses, not to exceed $2000.  Only those recreational vehicle owners who use the vehicle as a residence are entitled to assistance.

Each occupied lot in a mobile home park, including lots occupied by recreational vehicles, is assessed a $5 annual fee that is deposited into the mobile home park relocation fund.  Lots that are occupied by mobile homes or recreational vehicles owned by the park owner are exempt from this assessment.  Relocation assistance is paid from the mobile home park relocation fund.

There has been some confusion over the intent of this 1991 legislation.  Relocation assistance to recreational vehicle owners is paid by the park owner, instead of the fund, even though lots that are occupied by recreational vehicles are assessed the $5 annual fee.

The mobile home park relocation fund is subject to allotment reductions.  Much of the fund consists of payments by park owners and park tenants.  The current executive branch policy is to exempt the fund from allotment reductions.  It has been suggested that the statutory authority to subject the mobile home park relocation fund to allotment reductions should be changed.

Summary of Bill:  Language is added to clarify that low-income owners of recreational vehicles are entitled to receive relocation assistance from the mobile home park relocation fund.

The mobile home park relocation fund is not subject to allotment reductions.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill clarifies what the Legislature intended in 1991 when it changed the Mobile Home Relocation Act.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  John Woodring and Paul McWherter, Mobile Home Park Owners Association; and Bob Jacobsen, Senior Lobby.