SENATE BILL REPORT

                            HB 1376

  AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE, APRIL 1, 1993

Brief Description:  Allowing mobile home tenants to hold forums for candidates for public office.

SPONSORS: Representatives Brough, Shin, Forner, Franklin, Casada, Ballard, Vance, Leonard, Chappell, Wineberry, Carlson, Roland, Long, Campbell, Cothern, G. Cole, Flemming, H. Myers and Jacobsen

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Moore, Chairman; Prentice, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Barr, Fraser, McAuliffe, Sutherland, and Vognild.

Staff:  Traci Ratzliff (786‑7452)

Hearing Dates: March 31, 1993; April 1, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Landlords are prohibited under the Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act from restricting or denying park tenants from engaging in certain activities.  Landlords are specifically prohibited from denying park tenants the opportunity to meet to discuss mobile home living and affairs, so long as the meetings are conducted at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner.  Landlords cannot penalize a tenant for participating in such meetings.

Nothing in the Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act specifically prohibits landlords from denying forums for, or speeches by, public officials or candidates for public office.  Public officials and political candidates have been prohibited from participating in forums and giving speeches in some mobile home parks.

SUMMARY:

Mobile home park landlords may not prohibit forums for, or speeches by, public officials or candidates for public office, or meetings of organizations that represent the interests of tenants that are held in the park community or recreation halls that are open for use of the tenants.  Any such forum, speech, or meeting must be held at a reasonable time and in an orderly manner.  Landlords are also prohibited from penalizing any tenant for participating in these activities.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

This bill will allow tenants in mobile home parks to hold political forums or homeowner meetings in common areas of their mobile home parks.  Some park owners have prevented tenants from holding such events.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Rep. Brough, prime sponsor (pro)