SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5943

                    As of February 26, 1997

Title:  An act relating to registration of mobile home parks.

Brief Description:  Registering mobile home parks.

Sponsors:  Senators Prentice, Finkbeiner, McAuliffe, Strannigan, Goings, Bauer, Kline, Wojahn, Wood, Schow and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Financial Institutions, Insurance & Housing:  2/27/97.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INSURANCE & HOUSING

Staff:   Dave Cheal (786-7576)

Background:  Mobile home parks provide space for mobile homeowners to place their homes.  The relationship between park owners and homeowners is governed by the Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act.

Enforcement of park owners= duties under the act is enforced by arbitration, private litigation and, to some extent, by local health departments.

Summary of Bill:  Park owners are required to register with the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development in order to do business as a mobile home park.

The department is given authority to issue cease and desist orders for failure to register, and to file lawsuits to enforce the registration requirement.  Residents or tenants in mobile home parks may initiate an action to enforce the act.

The prevailing party in any lawsuit to enforce the act is entitled to attorneys= fees.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 24, 1997.

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