SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5369

BYSenate Committee on Economic Development & Labor (originally sponsored by Senators Bluechel, Warnke, Smith, Lee and von Reichbauer)

Increasing mobile home space availability.

Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 1, 1989; February 8, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5369 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Lee, Chairman; McMullen, Matson, Murray, Saling, Smitherman, West, Williams.

Senate Staff:Dave Cheal (786-7576)

                  April 14, 1989

House Committe on Housing

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 2, 1989

BACKGROUND:

During the past decade an increasing percentage of new residential construction, particularly in the lower price quadrant, is supplied by mobile or manufactured homes.  Many of these homes are placed in mobile home parks on leased spaces by the owners of the home.  Mobile home owners, particularly those who lease spaces in parks, have come to the Legislature consistently over the past 10 years to call attention to a declining availability of rental spaces and an escalating rent level that consistently increases faster than general inflation.

Lack of state regulation, local zoning practices, and high land and development costs have been cited as causes of these problems.

SUMMARY:

The Office of Mobile Home Affairs within the Department of Community Development is given additional tasks:  to develop recommendations to increase the availability of mobile home park spaces; to stabilize rent levels through traditional market forces of supply and demand; and to allow senior citizens to continue living in their mobile homes including the possibility of direct subsidies.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested February 8, 1989

Senate Committee - Testified: John Woodring (con)

HOUSE AMENDMENT: 

A mobile home space availability task force is established to assist the Office of Mobile Home Affairs in accomplishing the tasks assigned by the bill.

The task force is composed of four legislators, two representatives of park owners, two representatives of tenants, and two representatives of local governments.