S-1561               _______________________________________________

                                         SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 5369

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

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

Read first time 2/9/89.

AN ACT Relating to mobile homes; and amending RCW 59.22.050.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 2, chapter 280, Laws of 1988 and RCW 59.22.050 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) In order to provide general assistance to mobile home resident organizations, park owners, and landlords and tenants, the department shall establish an office of mobile home affairs which will serve as the coordinating office within state government for matters relating to mobile homes or manufactured housing.

          This office will provide an ombudsman service to mobile home park owners and mobile home tenants with respect to problems and disputes between park owners and park residents and to provide technical assistance to resident organizations or persons in the process of forming a resident organization pursuant to chapter 59.22 RCW.  The office will keep records of its activities in this area.

(2) In addition, the office shall develop recommendations to (a) increase the availability of mobile home park spaces, (b) stabilize rent levels through traditional market forces of supply and demand, and (c) allow senior citizens on fixed incomes to continue living in their mobile homes, including the possibility of direct subsidies.  The recommendations shall provide a balance between the mobile home park owners' legitimate costs of doing business and need to receive a reasonable rate of return on their investments, and the limited ability of tenants to absorb rental rate increases.

(3) In developing these recommendations the office shall:

(a) Review the ordinances of local government to assess their impact on the availability of mobile home rental spaces;

(b) Consult with federal, state, and local agencies, senior citizen organizations, the real estate industry, and other groups as it considers necessary;

(c) Use, to the fullest extent possible, the services, facilities, information, and advice of public and private agencies, organizations, and individuals in order to avoid duplication of effort and expense;

(d) Hold public hearings to allow public input and involvement; and

(e) Appoint a technical advisory committee, if necessary, to advise the commission in the performance of its duties.  The membership of the advisory committee shall be balanced to reflect the views of all interested parties.