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SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 5369
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AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
C 294 L 89
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 work with the mobile home space availability and affordability task force to 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 through incentives such as current use valuation of mobile home parks, but not through artificial controls on rent, and (c) allow senior citizens on fixed incomes to continue living in their mobile homes, including the possibility of direct subsidies.
The mobile home space availability and affordability task force shall be comprised of four legislators, one from each caucus in the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house and one from each caucus in the senate appointed by the president of the senate, two representatives of park-owners, two representatives of tenants, and two representatives of local governments. All nonlegislative members shall be appointed by the director of the department of community development. Staffing for the task force shall be supplied by the department of community development, the house of representatives housing committee, and the senate economic development and labor committee.
(3) In developing these recommendations the office and the task force 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; and
(d) Hold public hearings to allow public input and involvement.