HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6380

                 As Passed House - Amended:

                        March 4, 1998

Title:  An act relating to mobile home relocation assistance.

Brief Description:  Providing mobile home relocation assistance.

Sponsors:  Senators Winsley, Prentice, Hale, Oke, Patterson and Goings; by request of Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Trade & Economic Development:  2/23/98, 2/26/98 [DPA].

Floor Activity:

Passed House - Amended:  3/4/98, 97-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Van Luven, Chairman; Dunn, Vice Chairman; Veloria, Ranking Minority Member; Eickmeyer, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander; Ballasiotes; Mason; McDonald and Morris.

Staff:  Kenny Pittman (786-7392).

Background:  The Mobile Home Relocation Assistance Act, enacted in 1989, provided relocation assistance to tenants of mobile home parks scheduled for closure or conversion to another use.  Funds used to make payments of relocation assistance was generated from a $50 fee imposed on the transfer or elimination of a mobile home title and a $5 annual fee on mobile home park owners for each occupied lot in their mobile home park.

In 1993, the supreme court of Washington found the monetary payment requirements for mobile home park owners contained in the Mobile Home Relocation Assistance Act to be unconstitutional.  The remainder of the act was also invalidated by the court decision.

In 1995, the Legislature re-enacted the Mobile Home Relocation Assistance Act.  A mobile home park tenant whose park is closed after December 31, 1995, is eligible for assistance to relocate their mobile home to another mobile home park.  Tenants are required to submit their requests on vouchers for actual expenses and are paid actual expenses up to a maximum of $6,500 for a double-wide mobile home and $3,500 for a single-wide mobile home.

The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development administers a certification and training program for manufactured home set-up and installation contractors.  A mobile or manufactured home may not be installed without a certified manufactured home installer providing on-site supervision whenever installation work is being performed.

A permit issued by a local government to install a mobile or manufactured home must contain the certification number of the certified manufactured home installer that supervises the installation.  The information must be stated on the permit.

Summary of Bill:  The amount available to mobile home owners for relocation expenses is increased to a maximum of $7,000 for a double-wide mobile home.  All requests for reimbursement for relocation expenses must be submitted on vouchers and based on actual expenses.

A mobile or manufactured home installation includes the on-site installation of an earthquake resistant bracing system.  A manufactured home set-up and installation contractor or local government building inspector may take educational training courses administered by either the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development or an approved educational provider as a requirement to take the examination for certification.  An approved educational provider means an organization approved by the department to provide education and training of manufactured home installers and local government building inspectors.

The permit issued by a local government to install a mobile or manufactured home must include either the name and registration number of the contractor or licensed manufactured home dealer or the certification number of the certified manufactured home installer.  The final approval of the installation may not be issued until the certified installer or the installer's agent has posted the installer's certification number and has identified the work being performed on the manufactured home installation.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The actual amount paid to relocate a mobile home far exceeds the amounts set in the program.  Increasing the available amount from $6,500 to $7,000 helps reduce the impact on the person that is required to move when their mobile home park closes.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Bill Hunter, Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (pro); and Ray Munson, Mobile Home Owners of America (pro).