HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

HB 2472

Title: An act relating to mobile home relocation assistance.

Brief Description: Modifying mobile home relocation assistance laws.

Sponsors: Representatives Dunn, Ogden, Carlson, McDonald, O=Brien, Morris, Wolfe, Boldt and Edwards.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF BILL

CAllows funds in the Mobile Home Relocation Fund to be used for other home ownership expenses.

CImposes a fee equal to one percent of the sale price on every sale or transfer of title on a mobile home.

CProvides an exemption on sales or transfers where the sales price of the mobile home is less than $1,000.

HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING & TRADE COMMITTEE

     Staff:  Kenny Pittman (786-7392)

     Background:

The Mobile Home Park Relocation Fund was created by the Legislature in 1989, to provide assistance with relocation costs for residents of mobile home parks scheduled for closure or conversion to another use.  A tenant whose mobile park has closed is eligible for assistance in an amount equal to the actual expenses up to a ceiling.  The ceiling amounts available is up to $7,000 to relocate a double-wide mobile home and up to $3,500 to relocate a single-wide mobile home. 

The current moneys in the Mobile Home Relocation Fund is from a $50 fee, enacted in 1990, that was collected on the transfer or elimination of mobile home titles.  In 1993, the Washington Supreme Court invalidated the collection of the $50 fee.  The court also held that the $5 annual fee imposed on mobile home park owners for each occupied lot in their mobile home park to be unconstitutional.  This fee was enacted in 1991, but was never collected.

     Summary of Bill:

The Mobile Home Park Relocation Fund is revised to allow moneys to be used for home ownership assistance, that includes down payment assistance, if the mobile home owners are not planning to relocate their mobile home to another mobile home park.

A fee is imposed on every transfer of title of a mobile home.  The fee equals one percent of the sale price on a mobile home where: (a) the ownership of the mobile home changes; and (b) the mobile home is located in a mobile home park.  A transfer of title does not include the addition or deletion of a spouse co-owner or secured interest.  Mobile homes with a sale price of less than $1,000 are exempt from the fee.  The revenue generated from the fee is deposited into the mobile home park relocation fund.

The imposition of the fee on the sale or transfer of a mobile home is referred to a vote of the people at the next general election held in the state of Washington.

Appropriation:   None.

Fiscal Note:   Requested January 19, 2000.

Effective Date:   This act takes effect upon approval and ratification by the voters at the next general election to held in the state.