Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs Committee |
HB 2760
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Modifying who is eligible for relocation assistance for tenants of closed or converted mobile home parks.
Sponsors: Representatives Manweller, Springer, Zeiger and Hickel.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/1/16
Staff: David Rubenstein (786-7153).
Background:
Office of Mobile/Manufactured Home Relocation Assistance.
The Office of Mobile/Manufactured Home Relocation Assistance (Office), in the Department of Commerce (Department), provides general assistance to manufactured/mobile home resident organizations, tenant organizations, and manufactured/mobile home community owners. Among its duties, the Office provides technical assistance to tenants who are participating in the conversion of a mobile home park to resident ownership under the Park Purchase Program and, under this program, may also provide secured loans where a significant number of the residents are low-income or infirm.
Mobile Home Relocation Assistance Program.
The Office also administers a Mobile Home Relocation Assistance Program (Relocation Assistance Program) that provides monetary assistance on a first-come, first-served basis to low-income persons owning mobile homes located in mobile home parks that are scheduled for closure. Payments are made by the Office upon verification of eligibility and subject to the availability of funds.
To be eligible for relocation assistance:
a tenant's household income must be no greater than 80 percent of the median family income for the county where the manufactured home is located; and
the homeowner must maintain ownership and either relocate the home or dispose of it if it cannot be relocated.
If eligible, the mobile home owner could receive reimbursement of relocation expenses up to $12,000 for a multi-section home and $7,500 for a single-section home). The Relocation Assistance Program is funded by a $100 fee on the issuance of a certificate of title for certain manufactured/mobile homes. This fee is deposited in the Mobile Home Park Relocation Fund.
Summary of Bill:
The limitation on eligibility to low-income households is eliminated, as is the definition of "low-income household."
The provision that payments are subject to eligibility verification by the Department and availability of funds is deleted. The date after which mobile home park closures trigger eligibility is updated to the effective date of the act.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 29, 2016.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.