AN ACT Relating to eligibility for relocation assistance for tenants of closed or converted mobile home parks; amending RCW 59.21.005, 59.21.021, 59.21.025, and 59.21.050; and reenacting and amending RCW 59.21.010.

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

Sec. 1.  RCW 59.21.005 and 1995 c 122 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

The legislature recognizes that it is quite costly ((to move a mobile home)) for tenants who own homes in manufactured/mobile home parks to relocate when the park in which they reside is closed or converted to another use. Many ((mobile home)) such tenants need financial assistance in order to ((move their mobile homes from a)) relocate from a manufactured/mobile home park. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a mechanism for assisting manufactured/mobile home tenants to relocate their manufactured/mobile homes to suitable alternative sites ((when the mobile home park in which they reside is closed or converted to another use)) or demolish and dispose of their homes and secure housing.

Sec. 2.  RCW 59.21.010 and 2009 c 565 s 47 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Department" means the department of commerce.

(2) "Director" means the director of the department of commerce.

(3) "Fund" means the manufactured/mobile home park relocation fund established under RCW 59.21.050.

(4) "Landlord" or "park-owner" means the owner of the manufactured/mobile home park that is being closed at the time relocation assistance is provided.

(5) "Low-income household" means a single person, family, or unrelated persons living together whose adjusted income is less than eighty percent of the median family income, adjusted for household size, for the county where the manufactured/mobile home is located.

(6) "Manufactured/mobile home park" or "park" means real property that is rented or held out for rent to others for the placement of two or more manufactured/mobile homes for the primary purpose of production of income, except where the real property is rented or held out for rent for seasonal recreational purpose only and is not intended for year-round occupancy.

(((6))) (7) "Relocate" means to remove the manufactured/mobile home from the manufactured/mobile home park being closed and to ((either)) (i) reinstall it in another location or ((to)) (ii) demolish and dispose of it and either purchase another ((mobile/)) manufactured home constructed to the standards set by the department of housing and urban development or secure other housing.

(((7))) (8) "Relocation assistance" means the monetary assistance provided under this chapter.

Sec. 3.  RCW 59.21.021 and 2005 c 399 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) If a manufactured/mobile home park is closed or converted to another use ((after December 31, 1995)), eligible tenants shall be entitled to relocation assistance on a first-come, first-serve basis. The department shall give priority for distribution of relocation assistance to eligible tenants residing in parks that are closed as a result of park-owner fraud or as a result of health and safety concerns as determined by the local board of health. Payments shall be made upon the department's verification of eligibility, subject to the availability of remaining funds.

(2) Eligibility for relocation assistance funds is limited to low-income households. ((As used in this section, "low-income household" means a single person, family, or unrelated persons living together whose adjusted income is less than eighty percent of the median family income, adjusted for household size, for the county where the mobile or manufactured home is located.

(3) ((Persons)) Eligible tenants who ((removed and disposed of their mobile home or maintained ownership of and relocated their mobile homes)) relocate are entitled to reimbursement of actual relocation expenses from the fund up to a maximum of twelve thousand dollars for a ((double-wide)) multisection home and up to a maximum of seven thousand five hundred dollars for a single-((wide)) section home.

(4) Any individual or organization may apply to receive funds from the ((mobile home park relocation)) fund, for use in combination with funds from public or private sources, toward relocation of tenants eligible under this section, with agreement from the tenant. ((Funds received from the mobile home park relocation fund shall only be used for relocation assistance expenses or other mobile/manufactured home ownership expenses, that include down payment assistance, if the owners are not planning to relocate their mobile home as long as their original home is removed from the park.))

Sec. 4.  RCW 59.21.025 and 1998 c 124 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(((1))) If financial assistance for relocation is obtained from sources other than the ((mobile home park relocation)) fund ((established under this chapter)), then the relocation assistance provided to any person ((under this chapter)) from the fund shall be reduced as necessary to ensure that no person receives financial assistance for relocation from all sources combined ((more than: (a) That person's actual cost of relocation; or (b) seven thousand dollars for a double-wide mobile home and three thousand five hundred dollars for a single-wide mobile home.

(3) If the amount of assistance received from an outside source exceeds the maximum amounts of assistance to which a person is entitled under RCW 59.21.021(3), then that person will not receive any assistance from the mobile home park relocation assistance fund)) in excess of that person's actual relocation expenses.

Sec. 5.  RCW 59.21.050 and 2011 c 158 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The existence of the manufactured/mobile home park relocation fund in the custody of the state treasurer is affirmed. Expenditures from the fund may be used only for relocation assistance awarded under this chapter and the department's costs as provided in subsection (3) of this section. Only the director or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the fund. All relocation assistance payments to tenants under this chapter shall be made from the fund. The fund is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for expenditures.

(2) A ((park)) tenant is eligible for relocation assistance under this chapter only after an application is submitted by that tenant or an organization acting on the tenant's account under RCW 59.21.021(4) on a form approved by the director ((which)). The application shall include: (a) ((For those persons who maintained ownership of and relocated their homes or removed their homes from the park: (i))) A copy of the notice from the park-owner, or other adequate proof, that the tenancy is terminated due to closure of the park or its conversion to another use; (((ii))) (b) a copy of the rental agreement then in force, or other proof that the applicant was a tenant at the time of notice of closure; (((iii) a copy of the contract for relocating the home which includes the date of relocation, or other)) (c) proof of actual relocation expenses incurred on a date certain; ((and (iv))) (d) proof of ownership of the home at the time of notice of closure; and (e) a statement of any other available assistance((;)) received.

(3) The department may deduct a percentage amount of the fee collected under RCW 46.17.155 for administration expenses incurred by the department.

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