BILL NUMBER: SB 23CHAPTERED BILL TEXT CHAPTER 551 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE OCTOBER 11, 2009 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR OCTOBER 11, 2009 PASSED THE SENATE SEPTEMBER 4, 2009 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 9, 2009 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 29, 2009 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 28, 2009 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 30, 2009 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 21, 2009 INTRODUCED BY Senator Padilla DECEMBER 1, 2008 An act to amend Sections 18603 and 18871.8 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to manufactured housing. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 23, Padilla. Manufactured housing: emergency preparedness plans. (1) Existing law, the Mobilehome Parks Act, requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to enact and enforce rules and regulations to protect public health and safety in mobilehome parks. The act authorizes park management to adopt an emergency preparedness plan that includes specified procedures and plans. Under the act, a knowing violation of the act is punishable as a misdemeanor offense. The Special Occupancy and Parks Act requires the department to adopt regulations to govern the use and occupancy of manufactured homes, mobilehomes, and recreational vehicles located in special occupancy parks. Under the act, a knowing violation of the act is punishable as a misdemeanor offense, and any person who willfully violates the act is liable for a civil penalty. This bill would amend both the Mobilehome Parks Act and the Special Occupancy and Parks Act to require an owner or operator of an existing park or a special occupancy park to adopt an emergency preparedness plan on or before September 1, 2010. The bill would require an owner or operator of a park to post notice of the plan, as specified, and to provide information relating to accessing individual emergency preparedness information. The bill would require an enforcement agency to determine park compliance with these provisions if certain conditions have been met. The bill would provide that a violation of this section constitutes an unreasonable risk to life, health, or safety and would require correction by park management within 60 days of notice of the violation. By creating a new crime or expanding an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature that an owner or operator of a mobilehome park or manufactured home community communicate to residents essential evacuation routes and basic emergency preparedness information in a manner appropriate to the community. It is not the intent of the Legislature that an owner or operator be responsible for physically evacuating residents from their homes during an emergency. It is further the intent that residents take personal responsibility for themselves during an emergency. SEC. 2. Section 18603 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read: 18603. (a) In every park there shall be a person available by telephonic or like means, including telephones, cellular phones, telephone answering machines, answering services or pagers, or in person who shall be responsible for, and who shall reasonably respond in a timely manner to emergencies concerning, the operation and maintenance of the park. In every park with 50 or more units, that person or his or her designee shall reside in the park, have knowledge of emergency procedures relative to utility systems and common facilities under the ownership and control of the owner of the park, and shall be familiar with the emergency preparedness plans for the park. (b) (1) On or before September 1, 2010, an owner or operator of an existing park shall adopt an emergency preparedness plan. (2) For a park constructed after September 1, 2010, an owner or operator of a park shall adopt a plan in accordance with this section prior to the issuance of the permit to operate. (3) An owner or operator may comply with paragraph (1) by either of the following methods: (A) Adopting the emergency procedures and plans approved by the Standardized Emergency Management System Advisory Board on November 21, 1997, entitled "Emergency Plans for Mobilehome Parks," and compiled by the former Office of Emergency Services in compliance with the Governor's Executive Order W-156-97, or any subsequent version. (B) Adopting a plan that is developed by the park management and is comparable to the procedures and plans specified in subparagraph (A). (c) For an existing park, and in the case of a park constructed after September 10, 2010, prior to the issuance of the permit to operate, an owner or operator of a park shall do both of the following: (1) Post notice of the emergency preparedness plan in the park clubhouse or in another conspicuous area within the mobilehome park. (2) On or before September 10, 2010, provide notice of how to access the plan and information on individual emergency preparedness information from the appropriate state or local agencies, including, but not limited to, the California Emergency Management Agency, to all existing residents and, upon approval of tenancy, for all new residents thereafter. This may be accomplished in a manner that includes, but is not limited to, distribution of materials and posting notice of the plan or information on how to access the plan via the Internet. (d) An enforcement agency shall determine whether park management is in compliance with this section. The agency may ascertain compliance by receipt of a copy of the plan, during site inspections conducted in response to complaints of alleged violations, or for any other reason. (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, a violation of this section shall constitute an unreasonable risk to life, health, or safety and shall be corrected by park management within 60 days of notice of the violation. SEC. 3. Section 18871.8 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read: 18871.8. (a) In every park there shall be a person available to receive by telephonic or like means, including telephones, cellular telephones, telephone answering machines, answering services or pagers, or in person who shall be responsible for, and who shall reasonably respond in a timely manner to emergencies concerning the operation and maintenance of the park. In every park with 50 or more units, that person or his or her designee shall reside in the park and shall have knowledge of emergency procedures relative to utility systems and common facilities under the ownership and control of the owner of the park and be familiar with the emergency preparedness plans for the park. (b) (1) On or before September 1, 2010, an owner or operator of an existing park shall adopt an emergency preparedness plan. (2) For a park constructed after September 1, 2010, an owner or operator of a park shall adopt a plan in accordance with this section prior to the issuance of the permit to operate. (3) An owner or operator may comply with paragraph (1) by either of the following methods: (A) Adopting the emergency procedures and plans approved by the Standardized Emergency Management System Advisory Board on November 21, 1997, entitled "Emergency Plans for Mobilehome Parks," and compiled by the former Office of Emergency Services in compliance with the Governor's Executive Order W-156-97, or any subsequent version. (B) Adopting a plan that is developed by the park management and is comparable to the procedures and plans specified in subparagraph (A). (c) For an existing park, and in the case of a park constructed after September 10, 2010, prior to the issuance of the permit to operate, an owner or operator of a park shall do both of the following: (1) Post notice of the emergency preparedness plan in the park clubhouse or in another conspicuous area within the mobilehome park. (2) On or before September 10, 2010, provide notice of how to access the plan and information on individual emergency preparedness information from the appropriate state or local agencies, including, but not limited to, the California Emergency Management Agency, to all existing residents and, upon approval of tenancy, for all new residents thereafter. This may be accomplished in a manner that includes, but is not limited to, distribution of materials and posting notice of the plan or information on how to access the plan via the Internet. (d) An enforcement agency shall determine whether park management is in compliance with this section. The agency may ascertain compliance by receipt of a copy of the plan, during site inspections conducted in response to complaints of alleged violations, or for any other reason. (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, a violation of this section shall constitute an unreasonable risk to life, health, or safety and shall be corrected by park management within 60 days of notice of the violation. SEC. 4. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.