AB 587: Mobilehomes: payments: nonpayment or late payments.

(1)Existing law subjects manufactured homes or mobilehomes sold as new prior to July 1, 1980, to a vehicle license fee and requires annual payment of the fee. Existing law provides that nonpayment of certain fees and penalties, including the vehicle license fee, constitutes a lien on the manufactured home or mobilehome, and prohibits the Department of Housing and Community Development (department) from, among other things, issuing a duplicate or new certificate of title or registration card or amending the permanent title record of the manufactured home or mobilehome that is the subject of that lien.

This bill, when a person who is not currently the registered owner of a manufactured home or mobilehome applies to the department for registration or transfer of registration of the manufactured home or mobilehome prior to December 31, 2019, and meets other specified requirements, would require the department to waive all outstanding charges assessed by the department prior to the transfer of title of the manufactured home or mobilehome, release any lien imposed with respect to those charges, issue a duplicate or new certificate of title or registration card, and amend the title record of the manufactured home or mobilehome.

(2)Existing law provides that mobilehomes and manufactured homes not subject to the vehicle license fee are subject to local property taxation, and requires the department to withhold the registration or transfer of registration of any manufactured home or mobilehome subject to local property taxation until the applicant for registration presents a tax clearance certificate or conditional tax clearance certificate issued by the tax collector of the county where the manufactured home or mobilehome is located. Existing law requires the county tax collector to issue a tax clearance certificate or conditional tax clearance certificate if specified requirements are met.

The California Constitution authorizes the Legislature to exempt personal property from taxation by means of a statute approved by a ²/₃ vote of the membership of each house.

This bill, when a person who is not currently the registered owner of a manufactured home or mobilehome subject to local property taxation applies to the department for registration or transfer of registration of the manufactured home or mobilehome prior to December 31, 2019, and meets other specified requirements, would require the department to issue a conditional transfer of title. The bill would require a county tax collector to issue a tax liability certificate to a person with a conditional transfer of title who applies for the certificate prior to January 1, 2020. Pursuant to the constitutional authorization described above, this bill would require the payment of only a portion of the taxes, as specified, reasonably owed from the date of sale of the manufactured home or mobilehome. By increasing the duties of county tax collectors, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

(3)The Mobilehome Residency Law governs the terms and conditions of residency in mobilehome parks and requires a rental agreement for a tenancy to include, among other things, a specified notice.

This bill would revise the contents of the notice.

(4)Existing law prohibits the use or occupancy of a manufactured home, mobilehome, or recreational vehicle that fails to conform to the regulations of the department, regarding, among other things, water, electricity, and sewer connections.

This bill, beginning January 1, 2020, would make it unlawful for any person to use for occupancy any manufactured home or mobilehome that does not conform to the registration requirements of the department, if the department provides notice to the occupant of the registration requirements and any registration fees due.

(5)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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

(6)Section 2229 of the Revenue and Taxation Code requires the Legislature to reimburse local agencies annually for certain property tax revenues lost as a result of any exemption or classification of property for purposes of ad valorem property taxation.

This bill would provide that, notwithstanding Section 2229 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, no appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenues lost by them pursuant to the bill.