HB-5839, As Passed House, March 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE BILL No. 5839

March 7, 2006, Introduced by Rep. Hildenbrand and referred to the Committee on Local Government and Urban Policy.

 

     A bill to amend 1987 PA 96, entitled

 

"The mobile home commission act,"

 

by amending sections 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 16, 17, 21, 30a, and 30c (MCL

 

125.2304, 125.2305, 125.2306, 125.2309, 125.2312, 125.2316,

 

125.2317, 125.2321, 125.2330a, and 125.2330c).

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 4. (1) The commission may do all of the following:

 

     (a)  Promulgate  After consultation with and considering

 

comments from representatives of the manufactured housing industry

 

and other interested parties, promulgate rules to implement and

 

administer this act.

 

     (b) Act for the purpose of establishing a uniform policy

 

relating to all phases of mobile home businesses, mobile home

 


parks, and seasonal mobile home parks.

 

     (c) Determine the sufficiency of local mobile home ordinances

 

which are designed to provide local governments with superintending

 

control over mobile home businesses, mobile home parks, or seasonal

 

mobile homes parks.

 

     (d) Conduct public hearings relating to the powers prescribed

 

in this subsection.

 

     (2) The director of commerce or an authorized representative

 

of the director shall do all of the following:

 

     (a) Administer the rules promulgated by the commission.

 

     (b) Conduct hearings relating to violations of this act or

 

rules promulgated under this act.

 

     (c) Make investigations to determine compliance with this act

 

and rules promulgated under this act.

 

     (d) Provide assistance to the commission as the commission

 

requires.

 

     (e) On not less than a quarterly basis, the director of

 

commerce or an authorized representative of the director shall

 

report to the commission on the expenditure of all fees collected

 

under this act and the relation of such expenditures to the

 

enforcement and administration of this act.

 

     (3) The commission shall not act for the purpose of regulating

 

mobile homes that are not located within a mobile home park or a

 

seasonal mobile home park, except as relates to the business,

 

sales, and service practices of mobile home dealers and the

 

business practices of mobile home installers and repairers.

 

     Sec. 5. (1)  The  After consultation with and considering

 


comments from representatives of the manufactured housing industry

 

and other interested parties, the commission shall promulgate the

 

mobile home code subject to section 4. The code shall consist of

 

rules governing all of the following:

 

     (a) The licensure, density, layout, permits for construction,

 

construction of mobile home parks including standards for roads,

 

utilities, open space, or proposed recreational facilities, and

 

safety measures sufficient to protect health, safety, and welfare

 

of mobile home park residents, except water supply, sewage

 

collection and treatment, and drainage facilities which are

 

regulated by the department of public health.

 

     (b) The business, sales, and service practices of mobile home

 

dealers.

 

     (c) The business practices of mobile home installers and

 

repairers.

 

     (d) The licensure and regulations of mobile home installers

 

and repairers.

 

     (e) The setup and installation of mobile homes inside mobile

 

home parks or seasonal mobile home parks.

 

     (f) The regulation of the responsibilities, under the mobile

 

home warranty, of the mobile home components manufacturer, the

 

mobile home assembler or manufacturer, and the mobile home dealer,

 

including the time period and relationships of each under the

 

warranty, and the remedies available, if any, if the responsible

 

parties cease to operate as a business.

 

     (g) Abuses relating to all of the following:

 

     (i) Consumer deposits, except utility deposits from consumers

 


who are direct customers of utilities regulated by the Michigan

 

public service commission.

 

     (ii)  Detailed listing of furnishings and fixtures by a

 

manufacturer of a new mobile home or a mobile home dealer for a

 

used mobile home.

 

     (iii)  Disclosure and delivery of manufacturer's warranties.

 

     (iv)  Used mobile homes. A mobile home dealer shall provide

 

detailed listing of its service records for used mobile homes which

 

are being sold by the dealer and of which the dealer has knowledge.

 

     (h) Applications for and issuance of certificates of title for

 

mobile homes.

 

     (2) As part of the code, the commission shall also promulgate

 

rules governing the licensure, density, layout, permits for

 

construction, and construction of seasonal mobile home parks,

 

including standards for roads, utilities, open space, proposed

 

recreational facilities, and safety measures sufficient to protect

 

the health, safety, and welfare of seasonal mobile home park

 

residents, except water supply, sewage collection and treatment,

 

and drainage facilities, which shall be regulated by the department

 

of public health.

 

     (3) The rules promulgated for seasonal mobile home parks may

 

impose a less stringent standard than the rules promulgated for

 

mobile home parks.

 

     Sec. 6. (1)  The  After consultation with and considering

 

comments from representatives of the manufactured housing industry

 

and other interested parties, the department of public health shall

 

promulgate rules for mobile home parks and seasonal mobile home

 


parks setting forth minimum standards regulating:

 

     (a) Water supply system.

 

     (b) Sewage collection and disposal system.

 

     (c) Drainage.

 

     (d) Garbage and rubbish storage and disposal.

 

     (e) Insect and rodent control.

 

     (f) General operation, maintenance, and safety.

 

     (g) Certification of compliance under section 17.

 

     (2) Representatives of local government shall act in an

 

advisory capacity in the promulgation of the code.

 

     (3) The commission shall consult with appropriate state and

 

local governments in developing the procedures for effective

 

coordination of efforts. The commission shall recommend procedures

 

to the governor and the legislature for coordinating state agency

 

decisions and activities pertaining to this act.

 

     Sec. 9. (1) The commission shall promulgate rules to establish

 

fees and charges for the issuance of licenses or permits under

 

section 5.

 

     (2) The fees and charges under this act shall be applied

 

solely to the implementation of the act and shall constitute the

 

total funding for the commission except as provided in  Act No. 243

 

of the Public Acts of 1959, being sections 125.1035 to 125.1043 of

 

the Michigan Compiled Laws  1959 PA 243, MCL 125.1035 to 125.1043.

 

     (3) A fee shall not be charged for an investigation conducted

 

pursuant to section 36.

 

     (4) A fee shall not be charged or collected by the commission

 

in excess of that necessary to administer and enforce this act.

 


     (5) The commission may promulgate rules to adjust the fees

 

established in subsection (1) and in sections 16, 21, 30a, and 30c

 

such that revenues obtained under this act equal appropriations by

 

the legislature for the purpose of administering this act. However,

 

the adjusted fees shall not exceed the fees stated in sections 16,

 

21, 30a, and 30c.

 

     (6) To accomplish the objectives of this act, a mobile home

 

code fund is created. Fees established by the act for the issuance

 

of licenses, plans approval, permits, certificates of title, and

 

affidavits of affixture are intended to bear a reasonable relation

 

to the cost, including overhead, of the service. The state

 

treasurer is the custodian of the fund and may invest the surplus

 

of the fund in investments that in the state treasurer's judgment

 

are in the best interest of the fund. Earnings from those

 

investments shall be credited to the fund. The state treasurer

 

shall report to the director and the legislature the amount of

 

interest credited and the balance of the fund as of September 30 of

 

each year. The director shall supervise and administer the fund.

 

Fees received by the department and money collected under the act

 

shall be deposited in the fund and shall be appropriated by the

 

legislature for the operation of the bureau of construction codes

 

and fire safety and indirect overhead expenses in the department.

 

Funds that are unexpended at the end of each fiscal year shall be

 

returned to the mobile home code fund.

 

     Sec. 12. (1)  When all preliminary approvals are made, the

 

developer shall submit the legal documents and the final plans

 

draft to the department.

 


     (2) The nonrefundable fee for an application for plans

 

approval and a permit for new mobile home park construction or for

 

the expansion of an existing licensed mobile home park is $185.00

 

plus an additional $4.00 for each home site over 25 homes sites, to

 

a maximum of $1,000.00. The nonrefundable fee for an application

 

for an extension of a permit to construct if $185.00.

 

     (3) The nonrefundable fee for the construction of a new home

 

condominium or the expansion of an existing home condominium is

 

$505.00, plus an additional $4.00 for each home condominium home

 

site over 25 home sites that is to be constructed.

 

     (4) The nonrefundable fee for an existing licensed mobile home

 

park that converts to a home condominium with an increase in the

 

number of home sites is $505.00, plus an additional $4.00 for each

 

home condominium home site over 25 home sites, to a maximum of

 

$1,480.00.

 

     (5) The nonrefundable fee for an application for a permit to

 

construct for an alteration to an existing mobile home park is

 

$50.00.

 

     (6)  (2)  The department shall review the filing and within 90

 

days after filing issue its approval or disapproval. Upon the

 

approval of all the reviewing agencies, the department shall issue

 

a permit to construct the mobile home park or seasonal mobile home

 

park.

 

     Sec. 16. (1)  A person shall not operate a mobile home park or

 

seasonal mobile home park without a license.

 

     (2) Upon completion, review, and approval of certifications,

 

the department shall grant a license to operate a mobile home park

 


or seasonal mobile home park.

 

     (3)  An annual  A 3-year license shall be granted and renewed

 

by the department based upon the certifications and recommendations

 

of the appropriate agencies and local governments. The fee for the

 

3-year license to operate a mobile home park is $225.00, plus an

 

additional $3.00 for each home site in excess of 25 home sites in

 

the mobile home park, or any lesser amount established pursuant to

 

section 9(5). The fee for a 3-year license to operate a seasonal

 

mobile home park is $120.00, plus an additional $1.50 for each home

 

site in excess of 25 home sites in the seasonal mobile home park,

 

or any lesser amount established pursuant to section 9(5).

 

     (4) If a person submits a timely application for renewal of a

 

license and pays the appropriate fee, the person may continue to

 

operate a mobile home park or seasonal mobile home park unless

 

notified that the application for renewal is not approved.

 

     (5) A campground which is currently licensed under sections

 

12501 to 12516 of the public health code,  Act No. 368 of the

 

Public Acts of 1978, being sections 333.12501 to 333.12516 of the

 

Michigan Compiled Laws  1978 PA 368, MCL 333.12501 to 333.12516,

 

was previously licensed under the licensing provisions of  Act No.

 

243 of the Public Acts of 1959, being sections 125.1035 to 125.1043

 

of the Michigan Compiled Laws  1959 PA 243, MCL 125.1035 to

 

125.1043 as a seasonal trailer park and which currently meets the

 

seasonal trailer park construction standards under  Act No. 243 of

 

the Public Acts of 1959  1959 PA 243, MCL 125.1035 to 125.1043, may

 

apply for and shall be licensed as a seasonal mobile home park

 

under this act if the campground meets all other requirements for

 


licensure under this act as a seasonal mobile home park.

 

     Sec. 17. (1)  The department of public health or its

 

authorized representative shall conduct an annual physical

 

inspection of mobile home parks and seasonal mobile home parks in

 

accordance with standards established by the department of public

 

health. If the mobile home park or seasonal mobile home park is

 

approved, the department  of public health  shall issue a  

 

certification of compliance to the department of commerce that the

 

park is licensable  license pursuant to section 16.

 

     (2) Except for purposes of issuing a license or renewing a

 

license pursuant to this act, a local government may not make an

 

inspection unless it has reason to believe that this act, the code,

 

or rules promulgated pursuant to this act were violated.

 

     Sec. 21. (1)  A mobile home dealer shall not engage in the

 

retail sale of a mobile home without a license.

 

     (2) A mobile home dealer, mobile home installer, or repairer

 

may obtain an initial or renewal license by filing with the

 

commission an application together with consent to service of

 

process in a form prescribed by the commission pursuant to section

 

35.

 

     (3) An initial or renewal license under this act shall be

 

issued for  not more than 1 year  3 years. Licenses shall expire on

 

October 1.

 

     (4) The  annual  license fee for a mobile home dealer is  

 

$150.00  $450.00 or any other lesser amount established pursuant to

 

section 9(5).

 

     (5) The  annual  license fee for a mobile home installer or

 


repairer is  $50.00  $150.00 or any other lesser amount established

 

pursuant to section 9(5).

 

     (6) A licensed mobile home dealer, mobile home installer, or

 

repairer may file an application for the license of a successor,

 

whether or not the successor is then in existence, for the

 

unexpired portion of the year. The commission may grant or deny the

 

application.

 

     (7) A licensee who submits a timely application for renewal of

 

a license and pays the appropriate fee may continue sales of mobile

 

homes unless notified that the application for renewal is not

 

approved.

 

     Sec. 30a. (1)  An owner of a mobile home which is subject to

 

the certificate of title provisions of this act shall make

 

application to the department for the issuance of a certificate of

 

title for the mobile home upon the appropriate form furnished by

 

the department, accompanied by a fee of  $45.00  $90.00 or any

 

lesser amount established pursuant to section 9(5). The application

 

shall bear the signature of the owner written in ink, shall be

 

acknowledged by the owner before a person authorized to take

 

acknowledgments, and shall contain:

 

     (a) The name and address of the owner.

 

     (b) A description of the mobile home, including the name of

 

the manufacturer, the year and model, and the manufacturer's serial

 

number or, in the absence of a serial number, a number assigned by

 

the department. A number assigned by the department shall be

 

permanently placed on the mobile home in the manner and place

 

designated by the department.

 


     (c) A statement of the names and addresses of the holders of

 

any security interests in the mobile home, in the order of their

 

priority.

 

     (d) Further information as may reasonably be required by the

 

department to enable it to determine whether the owner of the

 

mobile home is entitled to a certificate of title for the mobile

 

home.

 

     (2) If the department is not satisfied as to the ownership of

 

the mobile home, before issuing a certificate of title for it, the

 

department may require the applicant to file a properly executed

 

surety bond in a form prescribed by the department, executed by the

 

applicant and a company authorized to conduct a surety business in

 

this state. The bond shall be in an amount equal to twice the value

 

of the mobile home as determined by the department and shall be

 

conditioned to indemnify or reimburse the department, any prior

 

owner, any holder of a security interest in the mobile home, and

 

any subsequent purchaser of the mobile home, and their successors

 

in interest, against any expense, loss, or damage, including

 

reasonable attorney's fees, by reason of the issuance of a

 

certificate of title to the mobile home or on account of any defect

 

in the right, title, or interest of the applicant in and to the

 

mobile home. Each interested person has a right of action to

 

recover on the bond for a breach of its conditions, but the

 

aggregate liability of the surety to all persons shall not exceed

 

the amount of the bond. The bond shall be returned at the end of 5

 

years, or before 5 years if the currently valid certificate of

 

title is surrendered to the department, unless the department has

 


received notification of the pendency of an action to recover on

 

the bond.

 

     (3) The department shall examine and determine the

 

genuineness, regularity, and legality of an application for a

 

certificate of title for a mobile home and of any other application

 

lawfully made to the department, and may in all cases make

 

investigation or require additional information as may be

 

considered necessary, and shall reject any application if not

 

satisfied of the genuineness, regularity, or legality of it or the

 

truth of any statement contained in it, or for any other reason,

 

when authorized by law.

 

     (4) The fee for obtaining a duplicate, replacement, or

 

corrected title, for placing or terminating a lien on the title, or

 

for placing a name on the title is $15.00 or any other lesser

 

amount established pursuant to section 9(5).

 

     Sec. 30c. (1)  If the owner of a mobile home transfers or

 

assigns the owner's title or interest to the mobile home, the owner

 

shall indorse on the back of the certificate of title an assignment

 

of the mobile home with warranty of title with a statement of all

 

security interests in the mobile home, and shall cause the

 

certificate to be mailed or delivered to the department or to the

 

purchaser or transferee at the time of the delivery to the

 

purchaser or transferee of the mobile home.

 

     (2) Upon the delivery of a mobile home and the transfer, sale,

 

or assignment of the title or interest in a mobile home, the

 

effective date of the transfer of title or interest shall be the

 

date of execution of either the application for title or the

 


certificate of title.

 

     (3) The purchaser or transferee, unless the purchaser or

 

transferee is a licensed dealer, shall cause to be presented to the

 

department the certificate of title accompanied by the applicable

 

fee, as follows:

 

     (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b) or (c),  $45.00  

 

$90.00.

 

     (b) Except as provided in subdivision (c), $15.00, if the

 

sale, assignment, or other transfer will require the addition or

 

deletion from the certificate of title of any of the following:

 

     (i) The owner's spouse.

 

     (ii)  A person related to the owner within the fourth degree of

 

consanguinity as computed by the civil law method.

 

     (iii)  A person related to the owner's spouse within the fourth

 

degree of consanguinity as computed by the civil law method.

 

     (c) Any other lesser amount established pursuant to section

 

9(5).

 

     (4) Upon presentation of the certificate of title accompanied

 

by the applicable fee, a new certificate of title shall be issued.

 

A certificate of title issued under subsection (3) and this

 

subsection shall be mailed or delivered to the owner or any other

 

person the owner may direct in a separate instrument in a form as

 

prescribed by the department.

 

     (5) If a security interest is reserved or created at the time

 

of the transfer, the parties shall comply with section 30d.

 

     (6) If the transferee of a mobile home is a mobile home dealer

 

who holds the mobile home for resale, the dealer shall not be

 


required to forward the certificate of title to the department, but

 

the dealer shall retain possession of the assigned certificate of

 

title. Upon transfer of the dealer's title or interest to another

 

person, the dealer shall execute and acknowledge an assignment and

 

warranty of title upon the certificate of title and deliver it to

 

the person to whom the transfer is made if the person is a licensed

 

dealer; otherwise application for a new title shall be made by the

 

transferor as provided in section 30a(1).