Bill Text: CA AB661 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Utility services: electronic communication.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-05-01 - Referred to Com. on JUD. [AB661 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB661-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  April 13, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 661

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Introduced by Assembly Member Joe Patterson

February 09, 2023

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An act to amend Section 798.42 of the Civil Code, relating to mobilehome parks.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 661, as amended, Joe Patterson. Emergency information: automatic notification. Utility services: electronic communication.

Existing law, the Mobilehome Residency Law, prescribes various terms and conditions that regulate tenancies in mobilehome parks. That law requires management to post written notice on the mobilehomes of all affected homeowners and residents of a mobilehome park of an interruption in utility service at least 72 hours in advance, as specified.

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would authorize residents in a mobilehome parks to voluntarily agree to receive emails, text messages, or automated calls from park management or the owner or operator of the park with information regarding unforeseen events relevant to the park from local, state, or federal authorities.

This bill would authorize management, upon consent of the homeowner or resident, to provide that notice through electronic communication, as defined.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 798.42 of the Civil Code is amended to read:

798.42.

 (a) The management shall provide, by posting notice on the mobilehomes of all affected homeowners and residents, provide all affected homeowners and residents at least 72 hours’ written advance notice of an interruption in utility service of more than two hours for the maintenance, repair, or replacement of facilities of utility systems over which the management has control within the park, provided that the interruption is not due to an emergency. The management shall be liable only for actual damages sustained by a homeowner or resident for violation of this section.

(b) (1) Upon consent of a homeowner or resident, the management may provide notice under this section by electronic communication.

(2) For each homeowner or resident not provided notice by electronic communication, the management shall post written notice on the mobilehome of the affected homeowner or resident.

(c) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Electronic communication” means email, text, or automated telephone call.

“Emergency,” for purposes of this section,

(2) “Emergency” means the interruption of utility service resulting from an accident or act of nature, or cessation of service caused by other than the management’s regular or planned maintenance, repair, or replacement of utility facilities.

SECTION 1.

It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would allow residents in mobilehome parks to voluntarily agree to receive emails, text messages, or automated calls from park management or the owner or operator of the park with information regarding unforeseen events relevant to the park from local, state, or federal authorities.