AB897: Bill Text

AB897,9,11 101.91 (6m) "Manufactured home park community contractor" means a person, other than a public utility, as defined in s. 196.01 (5) (a), who, under a contract with a manufactured home park community operator, provides water or sewer service to a manufactured home park community occupant or performs a service related to providing water or sewer service to a manufactured home park community occupant.

AB897, s. 22 Section 22. 101.91 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB897,9,14 101.91 (7) "Manufactured home park community occupant" means a person who rents or owns a manufactured home in a manufactured home park community.

AB897, s. 23 Section 23. 101.91 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB897,9,18 101.91 (8) "Manufactured home park community operator" means a person engaged in the business of owning or managing a manufactured home park community.

AB897, s. 24 Section 24. 101.92 (1) of the statutes is repealed.

AB897, s. 25 Section 25. 101.92 (1m) of the statutes is repealed.

AB897, s. 26 Section 26. 101.92 (5) of the statutes is repealed.

AB897, s. 27 Section 27. 101.92 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB897,9,24 101.92 (6) May enter into reciprocal agreements with other states regarding the design, construction, inspection, installation, and labeling of manufactured homes where the laws or rules of other states meet the intent of this subchapter and where the laws or rules are actually enforced.

AB897, s. 28 Section 28. 101.9203 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB897,10,9 101.9203 (4) The owner of a manufactured home that is situated in this state or intended to be situated in this state is not required to make application for a certificate of title under s. 101.9209 if the owner of the manufactured home intends, upon acquiring the manufactured home, to permanently affix make the manufactured home a fixture to land that in which the owner of the manufactured home owns has an ownership or leasehold interest subject to ch. 706.

AB897, s. 29 Section 29. 101.9204 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB897,10,13 101.9204 (1m) On the form or in the automated format for application for a certificate of title, the department may show the fee under s. 101.9208 (1) (dm) (4m) separately from the fee under s. 101.9208 (1) (a) or (d) (4).

AB897, s. 30 Section 30. 101.9205 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB897,10,17 101.9205 (3) The department shall charge establish, by rule under s. 101.19, a fee of not less than $2 for conducting a file search of manufactured home title records.

AB897, s. 31 Section 31. 101.9208 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 101.9208 and amended to read:

AB897,10,21 101.9208 The department shall be paid the The following fees shall be determined by the department by rule under s. 101.19:

AB897,10,23 (1) For filing an application for the first certificate of title, $8.50, to be paid by the owner of the manufactured home.

AB897,11,3 (2) Upon filing an application under par. (a) or (d) sub. (1) or (4), an environmental impact fee of $9, to be paid by the person filing the application. All moneys collected under this subsection shall be credited to the environmental fund for environmental management. This paragraph does not apply after December 31, 2003.

AB897,11,6 (3) For the original notation and subsequent release of each security interest noted upon a certificate of title, a single fee of $4 to be paid by the owner of the manufactured home.

AB897,11,8 (4) For a certificate of title after a transfer, $8.50, to be paid by the owner of the manufactured home.

AB897,11,14 (4m) Upon filing an application under par. (a) or (d) sub. (1) or (4), a supplemental title fee of $7.50 to be paid by the owner of the manufactured home, except that this fee shall be waived with respect to an application under par. (d) for transfer of a decedent's interest in a manufactured home to his or her surviving spouse. The fee specified required under this paragraph is subsection shall be paid in addition to any other fee specified in this section.

AB897,11,16 (5) For each assignment of a security interest noted upon a certificate of title, $1 to be paid by the assignee.

AB897,11,18 (6) For a replacement certificate of title, $8, to be paid by the owner of the manufactured home.

AB897,11,22 (7) For processing applications for certificates of title that have a special handling request for fast service, a fee established by the department by rule, which fee shall approximate the cost to the department for providing this special handling service to persons so requesting.

AB897,11,24 (8) For the reinstatement of a certificate of title previously suspended or revoked, $25.

AB897, s. 32 Section 32. 101.9208 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

AB897, s. 33 Section 33. 101.9208 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB897,12,4 101.9208 (2m) Upon filing an application under sub. (1) or (4), a manufactured housing rehabilitation and recycling fee, to be paid by the person filing the application.

AB897, s. 34 Section 34. 101.9213 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB897,12,12 101.9213 (8) Upon request of a person who has perfected a security interest under this section, as shown by the records of the department, in a manufactured home titled in this state, whenever the department receives information from another state that the manufactured home is being titled in the other state and the information does not show that the security interest has been satisfied, the department shall notify the person. The person shall pay the department shall establish, by rule under s. 101.19, a fee of not less than $2 fee for each notification.

AB897, s. 35 Section 35. 101.925 of the statutes is repealed.

AB897, s. 36 Section 36. 101.93 of the statutes is repealed.

AB897, s. 37 Section 37. 101.933 of the statutes is created to read:

AB897,13,2 101.933 Manufactured housing code council duties. The manufactured housing code council shall review this subchapter and rules promulgated under this subchapter and recommend a statewide manufactured housing code for promulgation by the department. The council shall consider and make recommendations to the department pertaining to rules and any other matter related to this subchapter, including recommendations with regard to licensure and professional discipline of manufacturers of manufactured homes, manufactured home dealers, manufactured home salespersons, and installers, and consumer protection applicable to consumers of manufactured homes. In making recommendations, the council shall consider the likely costs of any proposed rules to consumers in relation to the benefits that are likely to result therefrom.

AB897, s. 38 Section 38. 101.935 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB897,13,4 101.935 (title) Manufactured home park community regulation.

AB897, s. 39 Section 39. 101.935 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB897,13,10 101.935 (2) (a) The department or a village, city or county granted agent status under par. (e) shall issue permits to and regulate manufactured home parks communities. No person, state or local government who has not been issued a permit under this subsection may conduct, maintain, manage or operate a manufactured home park community.

AB897, s. 40 Section 40. 101.935 (2) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB897,13,17 101.935 (2) (c) 2. The department shall establish, by rule under s. 101.19, the permit fee and renewal fee for a permit issued under this subsection. Beginning in fiscal year 2002-03, the The department may increase the fees to recover establish a fee that defrays the cost of administering s. 101.937. An additional penalty fee, as established by the department by rule under s. 101.19, is required for each permit if the biennial renewal fee is not paid before the permit expires.

AB897, s. 41 Section 41. 101.935 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB897,14,6 101.935 (2) (d) A permit may not be issued under this subsection until all applicable fees have been paid. If the payment is by check or other draft drawn upon an account containing insufficient funds, the permit applicant shall, within 15 days after receipt of notice from the department of the insufficiency, pay by cashier's check or other certified draft, money order or cash the fees to the department, late fees and processing charges that are specified by rules promulgated by the department. If the permit applicant fails to pay all applicable fees, late fees and the processing charges within 15 days after the applicant receives notice of the insufficiency, the permit is void. In an appeal concerning voiding of a permit under this paragraph, the burden is on the permit applicant to show that the entire applicable fees, late fees and processing charges have been paid. During any appeal process concerning a payment dispute, operation of the manufactured home park community in question is considered to be operation without a permit.

AB897, s. 42 Section 42. 101.935 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB897,14,9 101.935 (2m) (a) The department shall inspect a manufactured home park community in the following situations:

AB897,14,11 1. Upon completion of the construction of a manufactured home park community.

AB897,14,13 2. Whenever a manufactured home park community is modified, as defined by the department by rule.

AB897,14,15 3. Whenever the department receives a complaint about a manufactured home park community.

AB897,14,17 (b) The department may, with notice, inspect a manufactured home park community whenever the department determines an inspection is appropriate.

AB897, s. 43 Section 43. 101.937 (title), (1) and (2) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB897,15,4 101.937 (title) Water and sewer service to manufactured home parks communities. (1) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules that establish standards for providing water or sewer service by a manufactured home park community operator or manufactured home park community contractor to a manufactured home park community occupant, including requirements for metering, billing, depositing, arranging deferred payment, installing service, refusing or discontinuing service, and resolving disputes with respect to service. Rules promulgated under this subsection shall ensure that any charge for water or sewer service is reasonable and not unjustly discriminatory, that the water or sewer service is reasonably adequate, and that any practice relating to providing the service is just and reasonable.

AB897,15,8 (2) Permanent improvements. A manufactured home park community operator may make a reasonable recovery of capital costs for permanent improvements related to the provision of water or sewer service to manufactured home park community occupants through ongoing rates for water or sewer service.

AB897, s. 44 Section 44. 101.937 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB897,15,14 101.937 (3) (a) On its own motion or upon a complaint filed by a manufactured home park community occupant, the department may issue an order or commence a civil action against a manufactured home park community operator or manufactured home park community contractor to enforce this section, any rule promulgated under sub. (1), or any order issued under this paragraph.

AB897, s. 45 Section 45. 101.94 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB897,15,22 101.94 (2) No person may manufacture, assemble, distribute or sell a manufactured home unless the manufactured home complies with 42 USC 5401 to 5425 and applicable regulations as in effect on June 15, 1976. The department may establish, by rule, standards for the safe and sanitary design and construction of manufactured homes for the purpose of enforcement of this subchapter, and those standards may include standards in addition to any standards established by the secretary of housing and urban development under 42 USC 5401 to 5425.

AB897, s. 46 Section 46. 101.94 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

AB897, s. 47 Section 47. 101.94 (4) of the statutes is repealed.

AB897, s. 48 Section 48. 101.94 (5) of the statutes is repealed.

AB897, s. 49 Section 49. 101.94 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB897,16,4 101.94 (6) Fees for review of plans, construction inspections, department labels and licensing of manufacturers shall be established by department rule under s. 101.19.

AB897, s. 50 Section 50. 101.951 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB897,16,8 101.951 (2) (a) Application for a license or a renewal license shall be made to the department on forms prescribed and furnished by the department, accompanied by the license fee required under par. (c) or (d) (bm).

AB897, s. 51 Section 51. 101.951 (2) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB897,16,11 101.951 (2) (bm) Fees for licensing of persons under this section shall be established by the department by rule under s. 101.19.

AB897, s. 52 Section 52. 101.951 (2) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

AB897, s. 53 Section 53. 101.951 (2) (d) of the statutes is repealed.

AB897, s. 54 Section 54. 101.952 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB897,16,20 101.952 (2) (a) Applications for a manufactured home salesperson's license and renewals thereof shall be made to the department on such forms as the department prescribes and furnishes and shall be accompanied by the license fee required under par. (c) or (d) (bm). The application shall include the applicant's social security number. In addition, the application shall require such pertinent information as the department requires.

AB897, s. 55 Section 55. 101.952 (2) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB897,16,23 101.952 (2) (bm) Fees for licensing of manufactured home salespersons shall be established by the department by rule under s. 101.19.

AB897, s. 56 Section 56. 101.952 (2) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

AB897, s. 57 Section 57. 101.952 (2) (d) of the statutes is repealed.

AB897, s. 58 Section 58. 101.957 of the statutes is created to read:

AB897,17,18 101.957 Nonjudicial resolution of manufactured housing industry disputes. The department, by rule, shall establish an alternative dispute resolution program for the timely resolution of any dispute that concerns a defect in a manufactured home, or in the installation of a manufactured home, reported to the department within one year of the date on which the manufactured home was installed and that occurs between parties each of which is a manufacturer of manufactured homes, manufactured home salesperson, manufactured home dealer, or installer. Each party to a dispute that is covered by the rules shall submit to the alternative dispute resolution program before commencing any action arising out of the dispute against any other party to the dispute. The rules shall facilitate the informal resolution of disputes, except that, if informal resolution is not obtained in a timely manner and at least one of the parties to the dispute so requests in writing, the department shall hold a contested case hearing under ch. 227 and issue an order directing any party that the department finds responsible for the defect at issue in the dispute to remedy the defect. This section does not affect the rights of any consumer to commence an action or the rights of any person to commence an action against a consumer.

AB897, s. 59 Section 59. 101.96 of the statutes is created to read:

AB897,17,24 101.96 Manufactured home installation regulated. (1) Installation standards. (a) Promulgation of standards. The department shall, by rule, establish installation standards for the safe installation of manufactured homes in this state. In promulgating rules under this paragraph, the department shall consider the recommendations of the manufactured housing code council under s. 101.933.

AB897,18,9 (b) Enforcement of standards. The department shall, by rule, establish a method for ensuring compliance with the rules promulgated under par. (a). The department shall require 3rd-party inspections of manufactured home installations. Each 3rd-party inspector shall complete, to the satisfaction of the department, an examination that meets the criteria under sub. (2) (b) 3. An individual may not serve as a 3rd-party inspector if the individual is, employed by, or is an independent contractor of a manufactured home manufacturer, manufactured home salesperson, or installer who was directly involved in the sale of the particular manufactured home.

AB897,18,19 (2) Manufactured home installers. (a) License required; exceptions; liability. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, no person may act as an installer in this state unless the person is a licensed installer or employs one or more licensed installers to generally supervise each of the person's installations of manufactured homes in this state. This requirement does not apply to an individual who installs a manufactured home on his or her own property for his or her personal use or to an individual who installs a manufactured home under the general supervision of a licensed installer. A licensed installer is liable for all acts and omissions related to the installation of each individual who performs an installation under the licensed installer's general supervision.

AB897,18,21 (b) License eligibility. The department may issue an installer's license only to an individual to whom all of the following apply:

AB897,18,22 1. The individual is at least 18 years old.

AB897,18,24 2. The individual files with the department a license application on a form prescribed by the department.

AB897,19,4 3. The individual completes, to the satisfaction of the department, an examination approved by the department that tests the skills necessary to properly install manufactured homes and knowledge of the laws applicable to manufactured home installation.

AB897,19,7 4. The individual has not been found responsible in any judicial or administrative forum for any violation of this section during the 2 years before the date on which the individual's license application is submitted.

AB897,19,12 5. The individual has not been found responsible in any judicial or administrative forum during the 2 years before the date on which the individual's license application is submitted for any failure to perform an installation of a manufactured home as required under contract or for defrauding any person with regard to the provision of installation services.

AB897,19,14 6. The individual meets the standards of financial responsibility established by rule of the department.

AB897,19,19 (c) License term and fee. The department, by rule under sub. (1) (b), shall establish the term of installers' licenses and the conditions under which the department may revoke or suspend installers' licenses. The department shall establish an initial installer's license fee and license renewal fee by rule under s. 101.19.

AB897,19,22 (3) Municipal authority. (a) Authority limited. No city, village, town, or county may enact an ordinance or adopt a resolution regulating a matter governed by this section or by a rule promulgated under this section.