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 their designee shall reside in the park, have knowledge of emergency procedures relative to accessibility for utility systems, including, but not limited to, gas lines, hydrants, water systems, and electrical components, common facilities under the ownership and control of the owner of the park, and access to park entrances and exits, and shall be familiar with the emergency preparedness plans for the park.(b) (1) Beginning January 1, 2027, an owner or operator of an existing park shall adopt an emergency preparedness plan in accordance with the requirements of this section prior to or at the time of submission of the renewal of its permit to operate.
(2) For a park constructed after January 1, 2027, an owner or operator of a park shall adopt a plan in accordance with this section prior to the issuance and renewal of its permit to operate.
(3) An owner or operator shall comply with paragraph (1) or (2), as applicable, by adopting both of the following:
(A) 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 Office of Emergency Services in compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order W-156-97, or any subsequent version.
(B) An emergency preparedness plan that includes all of the following:
(i) A written statement by a park owner or manager of compliance with this section, a copy of which shall be attached to its request to obtain or renew a permit to operate.
(ii) Identification of all accessible points of park entry or exit.
(iii) Identification of an agent of park management, a park manager, or volunteer designee resident who will be available to residents by the means described in subdivision (a) and who shall reasonably respond in a timely manner to ensure points of entry and exit are not locked or otherwise obstructed in the event of an emergency.
(iv) A copy of the Private Fire Hydrant Test and Certification Report and a written statement that all hydrants are operable and accessible to emergency personnel in the event of an emergency.
(v) A written statement that a person with professional knowledge or expertise has inspected the gas system within the park and that such system is in working order and accessible to emergency personnel and park management or a volunteer designee resident at all times in the event gas shut off is necessary.
(vi) Identification of an agent of park management, a park manager, or volunteer designee resident who will be available by the means described in subdivision (a) and who shall reasonably respond in a timely manner to assist in an evacuation ordered by emergency personnel according to the standards set forth within the park emergency plan. The agent, manager, or volunteer shall not be responsible for physically evacuating residents from their homes during an emergency.
(c) In every park, 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 publicly accessible area within the mobilehome park.
(2) Provide notice annually to all existing residents of how to access the plan and information on individual emergency preparedness contained therein and how to obtain the plan in a language other than English. This notice shall also be provided, upon approval of tenancy, to all new residents. This shall be accomplished in a manner that includes, but is not limited to, distribution of materials to each household on an annual basis, posting notice of the plan in the most accessible common area in the park that is open and available to all residents, and providing information on how to access the plan and request a written copy via the internet.
(d) The department shall publicly post on its internet website the requirements of this section that become operative on January 1, 2027.
(e) An enforcement agency shall determine whether park management is in compliance with this section. The agency shall ascertain compliance by receipt of a copy of the plan during its review of the application for or renewal of a park’s permit to operate, site inspections conducted in response to complaints of alleged violations, or other reasons deemed appropriate by the agency to implement this section of law.
(f) 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. If the violation is not corrected within 60 days of notice of the violation, the enforcement agency shall refuse to issue or renew a permit to operate and may impose formal penalties.
(g) If park management does not correct a violation pursuant to subdivision (f) within 60 days of notice of the violation and formal penalties are issued by the enforcement agency, a subsequent written statement, as described in clause (i) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), shall be made under penalty of perjury before the issuance and renewal of the park’s permit to operate.
(h) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2027.