TAPE/#

Speaker

Comments

TAPE 48, A

003

Chair Brown

Calls the meeting to order at 9:45 a.m.  Opens the work session for the purpose of the introduction of committee measures.

INTRODUCTION OF COMMITTEE MEASURES – WORK SESSION

007

Chair Brown

Submits LC 3013, LC 3463, LC 3270, LC 1091, LC 2360, and LC 1595 (EXHIBIT E, F, G, H, I, and J).

012

Rep. Esquivel

MOTION:  Moves LC's:  2360, 1595, 3463, 3270, 1091, 3013 BE INTRODUCED as committee bills.

020

VOTE:  5-0-2

EXCUSED:  2 - Gilman, Kitts

Chair Brown

Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.

021

Chair Brown

Closes the work session for the purpose of the introduction of committee measures.  Opens the public hearing for HB 2375 and HB 2376.

HB 2375 AND HB 2376 – PUBLIC HEARING

027

Janet Adkins

Committee Administrator.  Explains HB 2375 and HB 2376.  Says that both bills deal with the same kind of activity but take different approaches.

060

Don Miner

Oregon Manufactured Housing Association.  Submits informational packet in support of HB 2375 and HB 2376 (EXHIBIT A and B).  States that HB 2375 and HB 2376 are consumer protection bills.  Talks about how the problem facing the manufactured housing industry started in the 1990s.  Notes that no single agency has had all encompassing authority over the manufactured housing industry. 

118

Miner

Reads portions from the Oregonian article and says that only one manufactured home dealer had action taken against them (EXHIBIT A and B, Pages 25 – 27). Talks about the graph and discusses the current trends is percentage of people whose homes are manufactured homes (EXHIBIT A and B, Page 1).  Says that lenders found that the price of homes had been misrepresented and stopped financing manufactured homes.  Emphasizes that the industry lost jobs in the state of Oregon.  References the report by the Attorney General and says that some of the Attorney General’s recommendations found their way into law during the 2001 Legislative Session (EXHIBIT A and B, Page 4 – 20).   

163

Miner

Talks about the process of regulation and how Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) is a good fit for regulating the manufactured housing industry.  Discusses the need for an all encompassing model similar to the Nevada model.  States that when SB 468 (2003) is put into statute, dealers will be licensed, basic background checks will be performed, and basic education about financing will be required.  References the copy of the operatitive language of the statutes and reads from the top of the page (EXHIBIT A and B, Page 21).  Refers to the copy of the rules that the Building Codes Division proposed in SB 468 (2003) and mentions that they will go into effect on May 1, 2005 (EXHIBIT A and B, Page 22-24).

213

Miner

States that the Building Codes Division (BCD) could take action against the dealer and it is unclear who takes action as prescribed under SB 468 (2003).  Says that the approach at the BCD is somewhat similar to the Construction Contractors Board (CCB).  Notes that HB 2375 and HB 2376 add clarification to the statutes.  Explains that HB 2376 gives some authority to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to enforce the proposed legislation.   

260

Miner

Speaks about citizen involvement in the process of making laws.  Discusses HB 2376 and wants BCD to punish dealers who act improperly.  States that Ballot Measure 32 (2004) has created adequate funding for HB 2375 and HB 2376.    

310

Miner

Mentions the severe downturn in 1999 in the manufactured housing industry. 

321

Greg Harmon

Owner, Common Wealth Real Estate Services, Portland.  Speaks in support of HB 2375 and HB 2376.  Mentions taskforce put together by the Attorney General and the recommendations that the taskforce made (EXHIBIT A and B, Pages 4 – 20).  Says that little meaningful changes have been made by the government as a result of the taskforce.  Talks about how lenders do not want to give money to people who are buying manufactured homes.  States that, in California where the industry is highly regulated, the market is the best in the United States.  Explains that the manufactured housing industry wants to be regulated.

380

Harmon

States that the lack of changes is frustrating to the manufactured housing industry and its consumers.  Discusses how HB 2375 and HB 2376 are the solution to the problem.  Notes that there is a need to protect consumers and the manufactured housing industry needs the help of the legislature to do it.

404

Chair Brown

Asks how many people are employed in the manufactured housing industry.

406

Miner

States that for the assembly lines it is about 1900 people.

411

Chair Brown

Asks how many people were employed several years ago.

412

Miner

States that it was about 3500 in the production facilities and that it does not include the people not on the assembly line.   Says that Oregon is the tenth largest producer of manufactured homes in the United States.

420

Chair Brown

Asks what SB 468 (2003) did.

TAPE 49, A

002

Miner

Mentions that it took away the DMV’s responsibility to title manufactured homes and keep track of ownership of manufactured homes and regulate dealers.  Explains that restore responsibilities were given to the BCD.

007

Chair Brown

Asks when it will become effective.

009

Miner

States that it will become effective on May 1, 2005.

010

Rep. Esquivel

Asks how many sales associate for manufactured homes exist and states that the major problem seems to be with the sales associate.

017

Miner

Says that the only regulations on the dealer are that they pay $545 dollar fee for three years and have a bond of $40,000.  States that it is not regulation in the sense that the real estate industry is regulated.  Notes that sales associates are not regulated by the government.

027

Rep. Esquivel

Asks if there is accountability on ethics for sales associates.

029

Miner

Says that the sales associate is accountable to the dealer.  States that the industry is ethical at this time. 

033

Rep. Esquivel

Asks if a buyer has recourse if the buyer has an ethics claim against a dealer.

036

Miner

States the way someone can take recourse is by complaining to the Department of Justice under the Unlawful Trade Practices Act (UTPA) and to the DMV.  Mentions that not many laws specifically apply to manufactured homes.   

044

Rep. Schaufler

Shares concern with the declining numbers in manufactured homes.  Asks how the industry will help pay for increased regulation.

056

Miner

States that they are looking for some very basic regulations.  Says that Ballot Measure 32 (2004) brings more revenue to the state for the program and explains that the manufactured housing industry is willing to pay for the regulation.  Believes that it is irresponsible not to support the regulations with fees.

067

Rep. Holvey

Asks how many dealers there are in Oregon.

071

Miner

States that are about 100 serious dealers and around 300 or 400 that are licensed to sell one bedroom and two bedrooms.

074

Rep. Holvey

Asks if those dealers pay about $540 each for a three year period and that they pay some additional fees to DCBS.

076

Miner

States that the $540 is correct and that trip permits are bought by the dealers.  Notes that the bulk of the fees are paid by manufacturers. 

088

Cory Streisinger

Director, DCBS.  Submits written testimony that takes a neutral position on HB 2375 and HB 2376 (EXHIBIT C and D).  Notes that DCBS does not know whether regulation is needed in the manufactured home industry.  Believes that the BCD not be the best agency to regulate manufactured home dealers.  Says that it may be possible to rely on the DOJ to regulate dealer trade practices. 

123

Streisinger

States that HB 2375 has the substantive regulations and includes the UTPA that DOJ needs to regulate the industry.  Expresses desire to coordinate a workgroup with DOJ if it is the approach that the committee would like to take.

141

Rep. Schaufler

Asks about the resources that the DBCS currently has and how much more staff and resources would be needed to enforce HB 2375 and HB 2376.  Asks if the stakeholders’ fees would cover the costs.

155

Mark Long

Administrator, BCD.  States that SB 468 (2003) created the program for regulating the manufactured housing industry. Believes that HB 2375 and HB 2376 would require one additional FTE staff member.  States that the department is financially in the red in regards to SB 468 (2003), but that the BCD come out of the red in the next biennium assuming the estimates are accurate.

188

Rep. Schaufler

Asks for a scenario where someone is dishonest in the manufactured housing industry and how DCBS and DOJ would react.

201

Long

States that all the pieces are not yet in place so it is somewhat difficult to know what will happen.  Discusses that currently the UTPA does provide some jurisdiction and that the DMV does have some jurisdiction.  Talks about what the department will take action against the dealers’ licenses if there is a class A misdemeanor or felony conviction or a conviction of an unlawful practice under the UTPA.

229

Rep. Schaufler

Asks if the DMV is coming to talk about the regulations.

230

Chair Brown

Says that the DMV is not coming.

233

Rep. Esquivel

Asks if there are two different issues regarding the manufacturing process and consumer protection issues.  Expresses concern that these issues should be dealt with in another way. 

249

Streisinger

States that DCBS sees those areas as being distinct, because both areas have distinct programs with different skill sets. 

262

Rep. Esquivel

States that contractors have their own board and realtors have their own board.  Believes that the issues could be dealt with in a similar way. 

270

Streisinger

Agrees with Rep. Esquivel that there are two separate issues that need to be dealt with in the manufactured housing industry.

278

Cheryl Pelligrini

Assistant Attorney General, Consumer Protection/Financial Fraud Division, DOJ.  References past testimony.  Says that the DOJ is not a regulatory agency and that they are a law enforcement agency.  Explains that DOJ enforces UTPA.  States that licensing comes from other areas of the state government.  Refers to ORS 646.608 and says that is reproduced in HB 2376.  Details that the statute currently puts out specific prohibitions for what manufactured housing dealers can do when providing financing to their customers. 

331

Pelligrini

Says that some of the regulations in HB 2376 are not enforceable by DOJ.  Discusses the enforcement process for manufactured housing dealers that is set forth in the UTPA.  Says that the majority of the complaints by consumers are against telecommunications and other businesses covered under the law.  Discloses that DOJ is willing to enforce laws as a way of deterring those who may break laws in the future. 

390

Pelligrini

Says that in HB 2375 a technical issue exists surrounding the actions by the DOJ and the voluntary compliance.  States that 99 percent of cases are solved through an assurance of voluntary compliance. 

TAPE 48, B

001

Pelligrini

States that administrative action based on a company’s voluntary compliance in HB 2375 conflicts with current law.  Explains that it needs to be amended. 

014

Rep. Schaufler

Asks if HB 2376 would allow the DOJ take action against a dealer in the same way that an individual could.

020

Pelligrini

States that HB 2376 takes ORS 646.608 that is only enforceable on an individual basis and makes it enforceable by DOJ.  

033

Rep. Schaufler

Asks if the DOJ has a bill that would allow them to enforce ORS 646.608.

035

Pelligrini

Says that DOJ does not have a department bill that would do that.

037

Adkins

References a past bill that had to do with the DOJ that was in committee and has been passed out.

044

Jerod Broadfoot

Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council, National Electrical Contractors Association, Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.  Submits written testimony in opposition to HB 2375 and HB 2375 (EXHIBIT L and M).  States that none of the bills were taken though the Construction Industry Policy Advisory Committee (CIPAC) (EXHIBIT L and M, Page 1).  Talks about and explains the report that was mandated by the 2003 Legislature (EXHIBIT L and M, Page 2 - 6).  Conveys the CIPAC recommendations and reads highlighted section (EXHIBIT L and M, Page 3).  Discusses the CIPAC recommendations and how HB 2375 and HB 2376 are a “180 degree turn” from what CIPAC tried to figure out for the BCD. 

086

Rep. Kitts

Asks if there is a requirement for the people bringing the bills through CIPAC.

095

Broadfoot

States that there is no requirement to bring bills before CIPAC and usually it is a courtesy to bring the bills through CIPAC.  Says that CIPAC was created to provide feed back on bills affecting the BCD.

104

Rep. Kitts

Clarifies that the manufactured housing industry can bring the bills before this committee without going before CIPAC.

108

Broadfoot

Acknowledges that Rep. Kitts is correct.  Believes that HB 2375 and HB 2376 do not fit.  Discusses that HB 468 (2003) should be implemented before new legislation is made.   

119

Chair Brown

Expresses surprise that only one more FTE is needed to implement the program.

131

Broadfoot

Says that other people on staff will help to implement the program.  Reiterates that concern exists about the focus of HB 2375 and HB 2376.

141

Miner

Asks for questions.

146

Rep. Schaufler

Asks if HB 2375 helps the manufactured housing industry establish helpful regulation. 

151

Miner

States that he has not thought through the implications of seeking action based on voluntary compliance.  Says that the dispute resolution process will not be helpful, because they wanted BCD to be able to inflict a penalty. 

174

Chair Brown

Closes the public hearing on HB 2375 and HB 2376.  Opens a public hearing on HB 2527 and HB 2389.

HB 2389 AND HB 2527 – PUBLIC HEARING

176

Don Miner

Explains HB 2389 and HB 2527.  Talks about how HB 2389 clarifies what happens after federal regulations on manufactured housing producers end.  Explains that HB 2527 deals with manufactured housing dealers. 

Adkins

Submits written testimony in opposition to HB 2527 on the behalf of the City of Portland (EXHIBIT N).

200

Chair Brown

Closes the public hearing on HB 2389 and HB 2527.  Opens a work session for the purpose of introducing committee bills.

INTRODUCTION OF COMMITTEE MEASURES – WORK SESSION

205

Janet Adkins

Committee Administrator.  Submits LC 2951 (EXHIBIT K).

210

Rep. Kitts

MOTION:  Moves LC 2951 BE INTRODUCED as a committee bill.

212

VOTE:  7-0-0

Chair Brown

Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.

226

Chair Brown

Closes the work session for the purpose of introducing committee bills.  Adjourns the meeting at 11:30 a.m.