Date: 01/31/2006
Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB06-1085
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
| Votes: View--> | Action Taken: |
| <none> | <none> |
01:36 PM -- House Bill 06-1085
Representative Garcia, bill sponsor, explained the provisions of HB 06-1085 which expand the purposes for which moneys in the building regulation fund can be used to include education and training for manufacturers and consumers of manufactured housing. Representative Garcia provided a history of the funds' use explaining how current law limits the use of the funds. Currently there are five monitoring programs that are paid for from this fund: manufactured residential housing monitoring; nonresidential manufactured housing monitoring; dealer monitoring; installer monitoring; and monitoring multi-family homes without building codes.
01:41 PM
Meghan Pfanstiel, Rocky Mountain Home Association, spoke in support of the bill. She indicated that increased education for manufactured housing installers and staff is better for consumers. She spoke to changes in manufactured housing over the years and noted that increased education will serve the industry.
01:43 PM
Kathi Williams, Division of Housing, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, spoke in support of the bill. The division works, free of charge, with smaller local governments that have no building inspection department. The division also works to provide appropriate and affordable housing. She indicated that manufactured housing is one way the division can ensure that affordable housing is available. She explained the differences in purchasing manufactured housing and purchasing housing via a contractor; i.e., individuals purchasing manufactured housing purchase a product and serve as their own general contractor whereas individuals purchasing a "stick" home purchase land, hire a general contractor, and make decisions regarding the construction of the home. Ms. Williams further explained that currently, the division returns unexpended funds to the General Assembly, but under the bill's provisions, wants to be able to use this excess funding for grants to provide training. Ms. Williams responded to committee questions about reducing fees as opposed to either returning excess collections to the General Fund or requesting additional spending authority to provide education and training as the bill proposes.
01:58 PM
Representative Garcia provided closing comments. The bill was taken off the table.