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An Act To Permit Disposal of Abandoned Manufactured Housing
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  legislation enacted last year inadvertently repealed the statutory process governing the disposal of abandoned manufactured housing or mobile homes; and
Whereas,  this legislation provides mobile home park owners and operators a process for disposing of abandoned manufactured housing or mobile homes, including modular homes located on leased land; and
Whereas,  immediate enactment is necessary to allow mobile home park owners and operators the ability to dispose of currently abandoned manufactured housing or mobile homes; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  10 MRSA §9097, sub-§1-B  is enacted to read:
 
1-B.  Abandoned mobile home or manufactured housing.     Manufactured housing that is abandoned or unclaimed by a tenant following the tenant's eviction in accordance with this section and section 9097-B must be disposed of by a mobile home park owner or operator as follows. For purposes of this subsection, "manufactured housing" includes all housing described in section 9002, subsection 7 located in a land lease community or mobile home park.
 
A.  After a mobile home park owner or operator obtains a judgment for forcible entry and detainer, the mobile home park owner or operator shall send written notice by first-class mail, with proof of mailing, to the last known address of the tenant with a copy to the lienholder, if known. The notice must set forth the mobile home park owner's or operator's intent to dispose of the manufactured housing. The notice must advise the tenant and lienholder, if known, that if the tenant or lienholder does not respond to the notice within 14 calendar days the mobile home park owner or operator may dispose of the property as set forth in this subsection. If the tenant or lienholder does respond to the notice, the tenant or lienholder shall take possession of the property within 21 calendar days. Subsection 2-B applies with respect to the rights and responsibilities of the lienholder.
 
B.  If a tenant or lienholder claims ownership of the manufactured housing within 14 calendar days after the notice under paragraph A is sent, the tenant or lienholder shall take possession of the property within 21 calendar days of claiming ownership. If the tenant or lienholder timely claims the property but is not able to move the property within 21 days due to weather or posted road conditions, the mobile home park owner or operator shall allow the tenant or lienholder to remove the property after the 21-day period but the mobile home park owner or operator may charge for any additional costs incurred as a result of the delay.
 
C.  If a tenant or lienholder does not claim ownership of the property within 14 calendar days after the notice under paragraph A is sent or fails to take possession of the property after claiming ownership pursuant to paragraph B, the mobile home park owner or operator may take one or more of the following actions:
 
(1) Condition the release of the property to the tenant or lienholder upon payment of all rental arrearages, damages, costs of legal fees and costs of storage;
 
(2) Sell any property for a reasonable fair market price and apply all proceeds to rental arrearages, damages, costs of storage, marketing expenses, legal fees and outstanding taxes. Any balance must be sent to the tenant's or lienholder's last known mailing address and, if returned to the sender, the balance must be forwarded to the Treasurer of State; and
 
(3) Dispose of any property that has no reasonable fair market value.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
Effective May 23, 2011.