By RACHEL RASKIN-ZRIHEN/Times-Herald staff writer
Vallejo Times Herald

Article Launched:10/14/2007 08:06:44 AM PDT


Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Saturday signed and vetoed a number of bills authored by local legislators, or of local interest.

Among those Schwarzenegger vetoed was a bill by Assemblymember Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, that would have protected residents of mobile home parks from losing rent control in the condo conversion process.

Assembly Bill 1542 would have regulated the conversion of mobile home parks from rentals to resident ownership by closing a loophole in current law that allows park owners to avoid local rent control, and profit from subdividing and converting the parks into condominiums.

In his veto message, Schwarzenegger said that "while the bill's intent is to preserve low-income housing, it also extends rent control in certain circumstances to mobile home owners in much of the state no matter what their income level. It is unclear what state interest is served by the extension of rent control for those who do not have an economic disadvantage. In addition, establishing two statewide standards for rent control seems confusing and unnecessary."

The governor signed the following bills Saturday:

• Assembly Bill 347 offers exit exam remediation and counseling services targeting students who do not pass the exam by the end of high school.

• AB 373 by Assemblymember Lois Wolk, D-Davis, makes numerous changes to the Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982.

• AB 478 by Wolk, requires bicyclists to use lights on sidewalks and other pathways.

• AB 532 by Wolk, extends to Jan. 1, 2009,