Source: http://www.sandiegoevictions.com/new-bills-passed/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 12:39:22+00:00

Document:
Unlawful Detainer Masking Law AB 2819: Amends California Code of Civil Procedure §1161.2 to automatically and permanently seal all UD actions, unless (1) the plaintiff (landlord) prevails within 60 days of filing or (2) after 60 days only if judgment against all defendants has been entered for the plaintiff after a trial and the court issues an order allowing public access to the record. The new law allows a court to issue an order barring access to the court record if the parties so stipulate. Additionally, a court on its own motion may dismiss an UD action if a proof of service of the summons has not been filed within 60 days of the complaint’s filing.
Bed Bugs AB 551: Civil Code §1942.5 was amended to prohibit a landlord from retaliating against a tenant who gives notice of a suspected bed bug infestation. Civil Code §1954.602 prohibits a landlord from showing, renting or leasing a unit that the landlord knows has bed bugs. Civil Code §1954.603 requires that a specific bed bug notice be given to new tenants on and after July 1, 2017 and to existing tenants by January 1, 2018. Civil Code §1954.604 Requires Landlords to give written notice of entry to inspect and treat bedbugs, and requires tenants to cooperate with the inspection and treatment. Civil Code §1954.605 Requires landlords to notify tenants within two of a determination of bed bugs by a licensed pest control operator.
Retaliation AB 2881: Landlords cannot retaliate against tenants for reporting bed bugs.
Continuation of Shriver Act (Legal Aid) to Provide Tenants with Free Attorneys SB 843 : Extends the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act indefinitely, giving indigent tenants the right to be represented by an attorney when facing an eviction FOR FREE. The Shriver Act has undoubtedly increased the length of time it takes to evict tenants, increased court costs and attorney’s fees for landlords, and clogged the courts with frivolous motions, discovery and trials. The program is currently operating in San Diego, Bakersfield, Santa Barbara, Sacramento & Yolo, and Los Angeles counties.
Vacation Rental Hosting Platform Insurance Notification SB 1092: Vacation rental hosting platforms (including but not limited to vacation rental websites such as AirBNB) are required to provide written notice to users to review their insurance coverage prior to listing their short-term rental on the site to ensure their policy will provide adequate coverage.
Marijuana: Persons 21 years of age and older are legally allowed to possess, process, transport, purchase, obtain or give away (without compensation) up to 28.5 grams of non-concentrated cannabis and up to 8 grams of concentrated cannabis and possess, plant, cultivate, harvest, dry or process up to 6 living plants. Cannabis (including the living plants), may be stored within a person’s private residence, or on the private grounds of a private residence, in a locked space which is not visible from a public place by normal unaided vision. Private residences include single family residences as well as multi-family properties. Under this law, cities are able to pass ordinances banning marijuana businesses from operating in the city and banning outdoor cultivation of marijuana (even for personal use). Marijuana possession, distribution, and use, regardless of purpose, remains illegal under Federal law (Controlled Substances Act (U.S.C. title 21). Properties with no-smoking provisions may want to have their lease reviewed to ensure their provisions will allow landlords to control marijuana, as well as tobacco and e-cigarettes.
Smoking: HUD Final Rule 5597-F-03, Bans smoking in all Public Housing Developments throughout the country. Under this new rule, Public Housing Agencies will have 18 months to implement no-smoking policies at their properties, which include prohibiting smoking of tobacco products in all units, indoor common areas, and outdoor common areas within 25 feet of housing and/or administrative offices. Properties that do not currently have no-smoking provisions in place may want to consider implementing them to their properties.
Price Gouging After States of Emergency AB 2820: Pursuant to California Penal Code §396(b), landlords are prohibited from raising prices more than 10% on “housing” for 30 days after a declared state of emergency resulting from an earthquake, flood, fire, riot, storm, or natural or manmade disaster issued by the President, Governor, or executive officer of any county, city, or city and county. AB 2820 clarifies that this provision applies to both statewide and locally declared emergencies and expands it to also include drought, and plant or animal infestation or disease. This applies to any rental housing leased on a month-to-month term or with an initial lease term of no longer than one year.
Water Meters SB 7: Multi Unit Structures: Requires new multi-family properties, constructed after January 1, 2018, to have water submeters.
Water Conserving Plumbing Fixture Replacement SB 745: Requires water conserving plumbing fixtures be installed in property constructed before January 1, 1994.
By January 1, 2017, single family residential properties must be in full compliance, and provide buyers a written disclosure regarding compliance with this law.
Beginning on January 1, 2014, noncompliant plumbing in multifamily and commercial property must be replaced: 1) For any alterations or improvements to a room in a building that require a building permit and that room contains any noncompliant plumbing fixtures, the building permit applicant must replace all noncompliant plumbing fixtures in that room. 2) For building additions in which the sum of concurrent building permits by the same permit applicant increases the floor area more than 10 percent. The building permit applicant must replace all noncompliant plumbing fixtures in the building. 3) For building alterations or improvements in which the total construction cost estimated in the building permit is more than one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000), the building permit applicant must replace all noncompliant plumbing fixtures that service the specific area of the improvement.
Exceptions are as follows: 1) For registered historical sites; 2) For up to one year if a demolition permit has been issued for the building; 3) If a licensed plumber certifies that, due to the age or configuration of the property or its plumbing, installation of water-conserving plumbing fixtures is not technically feasible. 4)Water service for the building has been is permanently disconnected.
Death Disclosure AB-73: Clarifies that although owners MUST disclosure deaths occurring less than 3 years from desired rent/lease/purchase, and the cause of death, owners are NOT required to disclosure the cause of death if the deceased occupant was HIV-positive or died from AIDS related complications.
Housing ProtectionsAuthorized in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA) Rule 5720-F-03: Effective December 16, 2016, this final rule requires applicants and tenants be provided with a “Notice of Occupancy Rights under the Violence Against Women Act” and certification under the following circumstances: (1) upon denial of assistance or admission to the housing program; (2) at the time the individual is provided assistance or admission; (3) with any notification of eviction or termination of assistance; and (4) once during the 12-month period immediately following December 16, 2016. Covered housing providers must develop and adopt an emergency transfer plan, based on HUD’s model emergency transfer plan, no later than May 15, 2017, outlining a procedure which allows for the transfer of a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking upon request. Housing providers may, but are not required to, request specified documentation from tenants seeking emergency transfers under this rule. Lastly, the new rule adds a completed HUD certification form or a self-statement to the acceptable forms of documentation to seek protection under the VAWA. This amendment allows a victim of domestic violence to self-certify the occurrence of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Low Income Housing Credit Fines AB 1920 TCAC: Allows the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee to establish and enforce fines for violations of the terms and conditions of the regulatory agreement, other agreements, or program regulations, not to exceed $500 or twice the amount of financial gain to the violator, whichever is greater. This bill requires a first-time property owner violator to be given the opportunity to correct the violation before the fine is imposed (except for serious violations) and for the owner to appeal to the committee. The committee may record a property lien for fines that are not paid within 6 months.
Energy Disclosures AB 802: Requires the Energy Commission to adopt regulations regarding the delivery to the commission and public disclosure of energy use for commercial and multifamily residential buildings of more than 50,000 square feet. Disclosures will begin by January 1, 2017. Delivery will be by the utility companies, and will be made only upon the request and written authorization of the property owner or the property owner’s agent.
Credit Card Surcharges: California Civil Code §1748.1 prohibits merchants from passing credit card swipe fees to consumers as a “surcharge”. In March 2015, in ItalianColors Restaurant v. Harris, the United States District Court, Eastern District found the “surcharge” and “discount” distinction arbitrary. The court ruled the law to be an unconstitutional restriction on free speech and unconstitutionally vague. The case has been appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and is not yet final, but an injunction currently prohibits the California Attorney General from prosecuting merchants who impose credit card “surcharges” on consumers.
SEC. 2. It is the intent of the Legislature to amend existing statutes regarding open access to public records by making permanently unavailable to the public civil case records in unlawful detainer proceedings in which the plaintiff does not prevail within 60 days of filing instead of unlawful detainer proceedings in which the defendant prevails within 60 days of filing.
1167.1. If proof of service of the summons has not been filed within 60 days of the complaint’s filing, the court may dismiss the action without prejudice.

References: §1161
 §1942
 §1954
 §1954
 §1954
 §1954
 §396
 §1748
 v.