Price gouging: state of emergency.

Under existing law, upon the proclamation of a state of emergency, as defined, declared by the President of the United States or the Governor, or upon the declaration of a local emergency, as defined, by the executive officer of any county, city, or city and county, and for a period of 30 days following that declaration, it is a misdemeanor with specified penalties for a person, contractor, business, or other entity to sell or offer to sell certain goods and services, including rental housing, for a price that exceeds by 10% the price charged by that person immediately prior to the proclamation of emergency, except as specified. Existing law authorizes this prohibition to be extended for additional periods if deemed necessary to protect the lives, property, or welfare of the citizens, as specified. Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services, upon the proclamation of an emergency by the Governor, to include information about these provisions and guidance to property owners, as specified, on an appropriate internet website. This bill would require an extension of those prohibitions, if it would apply to rental housing and the state of emergency has been in effect for over a year or more, to include findings that it is necessary to prevent excessive and unjustified increases in rental prices. The bill would also exclude from those prohibitions newly constructed housing that was issued a certificate of occupancy for residential use within the 3 months preceding a proclamation of a state of emergency or declaration of local emergency or within the duration of the proclamation or declaration. The bill would require the Office of Emergency Services to post on its internet website all proclamations of a state of emergency and declarations of local emergency, including any extensions, as specified, and would prohibit penalties for violations of these provisions from being enforced until the proclamation is posted on the internet website of the office.