(a)
The department shall withhold the registration or transfer of registration of any manufactured home, mobilehome, or floating home which is subject to local property taxation, other than a new manufactured home, mobilehome, or floating home for which application is being made for an original registration, until the applicant presents a tax clearance certificate or a conditional tax clearance certificate issued pursuant to Section 2189.8 or 5832 of the Revenue and Taxation Code by the tax collector of the county where the manufactured home, mobilehome, or floating home is located. Any conditional tax clearance certificate presented shall indicate that the tax liability has been satisfied pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (m) of Section 18035.
(b)
In lieu of the tax clearance certificate or conditional tax clearance certificate required by subdivision (a), the department may accept a certification signed by the escrow officer under penalty of perjury that the tax collector of the county where the manufactured home is located has failed to respond to the written demand for a conditional tax clearance certificate as prescribed by subdivision (
l) of Section 18035.