(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on and after January 1, 1999, no burglar bars shall be installed or maintained on any residential dwelling that is owned or leased by a public agency, unless the burglar bars meet current state and local requirements, as applicable, for burglar bars and safety release mechanisms.
(b) As used in this section:
(1) “Burglar bars” means security bars located on the inside or outside of a door or window of a residential dwelling.
(2) “Public agency” means any of the following:
(A) A state agency, department, board, or commission.
(B) The University of California.
(C) A local agency, including, but not limited to, a city, including a charter city, county, city and county, community redevelopment agency, housing authority, special district, or any other political subdivision of the state.
(3) “Residential dwelling” means a house, apartment, motel, hotel, or other type of residential dwelling subject to the State Housing Law (Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 17910) of Division 13) and a manufactured home, mobilehome, and multiunit manufactured housing as defined in the Mobilehomes-Manufactured Housing Act of 1980 (Part 2 (commencing with Section 18000) of Division 13).