2022 -- S 2984

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LC006000

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- HOUSING MAINTENANCE AND OCCUPANCY

CODE

     Introduced By: Senators Goodwin, and Bell

     Date Introduced: May 24, 2022

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 45-24.3-19 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-24.3 entitled "Housing

Maintenance and Occupancy Code" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     45-24.3-19. Repairs and other corrective action -- Demolition -- Revolving fund.

     (a) Repairs and other corrective action.

     (1) Whenever an owner, operator, or agent of a dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, or

structure fails, neglects, or refuses to make repairs or other corrective action called for by a second

order or notice of violation issued pursuant to § 45-24.3-17, the enforcing officer may undertake

the repairs or action, when in his or her judgment a failure to make them will endanger the public

health, safety, or welfare, and the cost of the repairs and action will not exceed fifty percent (50%)

of the fair market value of the structure to be repaired.

     (2) Notice of the intention to make repairs or take other corrective action shall be served

upon the owner, operator, or agent pursuant to § 45-24.3-17.

     (3) Every owner, operator, or agent of a dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, or structure,

who receives notice of the intention of the enforcing officer to make repairs or take other corrective

action, shall give entry and free access to the agent of the enforcing officer for the purpose of

making repairs.

     (4) Any owner, operator, agent, or occupant of a dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, or

structure, who refuses, impedes, interferes with, hinders, or obstructs entry by the agent pursuant

to a notice of intention to make repairs or take other corrective action, is subject to a civil penalty

of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each failure to comply with this section.

     (5) When repairs are made or other corrective action taken at the direction of the enforcing

officer, cost of the repairs and corrective action constitutes a debt in favor of the corporate unit

against the owner of the repaired structure. In the event the owner fails, neglects, or refuses to pay

the corporate unit the amount of this debt, it is recoverable in a civil action against the owner or his

or her successor, brought in a court of competent jurisdiction by the corporate unit which possesses

all rights of a private creditor.

     (b) Designation of unfit dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units, and structures.

     (1) Any dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, or structure shall be designated as unfit for

human habitation when any of the following defects or conditions are found, and when, in the

opinion of the enforcing officer, these defects create a hazard to the health, safety, or welfare of the

occupants or of the public:

     (i) The structure is damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe, or vermin-infested.

     (ii) The structure lacks illumination, ventilation, or required thermal and sanitation

facilities.

     (iii) The general condition of location is unsanitary, unsafe, or unhealthful.

     (2) Whenever any dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, or structure has been designated

as unfit for human habitation, the enforcing officer shall placard the dwelling, dwelling unit, or

rooming unit, or structure, indicating that it is unfit for human habitation, and, if occupied, shall

order the dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, or structure vacated within a reasonable time, that

time to be not more than thirty (30) days.

     (3) No dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, or structure, designated as unfit for human

habitation, and which has been placarded and vacated, shall be used again for human habitation

until written approval is secured from the enforcing officer and the placard removed by the

enforcing officer.

     (4) The enforcing officer shall rescind the designation and remove the placard when the

defect or condition upon which the designation and the placarding was based has been removed or

eliminated as to cause the dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, or structure to be deemed by the

enforcing officer as a safe, sanitary, and fit place or unit for human habitation.

     (5) No person shall deface or remove the placard from any dwelling, dwelling unit,

rooming unit, or structure which has been designated as unfit for human habitation and has been

placarded, except as provided in this section.

     (6) Any person affected by any decision of the enforcing officer or by any designation or

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placarding of a dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, or structure as unfit for human habitation,

shall be granted a hearing on the matter before the enforcing officer under the procedure established

in § 45-24.3-21.

     (7) The enforcing officer may order the owner of any building, which has been in the past

and/or is vacant and open, to comply with the following specifications: all openings (including

doors and windows) from cellar to second floor and all windows above the second floor leading to

fire escapes, porches, or structural appurtenances, on all floors, must be covered from the exterior

with three-eighths inch (⅜") thick exterior plywood or one-half inch (½") notched boards firmly

secured and with protective coating. All other windows must be so secured by either one-quarter

inch (¼") thick exterior plywood or one-half inch (½") notched boards.

     (c) Demolition of dwellings, dwelling units, or rooming units designated as unfit for human

habitation. (1) The enforcing officer shall order a dwelling, dwelling unit, or rooming unit to be

demolished if it has been designated as unfit for human habitation, has been placarded, has been

vacated, and has not been put into proper repair as to rescind the designation as unfit for human

habitation and to cause the placard to be removed, and is determined by the enforcing officer not

to warrant repair under this section.

     (2) The owner of any dwelling, dwelling unit, or rooming unit, ordered demolished, shall

be given notice of this order in the manner provided for service of notice in § 45-24.3-17, and given

a reasonable time, not to exceed ninety (90) days, to demolish the structure.

     (3) Any owner aggrieved by the notice to demolish may, within ten (10) days, seek a

reconsideration of the matter in the manner provided, and may seek a formal hearing in the manner

provided in § 45-24.3-21.

     (4) When the owner fails, neglects, or refuses to demolish an unfit, unsafe, or unsanitary

dwelling, dwelling unit, or rooming unit within the requisite time, the enforcing officer may apply

to a court of competent jurisdiction for a demolition order to undertake the demolition. The court

may grant the order when no reconsideration or hearing on the matter is pending. The cost of the

demolition shall create a debt in favor of this corporate unit against the owner, and is recoverable

in a civil action brought by the corporate unit which possesses all the rights of a private creditor.

     (5) Whenever a dwelling is demolished, whether carried out by the owner or by the

enforcing officer, the demolition shall include the filling in of the excavation remaining on the

property on which the demolished dwelling was located, in a manner that eliminates all potential

danger to the public health, safety, or welfare arising from the excavation.

     (6) All demolition shall be preceded by an inspection of the premises by the appropriate

authority as provided for by the laws of this state.

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     (d) Relocation of occupants. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, no

dwelling shall be vacated or demolished by the enforcing officer, under the powers granted to him

or her by the provisions of this chapter, until persons occupying the dwelling at the time the

compliance order is issued have been offered housing accommodations in a decent, safe, and

sanitary dwelling which meets the requirements of this chapter. Should a municipality relocate

occupants, the cost of relocation shall constitute a debt in favor of the corporate unit against the

owner, and is recoverable in a civil action brought by the corporate unit which possesses all the

rights of a private creditor.

     (e) Revolving fund. (1) There is created a revolving fund for the purpose of supporting the

cost of repairs and other corrective action or demolition made by the enforcing officer pursuant to

this section. Into this fund shall be paid:

     (1)(i) All civil penalties collected for violations of this chapter pursuant to § 45-24.3-18.

     (2)(ii) All license fees collected pursuant to this chapter.

     (3)(iii) All judgments collected in actions to recover the costs of repair and other corrective

action and demolition, pursuant to this section.

     (4)(iv) Any other revenues that the corporate unit may from time to time authorize to be

paid into this fund.

     (5)(v) All donations and grants designed to promote the purposes of this chapter from

public or private sources. The enforcing officer is declared to be the authorized agency of the

corporate unit to apply for and receive all grants, loans, and gifts of funds to promote the purposes

of this chapter.

     (2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection, the corporate unit is hereby

authorized to select from a wide array of vendors, contractors and subcontractors, and third-party

administrators to administer a loan program or loan programs utilizing the revolving fund to assist

qualifying owners, operators, and agents with the cost of repairs and other corrective action or

demolition. If the plan includes the purchase of professional assistance, an appropriate contract

shall be prepared and local purchasing policies shall be followed.

     (f) Rent payments. Notwithstanding any lease or other agreement, if the enforcing officer

of any corporate unit has ordered the repair, alteration, or improvement of a dwelling in that the

officer designates the dwelling to be an unfit dwelling, as provided for in this section, then the

obligation of rent to the landlord is suspended and the rent shall be paid into the revolving fund as

established in subsection (e) of this section. by the enforcing officer, to be paid thereafter to the

landlord or any other party authorized to make repairs (including the enforcing officer) to defray

the cost of correcting the conditions, and no action shall be maintained by the landlord against the

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tenant for rent or for possession. Sums paid into the revolving fund in excess of those necessary to

make repairs shall be paid to the landlord on completion. If the tenant fails to make payments to

the enforcing officer then an action for rent or possession may be maintained, subject to defenses

that the tenant may have under the lease or agreement.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- HOUSING MAINTENANCE AND OCCUPANCY

CODE

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     This act would allow a municipality to impose a debt in favor of the corporate unit against

the owner when the municipality relocates the occupant and would authorize the corporate unit to

choose the vendors to assist qualifying homeowners with repair costs.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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