It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 34-18 of the general laws entitled "Residential Landlord and Tenant Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

{ADD 34-18-22.3. Nonresident landlord to designate agent for service of process. -- ADD} {ADD A landlord who is not a resident of this state shall designate and continuously maintain an agent upon whom service may be made of any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be served, including but not limited to notices of minimum housing code violations. The agent shall be a resident of this state or a corporation authorized to do business in this state. The landlord's designation shall be in writing, shall include the name and address of the agent, and shall be filed with the secretary of state and with the clerk of the city or town wherein the dwelling unit is located. If a landlord fails to comply with the requirements of this section, rent for the dwelling unit abates until designation of an agent is made and the landlord shall be subject to a fine of up to five hundred ($500.00) dollars per violation, payable to the municipality. ADD}

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.