The General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1315 aims to empower municipalities to enforce blight regulations more effectively by allowing them to take immediate action without prior notice or an opportunity for property owners to remediate violations. Specifically, the bill modifies existing law by repealing certain provisions that require municipalities to provide written notice of violations and a chance for remediation before enforcement actions are taken. Instead, municipalities can act immediately in cases where a property has had two or more blight violations within the previous twelve months. The bill also clarifies the definition of blight and establishes a duty for property maintenance, while allowing designated agents to enter properties for remediation purposes, excluding dwelling houses.

Additionally, the bill introduces new civil penalties for blight violations based on the number of dwelling units on a property and the frequency of violations. For properties with six or fewer units, penalties can reach up to $1,000 per day for repeat violations, while different rates apply for larger properties. The bill also mandates that municipalities adopt a citation hearing procedure for enforcing these penalties. Overall, the legislation seeks to streamline the enforcement of blight regulations and enhance the ability of municipalities to address and remediate blighted conditions effectively.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-148