The bill amends Section 45-24.3-17 of the General Laws concerning the Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code. It introduces new requirements for housing code enforcement officers when issuing a notice of violation for housing code failures. Specifically, the bill mandates that the owner, occupant, operator, or agent must be given ten days from receipt of the notice to refute the alleged violation or remediate the condition before any notice is provided to tenants. If the violation is not addressed within this period, the enforcement officer is required to serve notice to the affected residents, either in person or via certified or registered mail, and make the notice available for tenant review at the local municipal code enforcement office.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that if the alleged violations are not corrected after a reinspection, the enforcing officer must summon the owner, occupant, operator, or agent to a hearing by the housing board of review or a court of competent jurisdiction. The enforcement officer is also required to notify tenant-occupants of any hearings related to the violations, either by certified mail or by posting a copy of the summons in a conspicuous place in or about the dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, or structure where the violations are alleged to exist. The act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
2269: 45-24.3-17
2269  SUB A: 45-24.3-17