2017 -- H 5419

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LC001134

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PROPERTY

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Corvese, Ucci, Winfield, and Azzinaro

     Date Introduced: February 08, 2017

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 34-18-22.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-18 entitled

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"Residential Landlord and Tenant Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     34-18-22.3. Nonresident landlord to designate agent for service of process.

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     A landlord who is not a resident of this state shall designate and continuously maintain an

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agent upon whom service may be made of any process, notice, or demand required or permitted

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by law to be served, including but not limited to notices of minimum housing code violations.

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The agent shall be a resident of this state or a corporation authorized to do business in this state.

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The landlord's designation shall be in writing, shall include the name and address of the agent,

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shall include the street address of each property designated to said agent, and shall be filed with

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the secretary of state and with the clerk of the city or town wherein the dwelling unit is located. If

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a Any landlord who fails to comply with the requirements of this section, rent for the dwelling

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unit abates until designation of an agent is made and the landlord shall be subject to a civil fine of

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up to five hundred ($500) dollars per violation, payable to the municipality.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on September 1, 2017.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PROPERTY

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     This act would eliminate the penalty of abating rent in cases where a non-resident

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landlord fails to designate an agent for service of process and would clarify that the fine for

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violating this section is civil.

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     This act would take effect on September 1, 2017.

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