S2695

	2018 -- S 2695
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	LC004123
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	STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018
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	A N A C T
	RELATING TO PROPERTY

	Introduced By: Senator Erin Lynch Prata
	Date Introduced: March 20, 2018
	Referred To: Senate Judiciary
	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1	SECTION 1. Section 34-18-22.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-18 entitled
2	"Residential Landlord and Tenant Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
3	34-18-22.3. Nonresident landlord to designate agent for service of process.
4	A landlord who is not a resident of this state shall designate and continuously maintain an
5	agent upon whom service may be made of any process, notice, or demand required or permitted
6	by law to be served, including but not limited to notices of minimum housing code violations.
7	The agent shall be a resident of this state or a corporation authorized to do business in this state.
8	The landlord's designation shall be in writing, shall include the name and address of the agent,
9	shall include the street address of each property designated to said agent, and shall be filed with
10	the secretary of state and with the clerk of the city or town wherein the dwelling unit is located. If
11	a Any landlord who fails to comply with the requirements of this section, rent for the dwelling
12	unit abates until designation of an agent is made and the landlord shall be subject to a civil fine of
13	up to five hundred ($500) dollars per violation, payable to the municipality.
14	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on September 1, 2018.
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	LC004123
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	EXPLANATION
	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
	OF
	A N A C T
	RELATING TO PROPERTY
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1	This act would eliminate the penalty of abating rent in cases where a non-resident
2	landlord fails to designate an agent for service of process and would clarify that the fine for
3	violating this section is civil.
4	This act would take effect on September 1, 2018.
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	LC004123
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