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An Act To Discourage Tenants from Damaging Rental Property
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  14 MRSA §6030-F  is enacted to read:
§ 6030-F. Unlawful damage by tenant
 
1.  Unlawful damage by tenant.     A tenant is guilty of unlawful damage by a tenant if:
 
A.  Upon the termination of a tenancy, a rental unit rented by the tenant has sustained over $1,000 in damages, not including normal wear and tear, as defined in section 6031, subsection 1, over the amount of the security deposit retained by the landlord under chapter 710-A; and
 
B.  The tenant does not pay the damages within 60 days of the date of a notice of the damages properly provided by the landlord under section 6033, subsection 2.
 
Unlawful damage by a tenant is a Class E crime.
 
2.  Subsequent violation.     A 2nd or subsequent violation under this section is a Class D crime.
 
3.  Notice.     A tenant is subject to the provisions of this section if the tenant has been given written notice that contains the statement: "Failure to pay damages of more than $1,000 over the amount of the security deposit incurred during the tenancy under this lease except for normal wear and tear within 60 days of notice of the damages by the landlord may subject a tenant to criminal prosecution." A statement required by this subsection may be contained in a written lease.
 
4.  Strict liability.     A violation under this section is a strict liability crime as defined in Title 17-A, section 34, subsection 4-A.
 
SUMMARY
This bill creates the Class E crime of unlawful damage by a tenant if at the termination of a tenancy a rental unit has sustained over $1,000 worth of damage over the amount of the security deposit and the tenant does not pay the landlord within 60 days' notice of the damage by the landlord. A 2nd or subsequent offense is a Class D crime.