Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study the Adequacy of Housing Safety Laws

Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the Commission To Study the Adequacy of Housing Safety Laws, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established; and be it further

Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: That the commission consists of 10 members appointed as follows:

1. Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate;

2. Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House;

3. The State Fire Marshal or the State Fire Marshal's designee;

4. One municipal chief of police from a municipality whose population is greater than 20,000, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

5. One municipal fire chief from a municipality whose population is greater than 20,000, appointed by the President of the Senate;

6. One municipal code enforcement officer from a municipality whose population is greater than 20,000, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

7. A member of the public who owns multiple multifamily residential buildings, appointed by the President of the Senate; and

8. An attorney licensed in this State with familiarity in housing safety policy and law, appointed by the Speaker of the House; and be it further

Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the commission; and be it further

Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of commission. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been completed. If 30 days or more after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the commission to meet and conduct its business; and be it further

Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the commission shall meet 4 times to study the housing safety laws, including landlord and tenant relations and rights, the eviction process, bank foreclosure actions on abandoned property and rental housing fire safety issues, and make recommendations for necessary changes; and be it further

Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission; and be it further

Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 6, 2017, the commission shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs. The Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs may submit a bill related to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature.

summary

This resolve establishes the Commission To Study the Adequacy of Housing Safety Laws. The commission is charged with studying the housing safety laws, including landlord and tenant relations and rights, the eviction process, bank foreclosure actions on abandoned property and rental housing fire safety issues, and making recommendations for any necessary changes. The commission is required to submit a report containing its findings and recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs by December 6, 2017.