D.C. Act 23-4. Rental Housing Registration Extension Emergency Amendment Act of 2019.

AN ACT

To amend, on an emergency basis, the Rental Housing Act of 1985 to extend the due date for the Office of the Tenant Advocate to complete the re-registration component of the rent control housing database; and to reset the due date when housing providers are required to file online re-registration statements to within 90 days after the launching of the database.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Rental Housing Registration Extension Emergency Amendment Act of 2019".

Sec. 2. The Rental Housing Act of 1985, effective July 17, 1985 (D.C. Law 6-10; D.C. Official Code § 42-3501.01 et seq.), is amended as follows:

(a) Section 203c (D.C. Official Code § 42-3502.03e) is redesignated as section 203e.

(b) The second section 203a (D.C. Official Code § 42-3502.03c) is redesignated as section 203c.

(c) The newly redesignated section 203c is amended as follows:

(1) Subsection (a) is amended by striking the phrase "and administer".

(2) Subsection (e-1)(1) is amended to read as follows:

"(e-1)(1) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (e) of this section, OTA shall develop an online portal and database for the filing of registration statements and claims of exemption under section 205(f), which OTA shall integrate into the database created pursuant to subsection (a) of this section by December 13, 2019.".

(d) The second section 203b (D.C. Official Code § 42-3502.03d) is redesignated as section 203d.

(e) The newly redesignated section 203d is amended as follows:

(1) The section heading is amended by striking the phrase "and registration".

(2) The text is amended to read as follows:

"Upon completion of the publicly accessible rent control housing database created pursuant to section 203c, a housing provider shall use the online housing provider portal developed pursuant to section 203c(b)(1) to file all documents and data required to be filed pursuant to this title and all regulations promulgated pursuant to this title.".

(f) Section 205(f) (D.C. Official Code § 42-3502.05(f)) is amended as follows:

(1) Paragraphs (1) and (2) are amended to read as follows:

"(1) Within 90 days after completion of the publicly accessible rent control housing database created pursuant to section 203c, each housing provider of a housing accommodation for which the housing provider is receiving rent or is entitled to receive rent shall file a new registration statement and, if applicable, a new claim of exemption via the online housing provider portal developed pursuant to section 203c(e-1).

"(2) A person who becomes a housing provider of a housing accommodation 90 days or more after completion of the publicly accessible rent control housing database created pursuant to section 203c, shall file a registration statement and, if applicable, claim of exemption, within 30 days after becoming a housing provider.".

(2) Paragraph (3) is amended by striking the phrase "A housing provider shall file a registration statement and, if applicable, a claim of exemption, with the Division in accordance with section 203d, which shall solicit" and inserting the phrase "The registration statement and claim of exemption shall solicit" in its place.

(3) Paragraph (4) is amended as follows:

(A) Subparagraph (A) is amended to read as follows:

"(A) No penalties for failure to previously register the housing accommodation shall be assessed against a housing provider who registers a housing accommodation under this section within 90 days after completion of the publicly accessible rent control housing database created pursuant to section 203c.".

(B) Subparagraph (B)(i) is amended by striking the phrase "Beginning 241 days after October 30, 2018" and inserting the phrase "Beginning 91 days after completion of the publicly accessible rent control housing database created pursuant to section 203c" in its place.

Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).

Sec. 4. Effective date.

This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), and shall remain in effect for no longer than 90 days, as provided for emergency acts of the Council of the District of Columbia in section 412(a) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 788; D.C. Official Code § 1-204.12(a)).