D.C. Law 22-248. Rent Charged Definition Clarification Amendment Act of 2018.

AN ACT

To amend the Rental Housing Act of 1985 to clarify the definition of the term "rent charged" and to require the definition of the term "rent charged" to be included on all Rental Accommodations Division forms that include the term.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Rent Charged Definition Clarification Amendment Act of 2018".

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 103(29A) (D.C. Official Code § 42-3501.03(29A)) is amended to read as follows:

"(29A) "Rent charged" means the entire amount of money, money's worth, benefit, bonus, or gratuity a tenant must actually pay to a housing provider as a condition of occupancy or use of a rental unit, its related services, and its related facilities, pursuant to the Rent Stabilization Program.".

(b) Section 205(i) (D.C. Official Code § 42-3502.05(i)) is repealed.

(c) Section 208(f) (D.C. Official Code § 42-3502.08(f)) is amended to read as follows:

"(f)(1) Any notice of an adjustment under section 206 shall contain a statement of the current rent charged, the increased rent charged, and the utilities covered by the rent charged that justify the adjustment or other justification for the rent charged increase.

"(2) The notice shall also include a summary of tenant rights under this act and a list of sources of technical assistance as published in the District of Columbia Register by the Mayor.".

(d) Section 209(d) (D.C. Official Code § 42-3502.09(d)) is repealed.

(e) Section 213(e) (D.C. Official Code § 42-3502.13(d)) is repealed.

(f) A new section 222a is added to read as follows:

"Sec. 222a. Forms to include definition of the term rent charged.

"The definition of the term "rent charged" shall be included on all Rental Accommodations Division forms that include the term.".

Sec. 3. Rules.

Within 180 days after the effective date of this act, the Rental Housing Commission, pursuant to Title I of the District of Columbia Administrative Procedure Act, approved October 21, 1968 (82 Stat. 1204; D.C. Official Code § 2-501 et seq.), shall issue rules to implement the provisions of this act, including revisions necessary to update relevant housing provider reporting forms according to the requirements of this act.

Sec. 4. Applicability.

Section 2(e) shall apply on the later of the applicability date of the Vacancy Increase Reform Amendment Act of 2018, passed on 2nd reading on December 4, 2018 (Enrolled version of Bill 22-25), or the effective date of this act.

Sec. 5. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report 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. 6. 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), a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.