Amendment #76 to H4879

Problem Property Registry and Neighborhood Reinvestment

Mr. LeBoeuf of Worcester moves to amend the bill by adding the following sections:

“SECTION XX. Chapter 23B of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 31. (a) The department shall establish a registry of properties and property owners with multiple violations of health and safety codes that have not been resolved, as determined by the city or town. The property violation registry shall also include property owners who are found by a court to have violated chapter 93A, 151B, 186 or 186A in relation to a landlord-tenant agreement or relationship.

The department shall levy a fine on each property on the department’s property violation registry in an amount equal to 20 per cent of the property tax due to the city or town annually. The department shall transfer the full amount of the fine to the city or town within 30 days of collection. The city or town shall expend said funds for park purposes, street light improvements and facility improvements of schools located within a 2 mile radius of the subject property.

(b) The department shall establish a transfer fee for properties listed on the property violation registry in amount equal to $500. The transfer fee shall be due to the department prior to the transfer of any property listed on the property violation registry. The register of deeds for the county in which the real property is located shall not record or register a deed that evidences a transfer of property listed on the department’s property violation registry, unless the deed is accompanied by a certificate issued by the department. The department shall transfer the full amount of the fee to the city or town within 30 days of collection.

SECTION XX. Section 6 of chapter 62 of the General Laws, as most recently amended by section 14 of chapter 228 of the acts of 2018, is hereby further amended by adding the following subsection:-

(w) A credit shall be allowed against the tax liability imposed by this chapter for the purchase of a property listed on the property violation registry by the department of housing and community development pursuant to section 31 of chapter 23B by a person who occupies the property as their primary residence in an amount equal to 20 per cent of the fair market value of the property.”

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #76 to H4879

Problem Property Registry and Neighborhood Reinvestment