Amendment ID: S2776-19

Amendment 19

Making Permanent Chapter 257 Notice to Quit Protections

Mr. Keenan, Ms. Jehlen, Messrs. Eldridge and Gomez and Ms. Comerford move that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___ the following section:-

"SECTION XX. Section 12 of Chapter 186 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word "notice", the first time it appears, in line 25, the following words:- "THIS NOTICE TO QUIT IS NOT AN EVICTION. YOU DO NOT NEED TO IMMEDIATELY LEAVE YOUR UNIT. YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A LEGAL PROCEEDING IN WHICH YOU CAN DEFEND AGAINST THE EVICTION. ONLY A COURT ORDER CAN FORCE YOU TO LEAVE YOUR UNIT." Every notice to determine an estate at will for nonpayment of rent shall also contain information on: (A) rental assistance programs; (B) applicable trial court rules, standing orders or emergency administrative orders pertaining to actions for summary process; and (C) any relevant federal, state or municipal legal restrictions on residential evictions. The executive office of housing and economic development shall develop the form required under this section and make it publicly available on its website not later than December 31, 2022. The form in this section shall be made available in the 5 most common languages in the commonwealth, in addition to English. On or after December 31, 2022, a court having jurisdiction over an action for summary process pursuant to chapter 239 of the General Laws, including the Boston municipal court department, shall not, in an eviction for nonpayment of rent for a residential dwelling unit, accept for filing a writ, summons or complaint without proof of delivery of the form required under this subsection."