Amendment ID: S2776-50

Amendment 50

Prevent Unnecessary Eviction Filings

Mr. DiDomenico, Ms. Jehlen, Messrs. Eldridge and Gomez, Ms. Rausch, Ms. Comerford, Mr. Moore and Ms. Gobi move that the proposed new text be amended by adding the following item after Section 22:-

“Chapter 257 of the acts of 2020 is hereby amended to include a new section before Subsection (b) of Section 2 by inserting “Notwithstanding chapters 186 or 239 or any general or special law to the contrary, no landlord or property owner may commence an eviction where the plaintiff’s complaint for possession of a residential dwelling unit is based upon or includes any claim for rent or use and occupancy, except where the complaint also alleges a cause for eviction other than nonpayment of rent, unless it establishes that the parties have exhausted all available opportunities, and worked in good faith, to obtain short-term emergency rental assistance (as defined at Section 2(a) of Chapter 257 of the Acts of 2020) for which the landlord and tenant are eligible and have not obtained sufficient funds through such programs to cure the arrearage through no fault of the landlord.”