5160-S2.E AMH CALD BROD 123

E2SSB 5160 - H AMD TO HHSV COMM AMD (H-1400.1/21) 654

By Representative Caldier

ADOPTED 04/08/2021

On page 20, after line 4 of the striking amendment, insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. The sum of $7,500,000 for the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2023, is appropriated from the coronavirus state fiscal recovery fund created in Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 5092 (operating budget) to the department of commerce for the purposes of a landlord grant assistance program to provide grants to eligible landlords for rent that was not paid during the eviction moratorium pursuant to the governor's proclamation 20-19.6. The department shall have such rule-making authority as the department deems necessary to administer the program.

(1) To be eligible for a grant under this section, a landlord must:

(a) Apply for a grant or have a property manager or property

management company apply for a grant on behalf of a landlord;

(b) Be the sole investor in the property from which they are seeking rental arrears;

(c) Be the owner of no more than 10 dwelling units from which they receive rental payments; and

(d) Provide proof of ownership of the property and a statement certified under penalty of perjury of the amount of rent due during the eviction moratorium that the landlord was not paid by the tenant, through funds acquired through an emergency rental assistance program provided by a governmental or nonprofit entity, through the state landlord mitigation program defined in RCW 43.31.605, or through any other means that would reasonably be considered payment of rent due.

(2) Eligible landlords may receive a grant of up to 80 percent of the total amount of rent in arrears.

(3) The department will disburse funds to eligible landlords within 60 days of submission of the application. Eligibility for a grant under this section does not constitute an entitlement for payment. If eligible applications for grants exceed the funds appropriated in this section, the department must create and maintain a waitlist in the order the applications are received pursuant to this section. The department shall not be civilly or criminally liable and may not have any penalty or cause of action of any nature arise against it regarding the provision or lack of provision of funds.

(4) The department shall provide a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by September 30, 2023, which shall include the number of eligible applicants who received grants and the total funds provided to such applicants, the number of eligible applicants on the waitlist who did not receive grants and the total amount of grants unpaid due to lack of funds, and the number of ineligible applicants and the reasons for ineligibility.

(5) A landlord who receives a grant under this section is prohibited from:

(a) Taking any legal action against the tenant for unpaid rent or damages attributable to the same tenancy; or

(b) Pursuing collection, or authorizing another entity to pursue collection on the landlord's behalf, against the tenant for unpaid rent or damages attributable to the same tenancy.

(6) This section expires December 31, 2024."

--- END ---