Effective July 25, 2021, several RCW subsections will be added or amended via HB 1277. These provisions add revenue sources to fund eviction protections and housing stability services. Specifically, Sections 2 and 4 of the new law are the main parts.
This is the second of two posts on landlord-tenant bills Governor Inslee signed HB 1277 on May 10. More on this legislation after the jump break.
The bill originated in the House. After tweaks, it passed the Senate 26-23 on April 24. It went back to the House for a vote the same day, where it passed 57-39 (two people excused). Governor Inslee signed the bill May 10.
The final bill is about 17 pages long. If you prefer reading that, here is a link, which works as of the time I post this. Again, since this is more intended to be a summary and not an all-inclusive dissection, I will leave it to you to read everything in its entirety if you need it.
I will go section by section with the main parts.
Section 1: Part of the fees collected for recording documents will go towards the landlord mitigation fund for two years. Monies will also fund eviction prevention rental assistance as noted in Section 2, infra.
Section 2: One of the main sections. The Department of Commerce (DOC) establishes an eviction prevention rental assistance program. Specifies who is eligible for the eviction prevention rental assistance program. DOC will give grant monies to eligible organizations, to be used in specific ways. Allows a landlord to assist an eligible household in applying for this program, or apply on the eligible household's behalf. Exemptions could apply to eligible grantees.
Section 3: RCW 43.185C.045 is amended. The DOC must now add a county-level report in its homeless housing strategic plan that covers expenditures, performance, and outcome of the eviction prevention rental assistance program.
Section 4: Another main section. RCW 43.185C.060 is amended. Monies collected from Section 1, supra, flow into the home security fund account. They will help fund the eviction prevention rental assistance program in Section 2, supra. Authorizes DOC to create performance metrics for each county to prevent and reduce homelessness. If a county meets/exceeds the metrics, they get rewarded. If the county fails, it must submit and successfully execute a corrective action plan to get the reward. If the county still fails, the monies in question could go to other counties to met the metrics.
Section 5: Amends RCW 43.185C.190 to be consistent with this new law.
Section 6: Acknowledges that homelessness, housing instability, and affordable housing are issues in the state, and COVID-19 only made matters worse. Mandates the DOC to work with the William D. Ruckelshaus center to identify issues/trends and how best to tackle any problems. The center, in turn, will work with various representatives to accomplish this. Reports will be due on 12/1/2021, 12/1/2022, and 12/1/2023.
Sections 7 - 10: Slight amendments to RCW 36.22.178, RCW 36.22.179, RCW 36.22.1791, and RCW 36.22.240. The surcharges noted in those subsections do not apply to water-sewer district liens or wage liens.
