Louisiana Senate Bill SCR58

Louisiana 2019 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/25/19
• Refer: 4/29/19
• Report Pass: 5/13/19
• Passed: 5/14/19
• Engrossed: 5/14/19
• Refer: 5/15/19
• Report Pass: 5/16/19

Caption

Requests that the mayor and the City Council of the city of New Orleans study the rate of evictions in New Orleans including causes.

Impact

If accepted, SCR58 aims to impact the city's statutory laws concerning housing and tenant protections. It prompts local government officials to assess the underlying causes of elevated eviction rates and propose necessary reforms aimed at reducing these figures. By pushing for a systematic review, the bill could lead to changes that enhance tenant rights and potentially bring New Orleans' eviction statistics closer to national norms. The recommendations are expected to be presented to the legislature by January 1, 2020, signaling a proactive approach toward aiding affected renters.

Summary

Senate Concurrent Resolution 58 urges the mayor and the City Council of New Orleans to conduct a study on the high rate of evictions in the city and to make recommendations for legislative changes to mitigate this issue. The resolution highlights a stark statistic indicating that one in every nineteen renter households in New Orleans faced a court-ordered eviction in 2017, which is significantly higher than the national average. The urgency of the situation is underscored by data that reveals some neighborhoods experiencing eviction rates nearly four times higher than the national rate.

Sentiment

The reception of SCR58 has been largely positive, emphasizing a collective effort to address a critical social issue affecting many New Orleans residents. Supporters of the resolution view it as a necessary step toward understanding and resolving the challenges that lead to excessive evictions. The acknowledgement of the issue at a legislative level indicates a growing concern about housing instability, which many advocates believe is essential for community well-being and housing security in a city with a significant number of renters.

Contention

Notably, SCR58 does not appear to face substantial opposition based on the voting outcome, where it received overwhelming support in the legislature with a vote of 100-1. However, it does raise questions about the depth and extent of the proposed actions and whether the city can effectively implement recommended changes to statutory law. Some may still argue about the adequacy of resources and the potential bureaucratic delays that could come with any proposed legislative reforms.