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| 2 | 2 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1883 FILED ON: 1/20/2023 |
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| 3 | 3 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1048 |
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| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
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| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
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| 7 | 7 | | Liz Miranda |
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| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
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| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
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| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
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| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
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| 12 | 12 | | An Act relative to summary process and rental assistance. |
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| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
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| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
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| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Liz MirandaSecond SuffolkJoanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester3/8/2023 1 of 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1883 FILED ON: 1/20/2023 |
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| 17 | 17 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1048 |
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| 18 | 18 | | By Ms. Miranda, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1048) of Liz Miranda and Joanne |
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| 19 | 19 | | M. Comerford for legislation relative to summary process and rental assistance. The Judiciary. |
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| 20 | 20 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 21 | 21 | | _______________ |
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| 22 | 22 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court |
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| 23 | 23 | | (2023-2024) |
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| 24 | 24 | | _______________ |
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| 25 | 25 | | An Act relative to summary process and rental assistance. |
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| 26 | 26 | | Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to |
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| 27 | 27 | | Provide housing stability by preventing unnecessary evictions that may be avoided through |
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| 28 | 28 | | mutual resolution, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the |
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| 29 | 29 | | immediate preservation of the public safety and health. |
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| 30 | 30 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
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| 31 | 31 | | of the same, as follows: |
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| 32 | 32 | | 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 239 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding, after |
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| 33 | 33 | | 2section 14, the following new section:- |
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| 34 | 34 | | 3 Section 15. Two-tier process; pending rental assistance |
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| 35 | 35 | | 4 (a) All summary process cases shall be handled in a two-tier process. (i) First tier. This |
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| 36 | 36 | | 5event will be for the parties to determine the status of the case, explore the availability of |
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| 37 | 37 | | 6resources, attempt mediation or other opportunity to reach a resolution to the case, and identify |
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| 38 | 38 | | 7next steps in preparing the case for trial. No default or dismissal may enter if a party does not |
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| 39 | 39 | | 8appear at the first tier event. (ii) Second tier. For cases which are not resolved, the Clerkâs Office |
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| 40 | 40 | | 9shall send a written notice to the parties of the trial date. 2 of 2 |
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| 41 | 41 | | 10 (b) In a summary process action for nonpayment of rent, (i) a court having jurisdiction |
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| 42 | 42 | | 11over summary process actions shall grant a continuance if there is a pending application for |
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| 43 | 43 | | 12rental assistance; (ii) no judgment may enter, nor may any execution issue, in a summary process |
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| 44 | 44 | | 13action for nonpayment of rent if there is a pending application for rental assistance; (iii) the court |
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| 45 | 45 | | 14shall not issue a stay of execution on a judgment for possession if there is a pending application |
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| 46 | 46 | | 15for rental assistance. |
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