EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0171*
SENATE BILL 171
N1, O1 4lr0922
(PRE–FILED) CF HB 139
By: Senator Augustine
Requested: October 11, 2023
Introduced and read first time: January 10, 2024
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Landlord and Tenant – Office of Home Energy Programs – Financial Assistance 2
FOR the purpose of requiring a landlord to accept financial assistance from the Office of 3
Home Energy Programs in the Department of Human Services for the cost of utility 4
services that a tenant is required to pay; requiring a landlord, under certain 5
circumstances, to provide a tenant with utility service documentation that is 6
necessary for the Office to determine the eligibility of the tenant for financial 7
assistance; and generally relating to landlords, tenants, and the Office of Home 8
Energy Programs. 9
BY adding to 10
Article – Real Property 11
Section 8–220 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2023 Replacement Volume) 14
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
Article – Real Property 17
8–220. 18
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 19
INDICATED. 20
(2) “OFFICE” MEANS THE OFFICE OF HOME ENERGY PROGRAMS IN 21
THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. 22
2 SENATE BILL 171
(3) “UTILITY SERVICE” MEANS FUEL, GAS, ELECTRIC, HEAT, WATER, 1
OR A SIMILAR SERVICE PROVIDED BY A PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY THAT IS 2
REGULATED BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. 3
(B) A LANDLORD SHA LL ACCEPT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE 4
OFFICE FOR THE COST O F UTILITY SERVICES T HAT A TENANT IS REQU IRED TO PAY. 5
(C) (1) SUBJECT TO THE CONFID ENTIALITY REQUIREMEN TS OF STATE 6
AND FEDERAL LAW , AND UPON THE REQUEST OF A TENANT, A LANDLORD SHALL 7
PROVIDE A TENANT WITH UTILITY S ERVICE DOCUMENTATION THAT IS: 8
(I) ACCESSIBLE TO THE LAN DLORD, BUT OTHERWISE 9
INACCESSIBLE TO THE TENANT; AND 10
(II) NECESSARY FOR THE OFFICE TO DETERMINE T HE 11
ELIGIBILITY OF THE T ENANT FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. 12
(2) UTILITY SERVICE DOCUMENTATIO N UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF 13
THIS SUBSECTION SHAL L: 14
(I) BE PROVIDED AT NO COS T TO THE TENANT ; AND 15
(II) INCLUDE BILLS AND OTH ER STATEMENTS RELATE D TO 16
UTILITY SERVICES . 17
(D) (1) FOR EACH VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION BY A LA NDLORD, THE 18
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES MAY IMPOSE : 19
(I) FOR A FIRST OFFENSE , AN ADMINISTRATIVE PE NALTY OF 20
$500; OR 21
(II) FOR A SECOND OR SUBSE QUENT OFFENSE , AN 22
ADMINISTRATIVE PENAL TY OF $1,000. 23
(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PAY ANY PENALTY COLLECTE D UNDER 24
THIS SUBSECTION INTO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE. 25
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 26
October 1, 2024. 27