5027430 Resolution 20-528, "“Residential Real Property Equity and Transparency Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2014”

A RESOLUTION

                                                        

20-528  

 

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

July 14, 2014         

 

To declare the existence of an emergency, due to congressional review, with respect to the need to limit legal fees in tax sales, to provide for distribution of equity to former owners where the property was sold at tax sale and occupied by owners, to provide for clean hands and tax compliance by tax sale purchases, to clarify that the District may abate penalty and interest associated with a tax sale property, to clarify and limit the amount of interest paid to tax sale purchasers, to allow for refunds to tax sale purchasers pending payment of legal fees to them, to deem a tax sale property’s taxes current for purposes of redemption when paid to within $100, to provide for recordation and transfer tax exemptions for a transfer pursuant to a transfer on death deed, to protect the District’s interest as ground lessor from the tax sale, to provide effective means for billing and collecting energy efficiency loans, and to allow a tax sale purchaser to appeal the assessment of vacant and blighted properties purchased at tax sale.

 

            RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Residential Real Property Equity and Transparency Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2014”.

 

            Sec. 2.  (a)  In May 2014, the Council enacted the Residential Real Property Equity and Transparency Emergency Amendment Act of 2014, effective May 28, 2014 (D.C. Act 20-342; 61 DCR 5691) (“emergency legislation”), which enacted provisions of the permanent version of this legislation that were without a fiscal year 2014 effect.  The emergency legislation expires on August 26, 2014.

            (b)  In June 2014, the Council enacted the permanent legislation, the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Support Act of 2014, passed on 2^nd reading on June 24, 2014 (Enrolled version of Bill 20-750) (“BSA”), which must still complete the 30-day review period required by section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and it or a concomitant BSA emergency version shall not be in effect until October 1.

            (c) It is important that the provisions in the emergency legislation remain in effect for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2014.

 

 

            Sec. 3.  The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Residential Real Property Equity and Transparency Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2014 be adopted after a single reading.

            Sec. 4.  This resolution shall take effect immediately.