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AGENCY TESTIMONY

Discussion of Intro 621: Adding illegal eviction to harassment definition

0:23:17

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HPD discusses Intro 621, which seeks to add illegal eviction to the housing maintenance code definition of harassment and as a criterion for buildings selected for the Certificate of No Harassment (CONH) pilot program.

HPD interprets illegal eviction as already included in the existing definition of harassment
The department has no concerns about explicitly adding it to the definition
HPD expresses concerns about adding illegal eviction as a new criterion for the CONH pilot program at this time
The department suggests considering the incorporation of new criteria when the CONH program is potentially reauthorized in 2026

AnnMarie Santiago

0:23:17

While supportive of the intent of the bills before us today, we would like to share some of our concerns about the specifics of the proposed legislation.

0:23:27

Intro 621 seeks to add illegal eviction to the housing maintenance code definition of harassment and as a criterion for buildings selected for the CONH pilot program.

0:23:38

We interpret illegal eviction to be included in the existing definition of harassment in the HMC, but have no concern about adding it explicitly to the definition.

0:23:49

However, given that the CONH pilot program is already more than halfway towards its sunset in September 2026, we have concerns about adding a new criterion at this time.

0:24:00

The incorporation of the current criteria took significant time, involved research and careful data analysis.

0:24:07

It is unlikely that we'd be able to take the necessary steps to incorporate illegal eviction as a new criterion for the program without disrupting the ongoing operations of the pilot.

0:24:18

Should the program be reauthorized in 2026, that would be the appropriate time to consider and weigh the incorporation of a new criterion and the viability of obtaining the needed data.

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Concerns about Intro 622: Changes to illegal eviction case handling