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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Discussion of Intro 621: Adding illegal eviction to harassment definition
0:23:17
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71 sec
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.