HB 6547 Summary

• Prohibits property managers, housing commissions, and rental unit owners from renting units containing lead-based paint hazards if they have had knowledge of the hazard for at least 90 days and have not acted in good faith to reduce it through interim controls or abatement.

• Establishes that owners are presumed to have knowledge of lead-based paint hazards if they signed an acknowledgment of the hazard, received notice by first-class mail or personal service, or own target housing without a prior risk assessment.

• Creates criminal penalties: misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days imprisonment or $5,000 fine for first offense; up to 93 days imprisonment or $10,000 fine for repeat offenses.

• Establishes civil liability for property owners to pay damages, costs, and reasonable attorney fees to minor children found to have 10 micrograms or more of lead per deciliter of venous blood.

• Provides affirmative defenses allowing owners to demonstrate good faith efforts to reduce hazards and proving tenant interference with remediation efforts.