By Mr. Sullivan of Fall River, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 142) of David B. Sullivan further regulating direct payment of rent to landlords by the department of transitional assistance.  Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

David B. Sullivan

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act further regulating direct payment of rent to landlords by the department of transitional assistance.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 27 of Chapter 18 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following paragraph: —
The department shall, upon the written request of the landlord and recipient, pay directly to the landlord the rent of such recipient of public assistance by deducting the amount of the rent from the amount otherwise payable to the recipient; provided, however, that the department receives written notification from the code enforcement agency of the city or town that the housing conforms to the minimum requirements established by said agency; and provided, further, that said direct payment to the landlord shall continue unless the landlord and recipient agree to terminate such direct payment or the tenant moves from such housing.