HB 282-LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT  1:25:36 PM CHAIR KELLER announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 282 "An Act relating to the rights and obligations of residential landlords and tenants; and relating to the taking of a permanent fund dividend for rent and damages owed to a residential landlord." 1:26:39 PM REPRESENTATIVE DOUG ISAACSON, Alaska State Legislature, speaking as the sponsor, introduced the committee substitute (CS) for HB 282, labeled 28-LS0930\Y, Bullock, 4/8/14. He directed attention to a comparison which was descriptive of the proposed CS for HB 282, Version Y, which was provided in the committee packet. 1:28:22 PM The committee took an at-ease from 1:28 p.m. to 1:29 p.m. 1:30:03 [PM BRENDA HEWITT, Staff, Representative Doug Isaacson, Alaska State Legislature, stated her belief that all of the amendments offered at the House Judiciary Standing Committee of 4/7/14 are incorporated in the proposed CS for HB 282, Version Y. She began a sectional analysis, pointing out that in order to retain the word "Uniform," sections 1, 2, 3, and 17 were removed and the remaining sections were renumbered. 1:30:35 PM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN made a motion to adopt the proposed CS for HB 282, labeled 28-LS0930\Y, Bullock, 4/8/14, [as the working draft. There being no objection, Version Y was before the committee.] MS. HEWITT returned to the sectional analysis and said former section 4 is now section 1, which changes the word "parties" to "landlord and tenant." Former section 5 is now section 2, which reaffirms that the maximum amount of prepaid rent or deposit is two months, unless another month is added for pets. Former section 6 is now section 3, which provides a definition for normal wear and tear. Former section 7 is now section 4, which provides for the landlord to separately account for each tenant's prepaid rent and security deposit. Former section 8 is now section 5, which allows the landlord 30 days to return a damage deposit if there has been damage. Former section 9 is now section 6, which permits for the additional deposit for pets, defines normal wear and tear, and also defines the difference between a service animal and a comfort animal. Former section 10 is now section 7, which directs that both a landlord and a tenant sign a premises condition statement when the tenant takes occupancy in order to determine damage and normal wear and tear. Former section 11 is now section 8, which allows for the rental of dry cabins, if both parties agree. Former section 12 is now section 9, which allows the landlord to restrict the number of inhabitants and to add the words "or the rental agreement." Former section 13 is now section 10, which adds a new subsection to allow the landlord to request a tenant to return the dwelling in substantially the same condition, including professional cleaning of the carpets. Former section 14 was removed. Former section 15 is now section 11, which allows the landlord an expedited eviction process for tenants who are engaged in illegal activities. Former sections 16 and 17 were removed. Former section 18 is now section 12, which allows landlords to collect unpaid rent from a person's Permanent Fund Dividend by the eighth priority ranking of involuntary deductions. REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX directed attention to proposed section 2 on page 2, lines 4-8, which read: (a) Except as provided in (h) of this section, a [A] landlord may not demand or receive prepaid rent or a security deposit, however denominated, in an amount or value in excess of two months' periodic rent. This section does not apply to rental units where the rent exceeds $2,000 a month. REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked for the reason this section does not apply to units where the rent exceeds $2,000 a month. MS. HEWITT answered that this is part of the current law and she was unsure of the reasoning. 1:34:50 PM CLYDE (ED) SNIFFEN, Jr., Senior Assistant Attorney General, Commercial and Fair Business Section, Civil Division (Anchorage), Department of Law, said he did not know, but could provide an answer at a later date. REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX said she would appreciate an answer, but she would not hold up the bill. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG suggested that higher security deposits are recommended for very expensive units. MS. HEWITT, in response to a question from Representative Gruenberg, clarified that a typographical error was found on page 3 of the sectional analysis related to section 9, but the error is not found in the bill. 1:37:33 PM CHAIR KELLER, after ascertaining that no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony. 1:38:05 PM REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX made a motion to report the proposed CS for HB 282, Version 28-LS0930\Y, Bullock, 4/8/14, out of committee, with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHB 282(JUD) was reported out of the House Judiciary Standing Committee.