Advocacy Update

Written by Forrest Wall, CAE, Staff Vice President and Industry Relations

Forrest WallBill Allowing Medical Marihuana Prohibition Passes Senate

Legislation important to the rental property industry, which failed to win approval at the end of the 2013-14 legislative session, is seeing early positive movement this session. Senate Bill 72 proposes to prohibit the smoking of medical marihuana on private property in violation of a prohibition established by the property owner. Furthermore, the bill states that nothing in the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act could be construed to require a private property owner to lease property to a person who smoked or cultivated marihuana on the premises, if that activity were prohibited in the written lease. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Rick Jones (R-24th Senate District), passed the Michigan Senate in March. It now moves over to the Committee on Judiciary in the House of Representatives for action.

Electronic Eviction Notification Legislation Introduced

House Bill 4038, sponsored by Rep. Anthony Forlini (R-24th House District), proposes to amend the Revised Judicature Act to allow a landlord to deliver an eviction notice by electronic mail. The legislation also requires that the person in possession of the premises must specifically consent in writing to electronic service, and a landlord could not refuse to lease to a prospective tenant because the prospective tenant declines to consent to electronic service.

Still Need EPA Lead RRP Recertification?

Did you or someone on your staff obtain the Certified Renovator designation in 2010 as a part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead RRP Rule? If so, to maintain your certification the EPA requires you to complete a 4 hour refresher course no more than 5 years from the date of certification. AAM/HBA has one more class available – on April 14 – and it includes everything you need to keep your certification current and maintain compliance with the rule. The RRP Rule applies to remodeling work disturbing more than six square feet of interior painted surface or more than twenty square feet of exterior painted surface in multifamily and single family structures built prior to 1978. It includes specific work practices to follow, recordkeeping requirements, and certification for those doing the work. Apartment owners performing their own renovations must follow the EPA registration process for their firm, and have a Certified Renovator supervising the project. The other option is to simply contract the work out to firms which are certified.

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