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Second Substitute H.B. 286

Representative Gage Froerer proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
DISPOSITION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY ON VACATED

             2     
PROPERTY

             3     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Gage Froerer

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill amends the rights of a property owner in disposing of abandoned personal
             11      property left by a former tenant or occupant.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    requires a property owner to give notice to a former tenant of abandoned personal
             15      property before it is sold or donated;
             16          .    allows a tenant to recover abandoned personal property under certain conditions;
             17          .    provides that a property owner is not required to store certain hazardous or
             18      dangerous abandoned personal property;
             19          .    exempts motor vehicles; and
             20          .    makes technical changes.
             21      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             22          None
             23      Other Special Clauses:
             24          None
             25      Utah Code Sections Affected:


             26      AMENDS:
             27          78B-6-812, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             28          78B-6-816, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             29     
             30      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             31          Section 1. Section 78B-6-812 is amended to read:
             32           78B-6-812. Order of restitution -- Service -- Enforcement -- Disposition of
             33      personal property -- Hearing.
             34          (1) Each order of restitution shall:
             35          (a) direct the defendant to vacate the premises, remove [his] the defendant's personal
             36      property, and restore possession of the premises to the plaintiff, or be forcibly removed by a
             37      sheriff or constable;
             38          (b) advise the defendant of the time limit set by the court for the defendant to vacate
             39      the premises, which shall be three calendar days following service of the order, unless the court
             40      determines that a longer or shorter period is appropriate under the circumstances; and
             41          (c) advise the defendant of the defendant's right to a hearing to contest the manner of
             42      its enforcement.
             43          (2) (a) A copy of the order of restitution and a form for the defendant to request a
             44      hearing as listed on the form shall be served in accordance with Section 78B-6-805 by a person
             45      authorized to serve process pursuant to Subsection 78B-8-302 (1). If personal service is
             46      impossible or impracticable, service may be made by:
             47          (i) mailing a copy of the order and the form by first class mail to the defendant's
             48      last-known address and posting a copy of the order and the form at a conspicuous place on the
             49      premises; or
             50          (ii) mailing a copy of the order and the form to the commercial tenant defendant's
             51      last-known place of business and posting a copy of the order and the form at a conspicuous
             52      place on the business premises.
             53          (b) A request for hearing by the defendant may not stay enforcement of the restitution
             54      order unless:
             55          (i) the defendant furnishes a corporate bond, cash bond, certified funds, or a property
             56      bond to the clerk of the court in an amount approved by the court according to the formula set


             57      forth in Subsection 78B-6-808 (4)(b); and
             58          (ii) the court orders that the restitution order be stayed.
             59          (c) The date of service, the name, title, signature, and telephone number of the person
             60      serving the order and the form shall be legibly endorsed on the copy of the order and the form
             61      served on the defendant.
             62          (d) The person serving the order and the form shall file proof of service in accordance
             63      with Rule 4(e), Utah Rules of Civil Procedure.
             64          (3) (a) If the defendant fails to comply with the order within the time prescribed by the
             65      court, a sheriff or constable at the plaintiff's direction may enter the premises by force using the
             66      least destructive means possible to remove the defendant.
             67          (b) [Any personal] Personal property of the defendant may be removed from the
             68      premises by the sheriff or constable and transported to a suitable location for safe storage. The
             69      sheriff or constable may delegate responsibility for inventory, moving, and storage to the
             70      plaintiff, who shall store the personal property in a suitable place and in a reasonable manner.
             71          (c) A tenant my not access the property until the removal and storage costs have been
             72      paid in full, except that the tenant shall be provided reasonable access within five business days
             73      to retrieve:
             74          (i) clothing;
             75          (ii) identification;
             76          (iii) financial documents, including all those related to the tenant's immigration status,
             77      employment status;
             78          (iv) receipt of public services; and
             79          (v) medical information, prescription medications, and any medical equipment required
             80      for maintenance of medical needs.
             81          [(c)] (d) The personal property removed and stored shall [be inventoried by the sheriff
             82      or constable or the plaintiff who shall keep the original inventory and personally deliver or mail
             83      the defendant a copy of the inventory immediately after the personal property is removed.],
             84      after 15 calendar days, be considered abandoned property and subject to Section 78B-6-816 .
             85          [(4) (a) After demand made by the defendant within 30 days of removal of personal
             86      property from the premises, the sheriff or constable or the plaintiff shall promptly return all of
             87      the defendant's personal property upon payment of the reasonable costs incurred for its removal


             88      and storage.]
             89          [(b) The person storing the personal property may sell the property remaining in
             90      storage at a public sale if:]
             91          [(i) the defendant does not request a hearing or demand return of the personal property
             92      within 30 days of its removal from the premises; or]
             93          [(ii) the defendant fails to pay the reasonable costs incurred for the removal and storage
             94      of the personal property.]
             95          [(c) In advance of the sale, the person storing the personal property shall mail to the
             96      defendant's last-known address a written notice of the time and place of the sale.]
             97          [(d) If the defendant is present at the sale, he may specify the order in which the
             98      personal property shall be sold, and only so much personal property shall be sold as to satisfy
             99      the costs of removal, storage, advertising, and conducting the sale. The remainder of the
             100      personal property, if any, shall be released to the defendant. If the defendant is not present at
             101      the sale, the proceeds, after deduction of the costs of removal, storage, advertising, and
             102      conducting the sale shall be paid to the plaintiff up to the amount of any judgment the plaintiff
             103      obtained against the defendant. Any surplus shall be paid to the defendant, if the defendant's
             104      whereabouts are known. If the defendant's whereabouts are not known, any surplus shall be
             105      disposed of in accordance with Title 67, Chapter 4a, Unclaimed Property Act.]
             106          [(e) The plaintiff may donate the property to charity if:]
             107          [(i) the defendant does not request a hearing or demand return of the personal property
             108      within 30 days of its removal from the premises; or]
             109          [(ii) the defendant fails to pay the reasonable costs incurred for the removal and storage
             110      of the personal property; and]
             111          [(iii) the donation is a commercially reasonable alternative.]
             112          [(f) If the property belonging to a person who is not a defendant is removed and stored
             113      in accordance with this section, that person may claim the property by delivering a written
             114      demand for its release to the sheriff or constable or the plaintiff. If the claimant provides
             115      proper identification and evidence of ownership, the sheriff or constable or the plaintiff shall
             116      promptly release the property at no cost to the claimant.]
             117          [(5)] (4) In the event of a dispute concerning the manner of enforcement of the
             118      restitution order, the defendant [or any person claiming to own stored personal property] may


             119      file a request for a hearing. The court shall set the matter for hearing within 10 calendar days
             120      from the filing of the request, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and shall mail notice of the
             121      hearing to the parties.
             122          [(6)] (5) The Judicial Council shall draft the forms necessary to implement this section.
             123          Section 2. Section 78B-6-816 is amended to read:
             124           78B-6-816. Abandoned premises -- Retaking and rerenting by owner -- Liability
             125      of tenant -- Personal property of tenant left on premises.
             126          (1) In the event of abandonment, the owner may retake the premises and attempt to rent
             127      them at a fair rental value and the tenant who abandoned the premises shall be liable:
             128          (a) for the entire rent due for the remainder of the term; or
             129          (b) for rent accrued during the period necessary to rerent the premises at a fair rental
             130      value, plus the difference between the fair rental value and the rent agreed to in the prior rental
             131      agreement, plus a reasonable commission for the renting of the premises and the costs, if any,
             132      necessary to restore the rental unit to its condition when rented by the tenant less normal wear
             133      and tear. This Subsection (1) applies, if less than Subsection (1)(a), notwithstanding that the
             134      owner did not rerent the premises.
             135          (2) (a) If the tenant has abandoned the premises and has left personal property on the
             136      premises, the owner is entitled to remove the property from the dwelling, store it for the tenant,
             137      and recover actual moving and storage costs from the tenant.
             138          (b) (i) The owner shall [make reasonable efforts to notify the tenant of the location of
             139      the personal property.] post a copy of the notice in a conspicuous place and send by first class
             140      mail to the last known address for the tenant a notice that the property is considered abandoned.
             141          (ii) The tenant may retrieve the property within 15 calendar days from the date of the
             142      notice if the tenant tenders payment of all costs of inventory, moving, and storage to the owner.
             143          [(ii) If] (iii) Except as provided in Subsection (5), if the property has been in storage
             144      for [over 30] at least 15 calendar days and the tenant has made no reasonable effort to recover
             145      [it] the property after notice was sent, pay reasonable costs associated with the inventory,
             146      removal, and storage, and no court hearing on the property is pending, the owner may:
             147          (A) sell the property at a public sale and apply the proceeds toward any amount the
             148      tenant owes; or
             149          (B) donate the property to charity if the donation is a commercially reasonable


             150      alternative.
             151          (c) Any money left over from the public sale of the property shall be handled as
             152      specified in Title 67, Chapter 4a, Part 2, Standards for Determining When Property is
             153      Abandoned or Unclaimed.
             154          (d) Nothing contained in this act shall be in derogation of or alter the owner's rights
             155      under Title 38, Chapter 3, Lessors' Liens[.], or any other contractual liens or rights.
             156          (3) If abandoned property is determined to belong to a person who is the tenant or an
             157      occupant, the tenant or occupant may claim the property, upon payment of any costs, inventory,
             158      moving, and storage, by delivery of a written demand with evidence of ownership of the
             159      personal property within 15 calendar days after the notice described in Subsection (2)(b) is
             160      sent. The owner may not be liable for the loss of the abandoned personal property if the
             161      written demand is not received.
             162          (4) As used in this section, "personal property" does not include a motor vehicle, as
             163      defined in Section 41-1a-102 .
             164          (5) A tenant has no recourse for damage or loss if the tenant fails to recover any
             165      abandoned property as required in this section.
             166          (6) An owner is not required to store the following abandoned personal property:
             167          (a) chemicals, pests, potentially dangerous or other hazardous materials;
             168          (b) animals, including dogs, cats, fish, reptiles, rodents, birds, or other pets;
             169          (c) gas, fireworks, combustibles, or any item considered to be hazardous or explosive;
             170          (d) garbage;
             171          (e) perishable items; or
             172          (f) items that when placed in storage might create a hazardous condition or a pest
             173      control issue.
             174          (7) An owner shall give an extension for up to 15 calendar days, beyond the 15
             175      calendar day limit described in Subsection (2)(b)(ii), to recover the abandon property, if a
             176      tenant provides:
             177          (a) a copy of a police report or protection order for situations of domestic violence, as
             178      defined in Section 76-36-1 ;
             179          (b) verification of an extended hospitalization from a verified medical provider; or
             180          (c) a death certificate or obituary for a tenant's death, provided by an immediate family


             181      member.
             182          (8) Items listed in Subsection (5) may be properly disposed of by the owner
             183      immediately upon determination of abandonment. A tenant may not recover for disposal of
             184      abandoned items listed in Subsection (5).
             185          (9) Notice of any public sale shall be mailed to the last known address of the tenant at
             186      least five calendar days prior to the public sale.
             187          (10) If the tenant is present at the public sale:
             188          (a) the tenant may specify the order in which the personal property is sold;
             189          (b) the owner may sell only as much personal property necessary to satisfy the amount
             190      due under the rental agreement and statutorily allowed damages, costs, and fees associated with
             191      the abandoned items; and
             192          (c) any unsold personal property shall be released to the tenant.
             193          (11) If the tenant is not present at the public sale:
             194          (a) all items may be sold; and
             195          (b) any surplus amount over the amount due to the owner shall be paid to the tenant, if
             196      the tenant's current location is known. If the tenant's location is not known, any surplus shall
             197      be disposed of in accordance with Title 67, Chapter 4a, Unclaimed Property Act.


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