Download Zipped Introduced WordPerfect HB0322.ZIP
[Status][Bill Documents][Fiscal Note][Bills Directory]

H.B. 322

             1     

LOCAL GOVERNMENT CLEAN-UP FEES

             2     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Eric K. Hutchings

             5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill enacts language governing a municipality or county that charges a fee for
             10      residential clean-up service.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    enacts language limiting a fee a municipality or county may charge for a residential
             14      clean-up service;
             15          .    requires a municipality or county to provide a property owner with a statement
             16      showing the municipality's or county's calculation method of a clean-up fee;
             17          .    requires a municipality or county to record with the county recorder and mail to a
             18      property owner a notice of a lien if the municipality or county plans to record a lien
             19      against the property;
             20          .    enacts language governing a lien recorded for clean-up costs; and
             21          .    makes technical corrections.
             22      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             23          None
             24      Other Special Clauses:
             25          None
             26      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             27      AMENDS:


             28          10-11-3, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 172
             29      ENACTS:
             30          10-11-5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             31          17-50-335, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             32     
             33      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             34          Section 1. Section 10-11-3 is amended to read:
             35           10-11-3. Neglect of property owners -- Removal by municipality -- Costs of
             36      removal -- Notice -- File action or lien -- Property owner objection.
             37          (1) (a) If an owner of, occupant of, or other person responsible for real property
             38      described in the notice delivered in accordance with Section 10-11-2 fails to comply with
             39      Section 10-11-2 , a municipal inspector may:
             40          (i) at the expense of the municipality, employ necessary assistance to enter the property
             41      and destroy or remove an item identified in a written notice described in Section 10-11-2 ; and
             42          (ii) (A) prepare an itemized statement in accordance with Subsection (1)(b); and
             43          (B) mail to the owner of record according to the records of the county recorder a copy
             44      of the statement demanding payment within 30 days after the day on which the statement is
             45      post-marked.
             46          (b) The statement described in Subsection (1)(a)(ii)(A) shall:
             47          (i) include:
             48          (A) the address of the property described in Subsection (1)(a);
             49          (B) an itemized list of and demand for payment in a specified amount for all expenses,
             50      including administrative expenses, incurred by the municipality under Subsection (1)(a)(i); and
             51          (C) the address of the municipal treasurer where payment may be made for the
             52      expenses; and
             53          (ii) notify the property owner:
             54          (A) that failure to pay the expenses described in Subsection (1)(b)(i)(B) may result in a
             55      lien on the property in accordance with Section [ 10-11-4 ] 10-11-5 ;
             56          (B) that the owner may file a written objection to all or part of the statement within 20
             57      days after the day of the statement post-mark; and
             58          (C) where the owner may file the objection, including the municipal office and address.


             59          (c) A statement mailed in accordance with Subsection (1)(a) is delivered when mailed
             60      by certified mail addressed to the property owner's of record last known address according to
             61      the records of the county recorder.
             62          (d) (i) [A] No later than 30 days before recording a lien on the property, a municipality
             63      [may] shall:
             64          (A) file a notice of a lien, including a copy of the statement described in Subsection
             65      (1)(a)(ii)(A) or a summary of the statement, in the records of the county recorder of the county
             66      in which the property is located[.]; and
             67          (B) mail a copy of the notice of the lien to the property owner's of record last known
             68      address.
             69          (ii) If a municipality files a notice of a lien indicating that the municipality intends to
             70      [certify] record a lien against the property for the unpaid costs and expenses in accordance with
             71      Subsection (2)(a)(ii) and Section [ 10-11-4 ] 10-11-5 , the municipality shall file for record in the
             72      county recorder's office a release of the lien after all amounts owing are paid.
             73          (2) (a) If an owner fails to file a timely written objection as described in Subsection
             74      (1)(b)(ii)(B) or to pay the amount set forth in the statement under Subsection (1)(b)(i)(B), the
             75      municipality may, subject to Subsection (5):
             76          (i) file an action in district court; or
             77          [(ii) certify the past due costs and expenses to the county treasurer of the county in
             78      which the property is located in accordance with Section 10-11-4 .]
             79          (ii) record a lien against the property in accordance with Section 10-11-5 .
             80          (b) If a municipality pursues collection of the costs in accordance with Subsection
             81      (2)(a)(i) or (4)(a), the municipality may:
             82          (i) sue for and receive judgment for, subject to Subsection (5), all removal and
             83      destruction costs, including administrative costs, and reasonable attorney fees, interest, and
             84      court costs; and
             85          (ii) execute on the judgment in the manner provided by law.
             86          (3) (a) If a property owner files an objection in accordance with Subsection (1)(b)(ii),
             87      the municipality shall:
             88          (i) hold a hearing in accordance with Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public Meetings
             89      Act; and


             90          (ii) mail or deliver notice of the hearing date and time to the property owner.
             91          (b) At the hearing described in Subsection (3)(a)(i), the municipality shall review and
             92      determine the actual cost of abatement, if any, incurred under Subsection (1)(a)(i).
             93          (c) The property owner shall pay any actual cost due after a decision by the
             94      municipality at the hearing described in Subsection (3)(a)(i) to the municipal treasurer within
             95      30 days after the day on which the hearing is held.
             96          (4) If the property owner fails to pay in accordance with Subsection (3)(c), the
             97      municipality may:
             98          (a) file an action in district court for the actual cost determined under Subsection (3)(b)
             99      and an expense, fee, or cost described in Subsection (2)(b)(i); or
             100          [(b) certify the past due costs and expenses to the county treasurer of the county in
             101      which the property is located in accordance with Section 10-11-4 .]
             102          (b) subject to Subsection (5), record a lien against the property in accordance with
             103      Section 10-11-5 .
             104          (5) (a) If the municipality files an action in district court under Subsection (2)(a)(i) or
             105      (4)(a), or records a lien for the past due costs and expenses under Subsection (2)(a)(ii) or
             106      (4)(b), the sum total of remittance for administrative expenses authorized in Subsection
             107      (1)(b)(i)(B), or a cost, fee, or interest charge authorized in Subsection (2)(b)(i), that the
             108      municipality may claim or certify may not exceed 100% of the actual cost of abatement
             109      incurred by the municipality under Subsection (1)(a)(i).
             110          (b) A municipality described in Subsection (5)(a) shall provide the owner with an
             111      itemized statement that shows the calculation method of an expense, cost, fee, or charge made
             112      in accordance with Subsection (5)(a).
             113          [(5)] (6) This section does not affect or limit:
             114          (a) a municipal governing body's power to pass an ordinance as described in Section
             115      10-3-702 ; or
             116          (b) a criminal or civil penalty imposed by a municipality in accordance with Section
             117      10-3-703 .
             118          Section 2. Section 10-11-5 is enacted to read:
             119          10-11-5. Lien recorded -- Priority.
             120          (1) A municipality may record a lien with the county recorder of the county in which a


             121      property described in Section 10-11-3 is located for the unpaid costs and expenses that the
             122      municipality has incurred under Section 10-11-3 with regard to the property.
             123          (2) A lien imposed under this section:
             124          (a) has priority over any lien, mortgage, security interest, or other encumbrance arising
             125      after the day on which the lien is recorded; and
             126          (b) does not have priority over:
             127          (i) a lien imposed pursuant to Title 59, Chapter 2, Property Tax Act; or
             128          (ii) any other previously recorded lien.
             129          (3) This section does not apply to any public building, public structure, or public
             130      improvement.
             131          Section 3. Section 17-50-335 is enacted to read:
             132          17-50-335. Limit on fees for residential service -- Notice of fee calculation -- Lien.
             133          (1) If a county directs a county inspector to inspect and clean up or abate real property
             134      for the growth and spread of injurious and noxious weeds, garbage and refuse, a public
             135      nuisance, or an illegal object or structure, the county may not file an action against the owner of
             136      or record a lien against an inspected property for payment due for a sum total amount in
             137      expenses, fees, costs, or interest charges that exceeds 100% of the actual cost of the inspection
             138      or abatement incurred by the county.
             139          (2) A county described in Subsection (1) shall provide the owner with an itemized
             140      statement that shows the calculation method of an expense, cost, fee, or charge made in
             141      accordance with Subsection (1).
             142          (3) If a county records a lien with the county recorder of the county in which a property
             143      described in Subsection (1) is located for the unpaid costs and expenses that the county has
             144      incurred for an inspection, clean up, or abatement with regard to the property, the county shall
             145      no later than 30 days before recording a lien on the property:
             146          (a) file a notice of a lien, including a copy of the statement described in Subsection (2),
             147      in the records of the county recorder; and
             148          (b) mail a copy of the notice of the lien to the property owner's of record last known
             149      address.
             150          (4) A lien imposed under this section:
             151          (a) has priority over any lien, mortgage, security interest, or other encumbrance arising


             152      after the day on which the lien is recorded; and
             153          (b) does not have priority over:
             154          (i) a lien imposed pursuant to Title 59, Chapter 2, Property Tax Act; or
             155          (ii) any other previously recorded lien.
             156          (5) The county shall file for record in the county recorder's office a release of the lien
             157      after all amounts owing are paid.
             158          (6) This section does not apply to any public building, public structure, or public
             159      improvement.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-14-13 3:00 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]