SB87: Bill Text

LRB-1354/1

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2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE

2001 Senate BILL 87

March 13, 2001 - Introduced by Senators Moore, Plache, Risser, Rosenzweig, Roessler, Darling and Schultz, cosponsored by Representatives Sykora, Turner, Morris-Tatum, Albers, Stone, Jeskewitz, Lippert, Ryba, Urban, Olsen, Riley, Ladwig, Musser, Staskunas, Krawczyk, Vrakas, Hundertmark, Townsend, Lassa, Berceau, D. Meyer and M. Lehman. Referred to Committee on Judiciary, Consumer Affairs, and Campaign Finance Reform.

SB87,1,3 An Act to amend 704.17 (1) (c), 704.17 (2) (c), 704.17 (3) (b) and 893.80 (7) of the statutes; relating to: termination of a tenancy if notice given regarding drug or criminal gang activity.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, if a property owner receives notice from a law enforcement agency of a city, town, or village that a rental unit is a nuisance because the unit is being used to facilitate the delivery, distribution, or manufacture of a controlled substance or is being used to facilitate the activities of a criminal gang, the property owner may terminate the tenancy by giving the tenant written notice requiring the tenant to vacate on or before a date at least five days after the giving of the notice.

Under current law, the city, town, or village, and officers and employees of those municipalities who act in good faith, are immune from liability for acts or omissions related to the provision of a notice that a rental unit is a public nuisance.

This bill expands the law enforcement agencies that may give notice to a property owner that a rental unit is a nuisance to include any law enforcement agency of the state or of a political subdivision of the state and provides immunity to those additional entities and their officers and employees.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB87, s. 1 Section 1. 704.17 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB87,2,16 704.17 (1) (c) A property owner may terminate the tenancy of a week-to-week or month-to-month tenant if the property owner receives written notice from a law enforcement agency of a city, town or village, as defined in s. 165.83 (1) (b), that a nuisance under s. 823.113 (1) or (1m) (b) exists in that tenant's rental unit or was caused by that tenant on the property owner's property and if the property owner gives the tenant written notice requiring the tenant to vacate on or before a date at least 5 days after the giving of the notice. The notice shall state the basis for its issuance and the right of the tenant to contest the termination of tenancy in an eviction action under ch. 799. If the tenant contests the termination of tenancy, the tenancy may not be terminated without proof by the property owner by the greater preponderance of the credible evidence of the allegation in the notice from the law enforcement agency of a city, town or village that a nuisance under s. 823.113 (1) or (1m) (b) exists in that tenant's rental unit or was caused by that tenant. This paragraph does not require the sheriff of Milwaukee County to provide a property owner with a written notice that a nuisance exists under s. 823.113 (1) or (1m) (b).

SB87, s. 2 Section 2. 704.17 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB87,3,8 704.17 (2) (c) A property owner may terminate the tenancy of a tenant who is under a lease for a term of one year or less or who is a year-to-year tenant if the property owner receives written notice from a law enforcement agency of a city, town or village, as defined in s. 165.83 (1) (b), that a nuisance under s. 823.113 (1) or (1m) (b) exists in that tenant's rental unit or was caused by that tenant on the property owner's property and if the property owner gives the tenant written notice requiring the tenant to vacate on or before a date at least 5 days after the giving of the notice. The notice shall state the basis for its issuance and the right of the tenant to contest the termination of tenancy in an eviction action under ch. 799. If the tenant contests the termination of tenancy, the tenancy may not be terminated without proof by the property owner by the greater preponderance of the credible evidence of the allegation in the notice from the law enforcement agency of a city, town or village that a nuisance under s. 823.113 (1) or (1m) (b) exists in that tenant's rental unit or was caused by that tenant. This paragraph does not require the sheriff of Milwaukee County to provide a property owner with a written notice that a nuisance exists under s. 823.113 (1) or (1m) (b).

SB87, s. 3 Section 3. 704.17 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB87,3,24 704.17 (3) (b) A property owner may terminate the tenancy of a tenant who is under a lease for a term of more than one year if the property owner receives written notice from a law enforcement agency of a city, town or village, as defined in s. 165.83 (1) (b), that a nuisance under s. 823.113 (1) or (1m) (b) exists in that tenant's rental unit or was caused by that tenant on the property owner's property and if the property owner gives the tenant written notice to vacate on or before a date at least 5 days after the giving of the notice. The notice shall state the basis for its issuance and the right of the tenant to contest the termination of tenancy in an eviction action under ch. 799. If the tenant contests the termination of tenancy, the tenancy may not be terminated without proof by the property owner by the greater preponderance of the credible evidence of the allegation in the notice from the law enforcement agency of a city, town or village that a nuisance under s. 823.113 (1) or (1m) (b) exists in that tenant's rental unit or was caused by that tenant. This paragraph does not require the sheriff of Milwaukee County to provide a property owner with a written notice that a nuisance exists under s. 823.113 (1) or (1m) (b).

SB87, s. 4 Section 4. 893.80 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB87,4,5 893.80 (7) No suit may be brought against any city, town or village or the state or any governmental subdivision or agency thereof or against any officer, official, agent or employee of any of those entities who, in good faith, acts or fails to act to provide a notice to a property owner that a public nuisance under s. 823.113 (1) or (1m) (b) exists.

SB87,4,6 (End)