Eviction Prevention Act of 2019

To authorize the Attorney General to make grants to States and localities to provide the right to counsel in civil actions related to eviction, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Eviction Prevention Act of 2019 2. Grants for States and units of general local government to provide access to counsel in civil actions related to eviction (a) Authorization The Attorney General is authorized to make grants to States and units of general local government to provide eligible individuals access to counsel in civil actions related to eviction. (b) Use of funds A State or unit of general local government that receives a grant under this section shall use such funds to hire attorneys in positions that are dedicated solely to providing counsel described in subsection (a). (c) Application A State or unit of general local government seeking an application under this section shall submit an application to the Attorney General at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Attorney General may reasonably require, including— (1) the rate of eviction for that State or unit of general local government; (2) during the previous year, the number of individuals subject to eviction in that State or unit of general local government who were not represented by an attorney in eviction proceedings; (3) a plan for how the State or unit of general local government will use amounts from a grant under this section to increase access to counsel; and (4) the status with respect of the right to counsel in civil actions related to eviction in the State or unit of general local government and, if the State or unit of general local government does not have in effect laws providing a right to counsel, such evidence as the Attorney General may require that is sufficient to demonstrate that substantial progress has been made to enact laws providing such a right. (d) Amount of grant Subject to the availability of appropriations, a grant under this section shall be in an amount that is not less than $1,000,000, and which amount is determined based on— (1) the rate of eviction in the applicant State or unit of general local government, compared to the national average rate of eviction, as determined by the rates of eviction included with each application under subsection (c); (2) the plan submitted by the applicant State or unit of general local government in accordance with subsection (c)(3); (3) the status of right to counsel in applicant State or unit of general local government; and (4) during the previous year, the number of individuals subject to eviction in the applicant State or unit of general local government who were not represented by an attorney in eviction proceedings. (e) Definitions In this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) Access to counsel The term access to counsel (2) Eligible individual The term eligible individual (3) State The term State (4) Unit of general local government The term unit of general local government (5) Rate of eviction The term rate of eviction (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $125,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025. 3. Grants for collection of eviction data (a) Authorization The Attorney General is authorized to make grants to States and units of local government to collect and provide to the Attorney General eviction data described in subsection (b). (b) Eviction data described The eviction data described in this subsection is the eviction data for the applicable jurisdiction during the most recent 3 years, which shall include the 3-year eviction filing rate, number of eviction filings at a given property, the name of the current owner, the name of the lead plaintiff, the race of the lead plaintiff and defendant, the type of property (single-family residential, two-family residential, or multi-family residential), whether the unit’s rent was assisted or subsidized, the number of units, the nature of the eviction, the reason for eviction (including nonpayment of rent and breach of lease), the number of days the tenant is given to vacate, the status of representation of the lead plaintiff and defendant, the outcome of the eviction (including whether the tenant remains in possession, whether an order of eviction is officially placed on the record, whether the landlord is ordered to make repairs, and whether the landlord or tenant are ordered to pay any amount of money to the other), the date of any rescission of such eviction, and if an eviction was ordered, how many days from such order until termination of the lease. (c) Publication of data The Attorney General shall make the information reported under subsection (a) publicly available online. (d) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025. 4. GAO study Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study and submit a report to Congress on evictions in the United States, including an analysis of ways in which the legal system fails to provide sufficient protections from eviction for tenants, the rate of representation of tenants and landlords, the effect of full representation on default rates, case outcomes, and eviction dockets as compared to cases where the tenant lacks representation or has pro se assistance, and the potential cost savings from providing representation.

Summary: Eviction Prevention Act of 2019 This bill authorizes grant programs to provide legal counsel to individuals in eviction proceedings and to collect data regarding evictions. The bill also requires a study of evictions generally. Specifically, the Department of Justice (DOJ) may award grants to states and local governments to provide legal counsel in eviction proceedings to an individual whose income is less than 125% of the federal poverty level. DOJ may also award grants to states and local governments to collect data on evictions, including with respect to race and property type. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must study evictions generally and with regard to the legal representation of tenants in eviction proceedings.