Attorney's costs for frivolous suits are paid by the petitioner. The substitute also removes geographical and time restrictions when vacant buildings of 4 dwelling units or less will be demolished in St. Louis. Any demolition that takes place in the county must be geographically dispersed. A local or state public safety agency will determine which structures will be demolished. Supporters of HB 977 say that it makes changes in the receivership law from a stricter older procedure that provided no notice to the owners prior to the receivership.
Attorney fees are available if the person who fights the receivership wins.
Lienholders have the first right to be a receiver. This changes the right of the owner to be a receiver. This is another tool to prevent vacant and abandoned buildings in an area and to prevent disinvestment. Supporters of HB 1608 say it ameliorates vacant structures in St. Louis that are an eyesore to their communities. There are currently 927 buildings on the demolition list out of 2500 buildings.