Explanation: Capitals indicate matter added to existing law.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill
Introduced by: Councilmember Burnett
A Bill Entitled
An Ordinance concerning
title
Water Bills - Right to Review
For the purpose of requiring the Department of Public Works to provide a customer with a copy of a certain water bill upon request and submission of specified documentation.
body
By repealing and re-ordaining, with amendments
Article 24 - Water
Section 2-1
Baltimore City Code
(Edition 2000)
Section 1. Be it ordained by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, That the Laws of Baltimore City read as follows:
Baltimore City Code
Article 24. Water
Subtitle 2. Bills
§ 2-1. Bills.
(a) Finance to collect.
The bills for water used or work done by the Department of Public Works shall be collected by the Department of Finance.
(b) When due.
Unless abated under this subtitle, all bills therefor shall be paid within 20 days after they have been issued.
(c) Cut-off on default.
Subject to the requirements of this article, on default in payment for bills issued under this section, the Department of Public Works may cut off the supply.
(d) Copy of bill to tenant-water-utility customer.
(1) Any landlord that requires a residential tenant to pay for the costs of water or wastewater services shall:
(i) [(1)] include that requirement in a written lease, as provided in City Code Article 13, § 7-3(a-1); and
(ii) [(2)] either:
(A) [(i)] timely provide the tenant with a copy of the water
or wastewater bill; or
(B) [(ii)] timely notify the Department that a copy of the bill should be sent to the tenant.
(2) The Department must timely provide a copy of a water or wastewater bill to a tenant-water-utility customer who:
(i) requests a copy of a water or wastewater bill issued during a time period the tenant was responsible for paying the bill; and
(ii) provides the Department with a copy of a written lease for the property, as provided in City Code Article 13, § 7-3(a-1), that includes a requirement that the tenant pay for the costs of water or wastewater services.
(e) Tenant-water-utility customer requests.
The property owner’s or managing operator’s refusal or failure to participate in a tenant-water-utility-customer’s request to the Department for a discount, bill adjustment, payment plan, or other agency action may not be grounds for the Department to deny the request.
(f) Residential-water-utility customer requests.
The Department must timely provide a copy of a water or wastewater bill to a residential-water-utility customer who:
(1) requests a copy of a water or wastewater bill issued during a time period the customer was responsible for paying the bill; and
(2) provides documentation that the customer owns and occupies the property as the customer’s principal residence.
Section 2. And be it further ordained, That this Ordinance takes effect on the 30th day after the date it is enacted.