News

Nuisance Property Boardup & Substance Abuse Insurance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Alan Heymann
(202) 724-8031

September 20, 2006

Washington, DC – The District Government would act faster to board up and secure nuisance properties under a bill introduced Tuesday by Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward One).

The bill would authorize the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs to immediately secure a property upon finding it a threat the life or health of the community. The property owner would be responsible for the cost of the work.

“Every week, I get phone calls from constituents asking why we can’t quickly board up these unsafe buildings,” said Councilmember Graham. “Living next to an abandoned house or business can be a nightmare. This bill gives DCRA the tools to fix the problem faster.”

DCRA can currently board up nuisance properties at the owners’ expense, but the process of inspecting, re-inspecting, notifying the owner and doing the work can take weeks. The Graham bill gives the agency authority to act immediately. Chairman Linda Cropp (D-At Large) and Councilmembers Carol Schwartz (R-At Large), Kwame Brown (D-At Large), Vincent Orange (D-Ward Five), Sharon Ambrose (D-Ward Six) and Vincent Gray (D-Ward Seven) joined the bill as co-sponsors. Thus, 7 members have sponsored this legislation.

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Insurance companies would be required to increase coverage for mental illness and substance abuse treatment under a second bill Councilmember Jim Graham introduced Tuesday.

“We’re in a crime emergency,” he said. “Substance abuse and mental illness are at the very root of many crimes. If we tackle these issues early, we keep police, courts and jails from being involved later.”

The Graham insurance bill would essentially require the same amount of coverage in these areas as is now required in Maryland. It calls for a minimum of 60 days per year for inpatient or residential care and at a minimum rate of 75% for the first 40 outpatient visits per year – with a minimum rate of 60% for any outpatient visits thereafter for that year.

The nuisance property and insurance bills were referred to the Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, which Councilmember Graham chairs.

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