STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

ASSEMBLY, No. 1947

with Assembly Floor Amendments

(Proposed By Assemblymen ROBERTS and KELLY)

ADOPTED: JANUARY 29, 1997

      These amendments narrow the scope of the exemption provided by the bill for condominiums under the "Tenants Property Tax Rebate Act." The bill would have excluded all dwelling units in condominiums from being qualified for a tenant rebate. The amendments would exclude those tenants who are protected under the "Tenant Protection Act of 1992," as a result of a condominium conversion, thus allowing these tenants to be eligible for a tenant rebate. In addition, the amendments remove language which would have allowed a landlord to withhold an otherwise payable rebate if the tenant was in arrears with his or her rent payments, thus recognizing a tenant's common law right to withhold rent in some instances to force landlord repairs.