87
STAT.]
625
PUBLIC LAW 93-157-NOV. 21, 1973
ing the ainoimt of such rents or benefits which such landlord is entitled to receive in connection with such use or occupancy under such rules. Such rules may be modified or terminated at any time by a majority vote of the Council. (b) With respect to any hearing held under this section, the Council shall afford interested persons an opportunity to participate in such a hearing through submission of written data, views, and arguments, with an opportunity to present oral testimony. The record and findings made in such hearings shall be the basis for the adoption of such rules by the Council. THE
COMMISSION
SEC. 4. (a) I n the event the Council adopts rules under section 3 to stabilize and regulate rents, the Council is authorized to establish a temporary District of Columbia Housing Rent Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "Commission") for the District of Columbia to (;arry out and enforce such rules. Such Commission shall terminate on the forty-fifth day after the date of termination of the rules adopted by the Council under section 3. Such Commission shall be composed of nine members, appointed by the Commissioner of the District of Columbia with the advice and consent of the Council, of whom four members shall be representative of solely the interests of landlords in the District of Columbia and four shall be representatives of solely the interests of tenants in the District of Columbia. All members of the Commission shall be residents of the District of Columbia. Each member shall serve until the termination of the Commission. The members shall select a chairman of the Commission from among the members of the Commission. (b) Each member of the Commission shall be paid compensation of $50 per day while performing duties under this Act, except that no compensation under this Act shall be paid to an employee of the goveinment of the District of Columbia or of the United States. (c) The Commission shall have power to adopt, promulgate, amend, or rescind such rules or orders as it may deem and find to be necessary or proper to effectuate the purposes of this Act. In addition, the Commission shall employ such personnel or consultants, including legal counsel, as are necessary, at such rates of compensation as may be fixed by the Commissioner of the District of Columbia. Upon the request of the Chairman of the Commission, each department of the District of Columbia is authorized to furnish such assistance or information as Miay be necessary for the Commission to effectively carry out this Act. (d) In addition the Commission shall be authorized to— (1) receive and review complaints by tenants in the District of Columbia with respect to any violation of the rules of the Council adopted under section 3, or of any rule or order of the Commission with respect to the enforcement and the administration of such rules; and (2) in cases where operation of the rules adopted by the Council would cause serious financial hardship to a landlord, grant exemptions therefrom upon application of any landlord claiming such hardship, except no exemptions shall be granted until after notice of a hearing with respect to the application for such an exemption shall have been published and the tenants of the affected residence shall have been afforded an opportunity to submit relevant evidence to the Commission in connection with such application.
22-150 0 - 7 5 - 4 2
District of Columbia Housing Rent Commission. Establishment. Termination date. Membership.
CompensEition.
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