(f) All civil penalties imposed pursuant to subsection (e) of this section shall be payable
to the department of health. There is to be established a restricted receipt account
to be known as the “rental registry account” which shall be a separate account within
the department of health. Penalties received by the department pursuant to the terms
of this section shall be deposited into the account. Monies deposited into the account
shall be transferred to the department of health and shall be expended for the purpose
of administering the provisions of this section or lead hazard mitigation, abatement,
enforcement, or poisoning prevention. No penalties shall be levied under this section
prior to October 1, 2024.
(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 34-18-35, a landlord or any agent of a landlord may not commence an action to evict for nonpayment
of rent in any court of competent jurisdiction, unless, at the time the action is
commenced, the landlord is in compliance with the requirements of subsections (a),
(b), and (d) of this section. A landlord must present the court with evidence of compliance
with subsections (a), (b), and (d) of this section at the time of filing an action
to evict for nonpayment of rent in order to proceed with the civil action.