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<baltimore-city-law heading="§ 6A-3 Right to counsel in eviction-related proceedings.">
  <section prefix="§" num="6A-3" heading="Right to counsel in eviction-related proceedings.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="In general.">
      <para num="(1)">Subject to provisions of this subtitle, including any rules and regulations, and with the advice and consultation of the Commission, the Commissioner shall ensure that all covered individuals are offered legal representation from a designated organization in a covered proceeding as soon as practicable after the initiation of that proceeding, but no later than at the time of the covered individual’s first scheduled appearance in a covered proceeding if possible.</para>
      <para num="(2)">The Commissioner shall seek to prioritize the provision of legal representation based on median income with covered individuals having the lowest median income receiving the highest priority.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Limitation.">Covered individuals shall receive legal representation unless circumstances specific to the individual or case, such as a conflict with the Maryland Attorneys’ Rules of Professional Conduct, make legal representation infeasible to render.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Engagement and education.">Subject to &lt;cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="VI|§11"&gt;Article VI, § 11 of the City Charter&lt;/cite&gt; regarding procurement, in addition to overseeing the administration of this subtitle, the Commissioner, with the advice and consultation of the Commission, may engage designated community groups to engage and educate tenants about their rights, through activities such as:<para num="(1)">hosting know-your-rights trainings and other workshops for tenants;</para>
      <para num="(2)">distributing written information to tenants;</para>
      <para num="(3)">assisting tenants to form and maintain tenant associations;</para>
      <para num="(4)">referring tenants to designated community groups; and</para>
      <para num="(5)">engaging in any other activity designed to engage, educate, or inform tenants about their rights.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Availability of funds.">Legal representation under this section is subject to the appropriation of funds in accordance with &lt;cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter"&gt;the City Charter&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 20-465</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" />
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
