Property; provide additional procedures; clarify jurisdiction under which local law enforcement may remove unauthorized individuals from an owner's premises

HB 474 creates new procedures for property owners to remove unauthorized individuals, often referred to as squatters, from their dwellings. It allows owners or their agents to submit a sworn affidavit to local law enforcement, stating that an individual is unlawfully occupying the property and is not a tenant or immediate family member. Upon verification, law enforcement is directed to serve a notice to vacate and remove the unauthorized individual within a specific timeframe, typically within three business days of verification. The bill clarifies law enforcement's jurisdiction and allows them to charge a fee, not exceeding $50, for processing these affidavits.