SEC. 47.12. EXCESSIVE PRICE INCREASES AND EXCESS ACCUMULATION OF SUPPLIES FOR RESALE AT INFLATED PRICES DURING A DECLARED EMERGENCY.

cumulate emergency supplies or medical supplies in excess of the reasonable demands of business, personal or home consumption, for the purpose of resale at prices in excess of prevailing prices in the area in the City where the person, contractor, business or other entity is operating. (i) Defenses. A person, business, contractor or other entity may offer as a defense proof that an increase in price of the consumer good or service was directly attributable to the specific amount of the additional costs imposed on it by the supplier of the goods or for labor and materials used to provide the service. An owner or operator of a Hotel may offer as a defense proof that the increase in lodging price is directly attributable to additional costs imposed on it for goods or labor used in its business, to seasonal adjustments in rates that are regularly scheduled, or to previously contracted rate agreements. A person, business, or other entity may offer as a defense proof that the increase in rental price is directly attributable to additional costs for repairs or additions beyond normal maintenance that were amortized over the rental term that caused the rent to be increased greater than 10 percent. It shall not be a defense to a prosecution that an increase in rental price for a Rental Unit was based on the length of the rental term, the inclusion of additional goods or services, except as authorized in herein, or that the rent was offered by, or paid by, an insurance company, or other third party, on behalf of a tenant. Further, it shall not be a defense to a prosecution that an increase in rental price for a Rental Unit was based on the mutual agreement of the landlord and tenant, or their agents, if the execution of the rental agreement occurs after the declaration of emergency. (j) Private Right of Action. An aggrieved person, or any person, organization, or entity who will fairly and adequately represent the interests of an aggrieved tenant(s), may institute civil proceedings as provided by law, against any person, business, or entity violating any of the provisions of this section and any person, business, or entity who aids or facilitates another to violate the provisions of this section.