63 STAT.] 81ST CONG. , IST SESS.-CH. 42 -MAR . 30, 1949 23 amended to read as follows: "The Housing Expediter is authorized Local advisory and directed to create and, if necessary, continue in existence until board. the termination of this Act in each defense-rental area (whether or not under Federal rent control) or such portion thereof as he may designate, local advisory boards. The Housing Expediter shall, when- ever in his judgment there is need therefor, create a local advisory board in any part of an area designated under the provisions of the Emergency Price Control Act of 1942, as amended, prior to March 1, 6stat3.23. 1947, as an area where defense activities have resulted or threatenr§ 901-922, 923-946; to result in an increase in the rents for housing accommodations upp. II, 901 et seq. inconsistent with the purposes of such Act, in which maximum rents were not being regulated under such Act on March 1, 1947. Each such board shall consist of not less than five members who are citizens of the area and who, insofar as practicable, as a group are represent- ative of the affected interests in the area, to be appointed by the Housing Expediter, from recommendations made by the respective Governors :". (5) Section 204 (e) (1) is amended by adding after the third sen- Ant, p . 22 . tence thereof the following: "Upon petition by a representative group Hearing. of tenants or landlords, the board, if it finds that the petition is sub- stantial in character, shall hold a public hearing in accordance with the requirements set forth in paragraph (4) of this subsection on any of the matters set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this para- graph. Such hearing shall be begun within thirty days after the filing of such petition, and shall be completed within thirty days after it is begun. Should the board for any reason fail to hold such hearing, the Housing Expediter, upon notice of that fact given by such group, shall (unless he finds that the petition is not substantial in character) hold a public hearing in like manner on such matters. Such hearing shall be begun within thirty days after the giving of such notice by such group, and shall be completed within thirty days after it is begun. If the Housing Expediter finds that such petition FliEng of complaint is not substantial in character, such group may file a complaint with ofAppeals. the Emergency Court of Appeals within thirty days after the date such finding is made. Thereupon, if it finds that the Housing Expe- diter's finding is not in accordance with law, the Emergency Court of Appeals shall have jurisdiction to enter, within thirty days after the date of filing of such complaint, an order directing the Housing Expediter to hold such hearing. If a hearing is held by either the board or the Housing Expediter, a recommendation by the board or decision by the Housing Expediter, as the case may be, on the merits of the matter shall be rendered within thirty days from the date of completion of such hearing, and the local board forthwith shall forward its recommendation to the Housing Expediter." (e) The paragraph immediately following section 204 (e) (4) (E) of the Housing and Rent Act of 1947, as amended, is amended to read st-. 9. as follows: app. §1894 e) (4) (E). "Any representative group of interested parties or the local board rw'igtof complaint may file a complaint concerning such recommendation with the Emer- court of Appeals. gency Court of Appeals within thirty days after the date on which the Housing Expediter notifies the local board of his decision, or the date of the expiration of such thirty-day period, as the case may be. If the Housing Expediter holds the hearing, such group may file a complaint with the Emergency Court of Appeals within thirty days after the rendering of his decision, or within thirty days after the expiration of the time within which his decision should be made. A similar right of appeal shall be afforded in the event the Housing Bigmtappe Expediter makes a decision as to a general adjustment or as to removal of maximum rents for any class of housing accommodations (other than for luxury housing accommodations under the second
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