1. Short title This Act may be cited as the A Just Society: A Place to Prosper Act of 2019 . 2. Obligations of landlords (a) Obligations A covered landlord— (1) may not, when a residential lease expires, increase monthly rent by an amount greater than the percentage increase, if any, over the preceding 12 months in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers or 3 percent of the average monthly amount paid for the same unit for each month that the unit was occupied during the previous 12-month period, whichever is greater; (2) may not initiate eviction proceedings or threaten a tenant with eviction, except in the case that— (A) the tenant has failed to pay rent for 2 or more consecutive months, caused substantial destruction to the rental property, or violated an explicit lease term; or (B) the landlord seeks to occupy the unit, or seeks the availability of the unit for occupancy by an immediate relative; and (3) shall maintain each rental unit in good repair (as defined under applicable State and local codes). (b) Enforcement (1) Civil action authorized A tenant may file a civil action in the appropriate district court of the United States against a covered landlord who violates subsection (a). (2) Lease provision void Any lease provision that waives the right of a tenant to file a civil action under this subsection is void. (3) Enforcement by State Attorney General The attorney general of the State may file a civil action in the appropriate district court of the United States on behalf of a resident of the State whose covered landlord violated subsection (a) to— (A) enjoin further violations; (B) obtain damages on behalf of such resident in an amount that does not exceed ten times the sum of the monthly rent amounts specified on the most recent lease agreement for each such resident