Residential tenancy: victims of human trafficking and elder or dependent adult abuse.

Existing law authorizes a tenant to notify the landlord in writing that he or she or a household member, as defined, was a victim of an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or abuse of an elder or dependent adult and that the tenant intends to terminate the tenancy. Existing law requires that the tenant attach to the notice to terminate either a copy of a temporary restraining order or protective order that protects the tenant or household member from further domestic violence, sexual assault, or abuse of an elder or dependent adult or a police report, as specified. Existing law permits the tenant to quit the premises after notification and limits the tenant's obligation for payment of rent, as specified. Existing law requires the notice to terminate the tenancy to be given within 180 days of the date the order was issued or the report was made, or as specified. Existing law requires, by January 1, 2014, the Judicial Council to develop or revise a form that may be used to assert, on the basis of these provisions, an affirmative defense to an unlawful detainer action. This bill would expand these provisions to authorize a tenant to notify the landlord that he or she or a household member is a victim of human trafficking and the tenant intends to terminate the tenancy, as specified. Until January 1, 2016, the bill would include among the supporting documents that a tenant may attach to the notice to terminate a tenancy documentation that includes specified statements by the tenant and by a health practitioner, a domestic violence counselor, a sexual assault counselor, or a human trafficking caseworker to indicate that the tenant is seeking assistance for physical or mental injuries or abuse resulting from an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, or abuse of an elder or dependent adult. The bill would make various conforming changes. This bill would prohibit a landlord from disclosing any information provided by a tenant under these provisions to a 3rd party unless the disclosure is consented to in writing or is required by law or order of the court, except as specified. This bill would extend, until July 1, 2014, the deadline for the Judicial Council to develop or revise the above-described form for an affirmative defense to an unlawful detainer action.