Discrimination: housing: victims of domestic violence.

Existing law defines specified terms, including the term "source of income," in connection with provisions that prohibit discrimination in housing accommodations. This bill would define "victim of abuse" for purposes of discrimination in housing accommodations. Existing law makes it the policy of the state to prevent discrimination in housing based on certain enumerated characteristics. Existing law prohibits the owner of any housing accommodation, or any person, bank, mortgage company, or other financial institution that provides financial assistance for the purchase, organization, or construction of any housing accommodation, among other persons and entities from, discriminating against any person because of particular characteristics of that person, including race and gender. Existing law authorizes the Department of Fair Employment and Housing to enforce antidiscrimination statutes. This bill would prohibit the persons and entities described above from discriminating against any person because of their status as a victim of abuse. The bill would also make other conforming changes to reference victims of abuse throughout the provisions prohibiting discrimination in housing accommodations. This bill would clarify that eviction and other actions authorized pursuant to specified statutory provisions that permit such conduct under certain circumstances, do not constitute discrimination under these provisions. The bill would also specify that denial of tenancy to an applicant who was evicted pursuant to those statutory provisions within the last 2 years does not constitute discrimination under these provisions. Existing law requires a county recorder who provides a copy of a declaration, governing document, or deed to any person to place a cover page or stamp on the first page of the previously recorded document stating that if the document contains any restriction based on certain characteristics, that the restriction violates state and federal fair housing laws and is void, and may be removed. This bill would require the specified language in the cover page or stamp to include the characteristic of victim of abuse status. By requiring the county recorder to change the cover page or stamp, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.