1956 AMH DUNN CORD 038

HB 1956 - H AMD 111

By Representative Dunn

ADOPTED 3/9/2007

   Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

   "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 49.60 RCW to read as follows:

   (1) It is an unfair practice for any person, whether acting for himself, herself, or another, to discriminate in the rental of a dwelling to, or to refuse to negotiate or enter into a rental agreement with, a person because of the person's lawful source of income.

   (2) This section does not:

   (a) Apply to rental transactions involving the sharing of a dwelling unit as defined in RCW 59.18.030, or the rental or subleasing of a portion of a dwelling unit, when the dwelling unit is to be occupied by the owner or subleasor;

   (b) Affect the rights, responsibilities, and remedies of landlords and tenants under chapter 59.18 or 59.20 RCW, except to the extent of inconsistencies with the nondiscrimination requirements of this section; or

   (c) Limit the applicability of RCW 49.60.215 relating to unfair practices in places of public accommodation or RCW 49.60.222 through 49.60.227 relating to unfair practices in real estate transactions.

   (3) For the purposes of this section, "lawful source of income" means verifiable legal income, including income derived from employment, social security, supplemental security income, other retirement programs, child support, alimony, and any federal, state, or local government or nonprofit-administered benefit or subsidy program, including rental assistance programs, public assistance, and general assistance programs."

   Correct the title.

EFFECT: Limits the prohibition against discrimination based on lawful income to rental transactions, instead of all real estate transactions.

Exempts from the prohibition against discrimination those rental transactions involving sharing or subleasing an owner-occupied dwelling unit forming a common household, and does not affect landlord-tenant rights and responsibilities unrelated to discrimination or limit requirements related to prohibiting discrimination in public accommodations or in other real estate transactions.