Virginia Fair Housing Law; unlawful discriminatory housing practices. (SB1224)

Introduced By

Sen. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Virginia Fair Housing Law; unlawful discriminatory housing practices. Adds lawful source of income to the list of unlawful discriminatory housing practices. The bill defines lawful source of income as any income used by a person to pay for the purchase or lease of a dwelling including (i) public assistance, (ii) any manner of gross income, (iii) federal supplemental security income benefits, (iv) child support, and (v) any federal, state, or local housing assistance, regardless of whether the funds are paid directly to the person or to a landlord or other third party for the benefit of the person. The bill also authorizes the governing body of any county, city, or town to enact an ordinance in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Fair Housing Law, provided such ordinance includes protections against discrimination that are at least as protective as those provided by the law. Read the Bill »

Status

02/04/2013: Failed to Pass in Committee

History

DateAction
01/09/2013Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/13 13101558D
01/09/2013Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
01/24/2013Impact statement from DPB (SB1224)
02/04/2013Passed by indefinitely in General Laws and Technology with letter (14-Y 1-N) (see vote tally)

Comments

Va Housing Coalition, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

The VHC supports this bill that adds "lawful source of income" to the list of unlawful discriminatory housing practices. The bill defines lawful source of income as any income used by a person to pay for the purchase or lease of a dwelling including (i) public assistance, (ii) any manner of gross income, (iii) federal supplemental security income benefits, (iv) child support, and (v) any federal, state, or local housing assistance, regardless of whether the funds are paid directly to the person or to a landlord or other third party for the benefit of the person. Currently, a low income household can be turned down for housing if their source of income is a housing assistance program. This results in increased concentrations of poverty in communities as well as other problems.