2013 -- S 0664

=======

LC01964

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

____________

A N A C T

RELATING TO PROPERTY -- THE RHODE ISLAND FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES ACT

     Introduced By: Senators Pichardo, Felag, and Lynch

     Date Introduced: March 06, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1-1

     SECTION 1. Sections 34-37-1, 34-37-2, 34-37-3, 34-37-4, 34-37-4.3, 34-37-5.2, 34-37-

1-2

5.3, 34-37-5.4 and 34-37-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-37 entitled "Rhode Island Fair

1-3

Housing Practices Act" are hereby amended to read as follows:

1-4

     34-37-1. Finding and declaration of policy. -- (a) In the State of Rhode Island and

1-5

Providence Plantations, hereinafter referred to as the state, many people are denied equal

1-6

opportunity in obtaining housing accommodations and are forced to live in circumscribed areas

1-7

because of discriminatory housing practices based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual

1-8

orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status as an honorably

1-9

discharged veteran or member of the Armed Forces, country of ancestral origin, disability, age,

1-10

familial status, or on the basis that a tenant or applicant, or a member of the household, is or has

1-11

been, or is threatened with being, the victim of domestic abuse, or that the tenant or applicant has

1-12

obtained, or sought, or is seeking, relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for

1-13

protection from domestic abuse. These practices tend unjustly to condemn large groups of

1-14

inhabitants to dwell in segregated districts or under depressed living conditions in crowded,

1-15

unsanitary, substandard, and unhealthful accommodations. These conditions breed intergroup

1-16

tension as well as vice, disease, juvenile delinquency, and crime; increase the fire hazard;

1-17

endanger the public health; jeopardize the public safety, general welfare and good order of the

1-18

entire state; and impose substantial burdens on the public revenues for the abatement and relief of

1-19

conditions so created. These discriminatory and segregative housing practices are inimical to and

1-20

subvert the basic principles upon which the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

2-1

was founded and upon which the state and the United States were later established.

2-2

Discrimination and segregation in housing tend to result in segregation in our public schools and

2-3

other public facilities, which is contrary to the policy of the state and the constitution of the

2-4

United States. Further, discrimination and segregation in housing adversely affect urban renewal

2-5

programs and the growth, progress, and prosperity of the state. In order to aid in the correction of

2-6

these evils, it is necessary to safeguard the right of all individuals to equal opportunity in

2-7

obtaining housing accommodations free of discrimination.

2-8

      (b) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the state to assure to all individuals regardless

2-9

of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status,

2-10

military status as an honorably discharged veteran or member of the Armed Forces, country of

2-11

ancestral origin, or disability, age, familial status, housing status, or those tenants or applicants, or

2-12

members of a household, who are, or have been, or are threatened with being, the victims of

2-13

domestic abuse, or those tenants or applicants who have obtained, or sought, or are seeking, relief

2-14

from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, equal

2-15

opportunity to live in decent, safe, sanitary, and healthful accommodations anywhere within the

2-16

state in order that the peace, health, safety, and general welfare of all the inhabitants of the state

2-17

may be protected and insured.

2-18

      (c) The practice of discrimination in rental housing based on the potential or actual

2-19

tenancy of a person with a minor child, or on the basis that a tenant or applicant, or a member of

2-20

the household, is or has been or is threatened with being, the victim of domestic abuse, or that the

2-21

tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking, relief from any court in the form of a

2-22

restraining order for protection from domestic abuse is declared to be against public policy.

2-23

      (d) This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the police power of the state for the

2-24

protection of the public welfare, prosperity, health, and peace of the people of the state.

2-25

      (e) Nothing in this section shall prevent a landlord from proceeding with eviction action

2-26

against a tenant who fails to comply with section 34-18-24(7).

2-27

     34-37-2. Right to equal housing opportunities -- Civil rights. -- The right of all

2-28

individuals in the state to equal housing opportunities and regardless of race, color, religion, sex,

2-29

sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status as an honorably

2-30

discharged veteran or member of the Armed Forces, country of ancestral origin, disability, age,

2-31

familial status, or regardless of the fact that a tenant or applicant, or a member of the household,

2-32

is or has been, or is threatened with being, the victim of domestic abuse, or that the tenant or

2-33

applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking, relief from any court in the form of a restraining

2-34

order for protection from domestic abuse, is hereby recognized as, and declared to be, a civil

3-1

right. Nothing in this section shall prevent a landlord from proceeding with eviction action

3-2

against a tenant who fails to comply with section 34-18-24(7).

3-3

     34-37-3. Definitions. -- When used in this chapter:

3-4

      (1) "Age" means anyone over the age of eighteen (18).

3-5

     (2) “Armed forces” means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant

3-6

Marines, or Air Force of the United States and the Rhode Island National Guard.

3-7

     (2)(3) "Commission" means the Rhode Island commission for human rights created by

3-8

section 28-5-8.

3-9

      (3)(4) "Disability" means a disability as defined in section 42-87-1.

3-10

      Provided further that the term "disability" does not include current, illegal use of or

3-11

addiction to a controlled substance, as defined in 21 U.S.C. section 802.

3-12

      (4)(5) "Discriminate" includes segregate, separate, or otherwise differentiate between or

3-13

among individuals because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or

3-14

expression, marital status, military status as an honorably discharged veteran or member of the

3-15

Armed Forces, country of ancestral origin, disability, age, housing status, or familial status or

3-16

because of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital

3-17

status, military status as an honorably discharged veteran or member of the Armed Forces,

3-18

country of ancestral origin, disability, age, housing status, or familial status of any person with

3-19

whom they are or may wish to be associated.

3-20

      (5)(6) The term "domestic abuse" for the purposes of this chapter shall have the same

3-21

meaning as that set forth in section 15-15-1, and include all forms of domestic violence as set

3-22

forth in section 12-29-2, except that the domestic abuse need not involve a minor or parties with

3-23

minor children.

3-24

      (6)(7) (i) "Familial status" means one or more individuals who have not attained the age

3-25

of eighteen (18) years being domiciled with:

3-26

      (A) A parent or another person having legal custody of the individual or individuals; or

3-27

      (B) The designee of the parent or other person having the custody, with the written

3-28

permission of the parent or other person provided that if the individual is not a relative or legal

3-29

dependent of the designee, that the individual shall have been domiciled with the designee for at

3-30

least six (6) months.

3-31

      (ii) The protections afforded against discrimination on the basis of familial status shall

3-32

apply to any person who is pregnant or is in the process of securing legal custody of any

3-33

individual who has not attained the age of eighteen (18) years.

4-34

      (7)(8) The terms, as used regarding persons with disabilities, "auxiliary aids and

4-35

services," "reasonable accommodation," and "reasonable modifications" have the same meaning

4-36

as those terms are defined in section 42-87-1.1.

4-37

      (8)(9) The term "gender identity or expression" includes a person's actual or perceived

4-38

gender, as well as a person's gender identity, gender-related self image, gender-related

4-39

appearance, or gender-related expression; whether or not that gender identity, gender-related self

4-40

image, gender-related appearance, or gender-related expression is different from that traditionally

4-41

associated with the person's sex at birth.

4-42

      (9)(10) "Housing accommodation" includes any building or structure or portion of any

4-43

building or structure, or any parcel of land, developed or undeveloped, which is occupied or is

4-44

intended, designed, or arranged to be occupied, or to be developed for occupancy, as the home or

4-45

residence of one or more persons.

4-46

      (10)(11) "Otherwise qualified" includes any person with a disability who with respect to

4-47

the rental of property, personally or with assistance arranged by the person with a disability, is

4-48

capable of performing all the responsibilities of a tenant as contained in section 34-18-24.

4-49

      (11)(12) "Owner" includes any person having the right to sell, rent, lease, or manage a

4-50

housing accommodation.

4-51

      (12)(13) "Person" includes one or more individuals, partnerships, associations,

4-52

organizations, corporations, labor organizations, mutual companies, joint stock companies, trusts,

4-53

receivers, legal representatives, trustees, other fiduciaries, or real estate brokers or real estate

4-54

salespersons as defined in chapter 20.5 of title 5.

4-55

      (13)(14) "Senior citizen" means a person sixty-two (62) years of age or older.

4-56

      (14)(15) The term "sexual orientation" means having or being perceived as having an

4-57

orientation for heterosexuality, bisexuality, or homosexuality. This definition is intended to

4-58

describe the status of persons and does not render lawful any conduct prohibited by the criminal

4-59

laws of this state nor impose any duty on a religious organization. This definition does not confer

4-60

legislative approval of said status, but is intended to assure the basic human rights of persons to

4-61

hold and convey property and to give and obtain credit, regardless of such status.

4-62

      (15)(16) The term "victim" means a family or household member and all other persons

4-63

contained within the definition of those terms as defined in section 12-29-2.

4-64

      (16)(17) The term "housing status" means the status of having or not having a fixed or

4-65

regular residence, including the status of living on the streets or in a homeless shelter or similar

4-66

temporary residence.

4-67

     34-37-4. Unlawful housing practices. -- (a) No owner having the right to sell, rent,

4-68

lease, or manage a housing accommodation as defined in section 34-37-3(11), or an agent of any

5-1

of these shall, directly or indirectly, make or cause to be made any written or oral inquiry

5-2

concerning the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital

5-3

status, military status as an honorably discharged veteran or member of the Armed Forces,

5-4

country of ancestral origin or disability, age, familial status nor make any written or oral inquiry

5-5

concerning whether a tenant or applicant, or a member of the household, is or has been, or is

5-6

threatened with being, the victim of domestic abuse, or whether a tenant or applicant has

5-7

obtained, or sought, or is seeking, relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for

5-8

protection from domestic abuse, of any prospective purchaser, occupant, or tenant of the housing

5-9

accommodation; or shall, directly or indirectly, refuse to sell, rent, lease, let, or otherwise deny to

5-10

or withhold from any individual the housing accommodation because of the race, color, religion,

5-11

sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status as an

5-12

honorably discharged veteran or member of the Armed Forces, country of ancestral origin,

5-13

disability, age, or familial status of the individual or the race, color, religion, sex, sexual

5-14

orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status as an honorably

5-15

discharged veteran or member of the Armed Forces, country of ancestral origin or disability, age,

5-16

or familial status of any person with whom the individual is or may wish to be associated; or

5-17

shall, or on the basis that a tenant or applicant, or a member of the household, is or has been, or is

5-18

threatened with being, the victim of domestic abuse, or that the tenant or applicant has obtained,

5-19

or sought, or is seeking, relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection

5-20

from domestic abuse. Nor shall an owner having the right to sell, rent, lease, or manage a housing

5-21

accommodation as defined in section 34-37-3(11), or an agent of any of these, directly or

5-22

indirectly, issue any advertisement relating to the sale, rental, or lease of the housing

5-23

accommodation which indicates any preference, limitation, specification, or discrimination based

5-24

upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status,

5-25

military status as an honorably discharged veteran or member of the Armed Forces, country of

5-26

ancestral origin, disability, age, familial status, or on the basis that a tenant or applicant, or a

5-27

member of the household, is or has been, or is threatened with being, the victim of domestic

5-28

abuse, or that the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking, relief from any court

5-29

in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, or shall, directly or

5-30

indirectly, discriminate against any individual because of his or her race, color, religion, sex,

5-31

sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status as an honorably

5-32

discharged veteran or member of the Armed Forces, country of ancestral origin, disability, age,

5-33

familial status, or on the basis that a tenant or applicant, or a member of the household, is or has

5-34

been, or is threatened with being, the victim of domestic abuse, or that the tenant or applicant has

6-1

obtained, or sought, or is seeking, relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for

6-2

protection from domestic abuse, in the terms, conditions, or privileges of the sale, rental, or lease

6-3

of any housing accommodation or in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection with it.

6-4

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit any oral or written inquiry as to whether

6-5

the prospective purchaser or tenant is over the age of eighteen (18).

6-6

      (b) No person to whom application is made for a loan or other form of financial

6-7

assistance for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair, or maintenance of any housing

6-8

accommodation, whether secured or unsecured shall directly or indirectly make or cause to be

6-9

made any written or oral inquiry concerning the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation,

6-10

gender identity or expression, marital status, military status as an honorably discharged veteran or

6-11

member of the Armed Forces, country of ancestral origin, disability, age, familial status, or any

6-12

express written or oral inquiry into whether a tenant or applicant, or a member of the household,

6-13

is or has been, or is threatened with being, the victim of domestic abuse, or whether a tenant or

6-14

applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking, relief from any court in the form of a restraining

6-15

order for protection from domestic abuse, of any individual seeking the financial assistance, or of

6-16

existing or prospective occupants or tenants of the housing accommodation; nor shall any person

6-17

to whom the application is made in the manner provided, directly or indirectly, discriminate in the

6-18

terms, conditions, or privileges relating to the obtaining or use of any financial assistance against

6-19

any applicant because of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or

6-20

expression, marital status, military status as an honorably discharged veteran or member of the

6-21

Armed Forces, country of ancestral origin, disability, age, familial status, or on the basis that a

6-22

tenant or applicant, or a member of the household, is or has been, or is threatened with being, the

6-23

victim of domestic abuse, or that the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking,

6-24

relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, of the

6-25

applicant or of the existing or prospective occupants or tenants. Nothing in this subsection shall

6-26

be construed to prohibit any written or oral inquiry as to whether the applicant is over the age of

6-27

eighteen (18).

6-28

      (c) Nothing in this section contained shall be construed in any manner to prohibit or limit

6-29

the exercise of the privilege of every person and the agent of any person having the right to sell,

6-30

rent, lease, or manage a housing accommodation to establish standards and preferences and set

6-31

terms, conditions, limitations, or specifications in the selling, renting, leasing, or letting thereof or

6-32

in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection therewith which do not discriminate on the

6-33

basis of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital

6-34

status, military status as an honorably discharged veteran or member of the Armed Forces,

7-1

country of ancestral origin, disability, age, familial status, or on the basis that a tenant or

7-2

applicant, or a member of the household, is or has been, or is threatened with being, the victim of

7-3

domestic abuse, or that the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking, relief from

7-4

any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, of any

7-5

prospective purchaser, lessee, tenant, or occupant thereof or on the race, color, religion, sex,

7-6

sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status as an honorably

7-7

discharged veteran or member of the Armed Forces, country of ancestral origin, disability, age, or

7-8

familial status of any person with whom the prospective purchaser, lessee, tenant, or occupant is

7-9

or may wish to be associated. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed in any manner

7-10

to prohibit or limit the exercise of the privilege of every person and the agent of any person

7-11

making loans for or offering financial assistance in the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation,

7-12

repair, or maintenance of housing accommodations to set standards and preferences, terms,

7-13

conditions, limitations, or specifications for the granting of loans or financial assistance which do

7-14

not discriminate on the basis of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or

7-15

expression, marital status, military status as an honorably discharged veteran or member of the

7-16

Armed Forces, country of ancestral origin, disability, age, familial status, or on the basis that a

7-17

tenant or applicant, or a member of the household, is or has been, or is threatened with being, the

7-18

victim of domestic abuse, or that the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking,

7-19

relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, of the

7-20

applicant for the loan or financial assistance or of any existing or prospective owner, lessee,

7-21

tenant, or occupant of the housing accommodation.

7-22

      (d) An owner may not refuse to allow a person with a disability to make, at his or her

7-23

expense, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied or to be occupied by the person

7-24

if the modifications may be necessary to afford the person full enjoyment of the premises, except

7-25

that, in the case of a rental, the owner may where it is reasonable to do so condition permission

7-26

for a modification on the renter agreeing to restore the interior of the premises to the condition

7-27

that existed before the modification, reasonable wear and tear excepted. Where it is necessary in

7-28

order to ensure with reasonable certainty that funds will be available to pay for the restorations at

7-29

the end of the tenancy, the landlord may negotiate as part of the restoration agreement a provision

7-30

requiring that the tenant pay into an interest bearing escrow account, over a reasonable period, a

7-31

reasonable amount of money not to exceed the cost of the restorations. The interest in the account

7-32

shall accrue to the benefit of the tenant. The restoration deposition shall be exempt from section

7-33

34-18-19(a) but will be subject to section 34-18-19(b) -- (f).

8-34

      (e) (1) An owner may not refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies,

8-35

practices, or services, when those accommodations may be necessary to afford an occupant with a

8-36

disability equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling.

8-37

      (2) Every person with a disability who has a guide dog or other personal assistive

8-38

animal, or who obtains a guide dog or other personal assistive animal, shall be entitled to full and

8-39

equal access to all housing accommodations provided for in this section, and shall not be required

8-40

to pay extra compensation for the guide dog or other personal assistive animal, but shall be liable

8-41

for any damage done to the premises by a guide dog or other personal assistive animal. For the

8-42

purposes of this subsection a "personal assistive animal" is an animal specifically trained by a

8-43

certified animal training program to assist a person with a disability to perform independent living

8-44

tasks.

8-45

      (f) Any housing accommodation of four (4) units or more constructed for first occupancy

8-46

after March 13, 1991 shall be designed and constructed in such a manner that:

8-47

      (1) The public use and common use portions of the dwellings are readily accessible to

8-48

and usable by persons with disabilities;

8-49

      (2) All the doors designed to allow passage into and within all premises within the

8-50

dwellings are sufficiently wide to allow passage by persons with disabilities in wheelchairs;

8-51

      (3) All premises within the dwellings contain the following features of adaptive design:

8-52

      (i) Accessible route into and through the dwelling;

8-53

      (ii) Light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats, and other environmental controls in

8-54

accessible locations;

8-55

      (iii) Reinforcements in bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars; and

8-56

      (iv) Usable kitchens and bathrooms such that an individual in a wheelchair can maneuver

8-57

about the space. To the extent that any state or local building codes, statutes or ordinances are

8-58

inconsistent with this section, they are hereby repealed. The state building code standards

8-59

committee is hereby directed to adopt rules and regulations consistent with this section as soon as

8-60

possible, but no later than September 30, 1990.

8-61

      (g) Compliance with the appropriate requirements of the State Building Code 14

8-62

"accessibility for individuals with disabilities for residential use groups" suffices to satisfy the

8-63

requirements of subsection (f).

8-64

      (h) As used in subsection (f), the term "housing accommodation of four (4) units or

8-65

more" means:

8-66

      (1) Buildings consisting of four (4) or more units if those buildings have one or more

8-67

elevators; and

9-68

      (2) Ground floor units in other buildings consisting of four (4) or more units;

9-69

      (i) Nothing in subsection (f) shall be construed to limit any law, statute, or regulation

9-70

which requires a greater degree of accessibility to persons with disabilities.

9-71

      (j) Nothing in this section requires that a dwelling be made available to an individual

9-72

whose tenancy would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals or

9-73

whose tenancy would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others.

9-74

      (k) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit an owner, lessee,

9-75

sublessee, or assignee from advertising or selecting a person of the same or opposite gender to

9-76

rent, lease, or share the housing unit which the owner, lessee, sublessee, or assignee will occupy

9-77

with the person selected.

9-78

      (l) No person shall aid, abet, incite, compel, or coerce the doing of any act declared by

9-79

this section to be an unlawful housing practice, or obstruct or prevent any person from complying

9-80

with the provisions of this chapter or any order issued thereunder, or attempt directly or indirectly

9-81

to commit any act declared by this section to be an unlawful housing practice.

9-82

      (m) No owner, person defined in section 34-37-3(12), person to whom application is

9-83

made for a loan or other form of financial assistance for the acquisition, construction,

9-84

rehabilitation, repair, or maintenance of any housing accommodation, whether secured or

9-85

unsecured, no financial organization governed by the provisions of title 19 or any other credit

9-86

granting commercial institution, or respondent under this chapter or any agent of these shall

9-87

discriminate in any manner against any individual because he or she has opposed any practice

9-88

forbidden by this chapter, or because he or she has made a charge, testified, or assisted in any

9-89

manner in any investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this chapter.

9-90

      (n) Nothing in this section shall prevent a landlord from proceeding with eviction action

9-91

against a tenant who fails to comply with section 34-18-24(7)(n).

9-92

     34-37-4.3. Discrimination in granting credit or loans prohibited. -- No financial

9-93

organization governed by the provisions of title 19 or any other credit granting commercial

9-94

institution may discriminate in the granting or extension of any form of loan or credit, or the

9-95

privilege or capacity to obtain any form of loan or credit, on the basis of the applicant's sex,

9-96

marital status, military status as an honorably discharged veteran or member of the Armed Forces,

9-97

race or color, religion or country of ancestral origin, disability or age or familial status, sexual

9-98

orientation, or gender identity or expression, and the form of loan and credit shall not be limited

9-99

to those concerned with housing accommodations, and the commission shall prevent any

9-100

violation hereof in the same manner as it is to prevent unlawful housing practices under the

9-101

provisions of this chapter.

10-102

     34-37-5.2. Discrimination in brokerage services. -- It shall be unlawful to deny any

10-103

person who meets licensing and other non-discriminatory requirements which are also applied to

10-104

other applicants and members access to or membership or participation in any real estate listing

10-105

service, real estate brokers' organization, or other service, organization, or facility relating to the

10-106

business of selling, leasing, or renting a housing accommodation, or to discriminate against him

10-107

or her in the terms or conditions of the access, membership, or participation, on account of race,

10-108

color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military

10-109

status as an honorably discharged veteran or member of the Armed Forces, country of ancestral

10-110

origin, disability, age, or familial status.

10-111

     34-37-5.3. Fostering of segregated housing prohibited. -- It shall be an unlawful

10-112

discriminatory housing practice to for profit induce or attempt to induce any person to sell or rent

10-113

any dwelling by representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of

10-114

a person or persons of a particular race, color, religion, marital status, military status as an

10-115

honorably discharged veteran or member of the Armed Forces, country of ancestral origin, sex,

10-116

sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or familial status.

10-117

     34-37-5.4. Discrimination in residential real estate related transactions. -- (a) It shall

10-118

be unlawful for any person or other entity whose business includes engaging in residential real

10-119

estate related transactions to discriminate against any person in making available a transaction, or

10-120

in the terms and conditions of the transaction, because of race, color, religion, marital status,

10-121

military status as an honorably discharged veteran or member of the Armed Forces, country of

10-122

ancestral origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or familial

10-123

status.

10-124

      (b) As used in this section, the term "residential real estate related transaction" means

10-125

any of the following:

10-126

      (1) The making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial assistance:

10-127

      (i) For purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a dwelling; or

10-128

      (ii) Secured by residential real estate.

10-129

      (2) The selling, brokering, or appraising of residential real property.

10-130

      (c) Nothing in this chapter prohibits a person engaged in the business of furnishing

10-131

appraisals of real property to take into consideration factors other than race, color, religion,

10-132

marital status, military status as an honorably discharged veteran or member of the Armed Forces,

10-133

country of ancestral origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability,

10-134

or familial status.

10-135

     34-37-9. Construction. -- The provisions of this chapter shall be construed liberally for

10-136

the accomplishment of the purposes intended and any provisions of any law inconsistent with any

11-1

provisions hereof shall not apply. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to repeal

11-2

any of the provisions of any law of the state prohibiting discrimination based on race or color,

11-3

religion, sex, marital status, military status as an honorably discharged veteran or member of the

11-4

Armed Forces, country of ancestral origin, disability, age, or familial status. Nothing contained in

11-5

this chapter shall restrict the original jurisdiction of the courts to proceed with evictions as

11-6

provided in chapter 18 of this title.

11-7

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

=======

LC01964

========

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO PROPERTY -- THE RHODE ISLAND FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES ACT

***

12-1

     This act would add military status discrimination as an unlawful housing practice for an

12-2

honorably discharged veteran or a member of the Armed Forces of the United States and the

12-3

Rhode Island National Guard.

12-4

     This act would take effect upon passage.

=======

LC01964

=======