Bill Text: DE SB75 | 2021-2022 | 151st General Assembly | Draft
Bill Title: An Act To Amend Title 6 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Fair Housing.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-23 - Stricken in Senate [SB75 Detail]
Download: Delaware-2021-SB75-Draft.html
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SPONSOR: |
Sen. Lockman & Sen. Pinkney & Sen. Townsend & Rep. S. Moore |
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Sen. Sokola; Reps. Brady, Dorsey Walker, Kowalko, Lambert, Morrison, Wilson-Anton |
DELAWARE STATE SENATE
151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SENATE BILL NO. 75
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 6 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FAIR HOUSING.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend § 4607, Title 6 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 4607. Exemptions in certain situations.
(j) A landlord is not required to participate in any government-sponsored rental assistance program, voucher, or certificate system. A landlord’s nonparticipation in any government-sponsored rental assistance program, voucher, or certificate system may not serve as the basis for any administrative or judicial proceeding under this chapter. [Reserved.]
SYNOPSIS
This Act revises the Fair Housing Act to repeal the exception to discrimination based on source of income that allows a landlord to discriminate against tenants who participate in government-sponsored rental assistance programs. This exemption contributes to a lack of affordable housing in this State. There is currently a severe shortage of affordable housing for extremely low-income households in Delaware, with only 38 affordable rental units available for every 100 extremely low-income households. In addition, studies have shown that people who use government subsidies to move from high-poverty neighborhoods to communities with more opportunity have measurable health improvements and the children in these families earn more in adulthood than children who remain in high-poverty neighborhoods.
Nine states and the District of Columbia have fair housing laws that protect against discrimination based on source of income that covers recipients of government subsidies.
Author: Senator Lockman
