Bill Text: NJ S3238 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Prohibits discrimination against prospective tenant based on information in credit reports.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-25 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee [S3238 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-S3238-Introduced.html

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SENATE, No. 3238

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED MAY 25, 2017

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  BRIAN P. STACK

District 33 (Hudson)

Senator  SANDRA B. CUNNINGHAM

District 31 (Hudson)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Prohibits discrimination against prospective tenant based on information in credit report.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

 

An Act prohibiting financial discrimination against tenants and amending P.L.2002, c.82.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.  Section 6 of P.L.2002, c.82 (C.10:5-8.1) is amended to read as follows:

     6.  a.  The Attorney General shall prepare a statement notifying landlords that the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1et seq.), as amended by P.L.2002, c.82, prohibits discrimination against: (1) tenants based on the source of income being used for rental or mortgage payments, and (2) prospective tenants through the refusal of a landlord to rent a unit of housing because of negative information contained in a prospective tenant's credit report from a consumer reporting agency described in section 603(p) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Pub.L.91-508 (15 U.S.C.s.1681a(p)).  The notification shall advise landlords that notwithstanding a negative credit report, a prospective tenant shall be deemed financially able to make rent payments when the prospective tenant provides documentation to the landlord verifying that the prospective tenant's income is sufficient to enable them to afford the monthly rent charged by the landlord on the rental unit.

     In addition, the notification shall include instructions for those wishing to report such discrimination to the Division on Civil Rights.

     b.  Each agency or entity authorized to issue federal rental assistance vouchers to eligible tenants shall include a copy of the notification required pursuant to subsection a. of this section when issuing such a voucher.

(cf: P.L.2002, c.82, s.6)

 

     2.  This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires the Attorney General to include additional information in the notification to landlords, required in the "Law Against Discrimination" (LAD), that the LAD prohibits discrimination against tenants based on the source of income being used for rental or mortgage payments.

     This bill would require that notice to also advise landlords that the LAD prohibits them from refusing to rent a unit of housing to a prospective tenant because of negative information contained in the prospective tenant's credit report from a consumer reporting agency described in section 603(p) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Pub.L.91-508 (15 U.S.C.s.1681a(p)).

       The notification must advise landlords that notwithstanding a negative credit report, a prospective tenant shall be deemed financially able to make rent payments when the prospective tenant provides documentation to the landlord verifying that the prospective tenant's income is sufficient to enable them to afford the monthly rent charged by the landlord on the rental unit.