Assembly Bill A11081

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   11081
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              October 7, 2020
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Epstein) --
   read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to directing the division
   of human rights to promulgate a statement regarding housing  discrimi-
   nation that shall be appended to any form of housing assistance

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section  295-a
 to read as follows:
   §  295-A. ADDITIONAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE DIVISION. 1. IN ADDITION
 TO THE POWERS AND DUTIES OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY THIS ARTICLE,  THE  DIVI-
 SION  SHALL  CREATE AND PROMULGATE A STATEMENT THAT SHALL BE APPENDED TO
 ANY FORM OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE ADMINISTERED BY ANY  STATE  OR  MUNICIPAL
 AGENCY  INCLUDING,  BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE SECTION EIGHT HOUSING CHOICE
 VOUCHER PROGRAM, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF HOUSING  ASSISTANCE,  PAYMENT,  OR
 CREDIT  REGARDLESS  OF WHETHER OR NOT SUCH ASSISTANCE, PAYMENT OR CREDIT
 IS PAID OR ATTRIBUTED DIRECTLY TO A LANDLORD. SUCH STATEMENT SHALL, AT A
 MINIMUM, INCLUDE:
   (A) EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF LAWFUL SOURCE OF INCOME;
   (B) EXAMPLES OF PHRASES THAT  MAY  INDICATE  DISCRIMINATION  BASED  ON
 LAWFUL  SOURCE  OF INCOME IN VIOLATION OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED NINETY-SIX
 OF THIS ARTICLE;
   (C) A STATEMENT THAT IT IS ILLEGAL FOR THE OWNER OR ANY  OTHER  PERSON
 HAVING  THE  RIGHT TO SELL, RENT OR LEASE A HOUSING ACCOMMODATION, OTHER
 THAN AN ACCOMMODATION IN AN OWNER-OCCUPIED  BUILDING  OF  TWO  UNITS  OR
 FEWER, CONSTRUCTED OR TO BE CONSTRUCTED, OR ANY AGENT OR EMPLOYEE THERE-
 OF,  OR  ANY REAL ESTATE BROKER, REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON, OR EMPLOYEE OR
 AGENT THEREOF TO DO THE FOLLOWING:
   (I) REFUSE TO SELL, RENT, OR LEASE, OR OTHERWISE TO DENY TO  OR  WITH-
 HOLD  FROM  A PERSON A HOUSING ACCOMMODATION BECAUSE OF THEIR RECEIPT OR
 USE OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE, OR REPRESENT THAT SUCH HOUSING  ACCOMMODATION
 IS  NOT AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION, SALE, RENTAL, OR LEASE WHEN IN FACT IT
 IS SO AVAILABLE;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD13308-12-0

 A. 11081                            2
 
   (II) REQUIRE DIFFERENT TERMS  OR  CONDITIONS  OR  FAIL  OR  REFUSE  TO
 PROVIDE  FACILITIES  OR SERVICES BECAUSE OF A PERSON'S RECEIPT OR USE OF
 HOUSING ASSISTANCE;
   (III)  CAUSE TO BE MADE ANY WRITTEN OR ORAL INQUIRY OR RECORD CONCERN-
 ING THE RECEIPT OR USE OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE OF A PERSON SEEKING TO RENT
 OR LEASE ANY HOUSING ACCOMMODATION; OR
   (IV) PRINT OR CIRCULATE  ANY  TYPE  OF  STATEMENT,  ADVERTISEMENT,  OR
 PUBLICATION,  USE  ANY  APPLICATION  FORM, OR MAKE ANY RECORD OR INQUIRY
 RELATING TO THE PROSPECTIVE PURCHASE, RENTAL,  OR  LEASE  OF  A  HOUSING
 ACCOMMODATION  WHICH  INDIRECTLY  OR  DIRECTLY EXPRESSES ANY LIMITATION,
 SPECIFICATION, OR DISCRIMINATION RELATING TO A PERSON'S USE  OR  RECEIPT
 OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE;
   (D)  A  STATEMENT  THAT IT IS ILLEGAL FOR LANDLORDS TO REFUSE OR DELAY
 MAKING REPAIRS TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S UNIT BECAUSE SUCH INDIVIDUAL PAYS RENT
 WITH HOUSING ASSISTANCE;
   (E) A STATEMENT THAT AN INDIVIDUAL HAS  THE  RIGHT  TO  BE  FREE  FROM
 DISCRIMINATORY,  HARASSING  OR THREATENING BEHAVIOR OR COMMENTS BASED ON
 SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S RECEIPT OF OR APPLICATION FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE;
   (F) CONTACT INFORMATION, INCLUDING PHONE NUMBERS, FOR THE  APPROPRIATE
 AGENCIES  AND  DEPARTMENTS  AT  WHICH TO MAKE A COMPLAINT IF THE VOUCHER
 RECIPIENT FEELS THAT HE OR SHE IS A VICTIM OF SOURCE OF INCOME DISCRIMI-
 NATION;
   (G) CONTACT INFORMATION, INCLUDING PHONE NUMBERS, FOR NONPROFIT ORGAN-
 IZATIONS DEDICATED TO ELIMINATING HOUSING DISCRIMINATION;
   (H) A STATEMENT THAT AN INDIVIDUAL HAS THE RIGHT TO FILE A LAWSUIT  IN
 A COURT OF LAW; AND
   (I) ANY OTHER INFORMATION DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE COMMISSIONER.
   2.  NOTHING  IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO AFFECT OR LIMIT THE
 DUTIES OR RESPONSIBILITIES  OF  ANY  PARTY  TO  FULLY  COMPLY  WITH  THE
 PROVISIONS OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED NINETY-SIX OF THIS ARTICLE.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.    Effective  immediately,  the  addition,  amendment
 and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
 of  this  act  on  its  effective  date  are  authorized  to be made and
 completed on or before such effective date.