2021 -- S 0413 SUBSTITUTE A | |
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LC002155/SUB A | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021 | |
____________ | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- REAL ESTATE BROKERS AND | |
SALESPERSONS | |
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Introduced By: Senators Quezada, Calkin, Murray, Lawson, and Bell | |
Date Introduced: February 25, 2021 | |
Referred To: Senate Judiciary | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Sections 5-20.5-4, 5-20.5-6 and 5-20.5-14 of the General Laws in Chapter 5- |
2 | 20.5 entitled "Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons" are hereby amended to read as follows: |
3 | 5-20.5-4. Examination of applicants -- Examination fee -- Licensing without |
4 | examination. |
5 | (a) The director shall require any applicant for a real estate broker's or salesperson's license |
6 | to submit to and pass a written examination to show the applicant's knowledge of the state statutes |
7 | and the rules and regulations relating to real property, deeds, mortgages, leases, contracts, and |
8 | agency real estate relationships, and federal and state fair housing laws pertaining to fair housing |
9 | and the treatment of any individual in a protected class as designated in chapter 37 of title 34. An |
10 | applicant shall not be required to take the uniform portion of the Rhode Island real estate licensing |
11 | examination if the applicant provides sufficient evidence that the applicant possesses an existing |
12 | valid real estate license from a state that has similar statutes or regulations in effect which provide |
13 | for reciprocal waiver of the uniform portion of the real estate licensing examination for persons |
14 | holding an existing valid Rhode Island real estate broker's or salesperson's license. An applicant for |
15 | a real estate broker's or salesperson's license, prior to the taking of the examination, must pay an |
16 | examination fee, the cost of which is limited to the charge as designated by the appropriate testing |
17 | service's contract with the department of business regulation. |
18 | (b) An applicant for a real estate salesperson's license must submit satisfactory evidence of |
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1 | completion of a minimum of forty-five (45) classroom hours in a real estate course given by a |
2 | school as defined in § 5-20.5-19. The applicant for a broker's license must also submit satisfactory |
3 | proof that he or she: (i) Has been engaged full time as a real estate salesperson for at least two (2) |
4 | years immediately prior to the date of application; and (ii) Has successfully completed at least |
5 | ninety (90) hours of approved classroom study in a school as defined in § 5-20.5-19, or equivalent |
6 | in a correspondence course offered by an extension department of an accredited college or |
7 | university. The director, in his or her sole discretion, may require any additional evidence or proof |
8 | as to the honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, good reputation, and competency of any applicant. |
9 | (c) Any successful applicant who fails to remit the original license fee as provided in § 5- |
10 | 20.5-11 within one year of the date of that examination may be required by the director to re-submit |
11 | to and pass a written examination as provided in subsection (a) of this section. |
12 | (d) When an attorney-at-law licensed by the supreme court of the state desires to have a |
13 | real estate broker's license or a real estate salesperson's license, the attorney, by application, and |
14 | upon payment of the applicable fee as provided in § 5-20.5-11, shall be granted a license without |
15 | examination. |
16 | (e) A certificate of licensure shall be issued by the real estate division of the department of |
17 | business regulation within thirty (30) days after it is requested at a cost of not more than twenty- |
18 | five dollars ($25.00) for each certificate issued. |
19 | 5-20.5-6. Duration of licenses -- Rules and regulations -- Suspension or revocation of |
20 | licenses Duration and renewal of licenses -- Continuing education-rules and regulations -- |
21 | Suspension or revocation of licenses. |
22 | (a) If the director is satisfied that the applicant is competent and trustworthy and is |
23 | reasonably familiar with the statutes and law relating to real estate, he or she shall issue to the |
24 | applicant a license to act as a real estate broker or a real estate salesperson. The director shall |
25 | promulgate rules and regulations mandating the term of license for each category of license issued |
26 | pursuant to this chapter. No license shall remain in force for a period in excess of three (3) years. |
27 | Any fee for the initial issuance of a license or for renewal of a license issued pursuant to this chapter |
28 | is determined by multiplying the current annual fee by the term of years of the license or renewal. |
29 | The fee for the total number of years of the initial license or of the renewal shall be paid in full |
30 | prior to the issuance of the respective license. The license shall be renewed upon payment of the |
31 | renewal fee and proof of completion of any continuing education requirements as set forth in the |
32 | rules and regulations issued by the department of business regulation. Any license issued or |
33 | renewed may be suspended or revoked by the director, for cause, prior to the expiration date. The |
34 | director shall issue reasonable rules and regulations with the consent of the majority of the Rhode |
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1 | Island real estate commission governing the conduct of licensed real estate brokers and |
2 | salespersons. These rules and regulations shall be designed to implement the laws and policies of |
3 | this state and to protect the interests of the public. |
4 | (b) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, all applicants for a renewal license |
5 | for real estate brokers or real estate salespersons, shall submit proof to the director that they have |
6 | completed during the preceding two (2) year period, a minimum of twenty-four (24) classroom |
7 | hours of real estate oriented educational sessions or courses of instruction that have been previously |
8 | approved by the director. A minimum of three (3) of such classroom hours shall be comprised of |
9 | instruction about federal, Rhode Island, or local laws pertaining to fair housing and the treatment |
10 | of any individual in a protected class as designated in chapter 37 of title 34. |
11 | (c) The license shall be renewed upon payment of the renewal fee and proof of completion |
12 | of continuing education requirements as set forth in the rules and regulations issued by the |
13 | department of business regulation. Any license issued or renewed may be suspended or revoked by |
14 | the director, for cause, prior to the expiration date. The director shall issue reasonable rules and |
15 | regulations with the consent of the majority of the Rhode Island real estate commission governing |
16 | the conduct of licensed real estate brokers and salespersons. These rules and regulations shall be |
17 | designed to implement the laws and policies of this state and to protect the interests of the public. |
18 | (b)(d) Any rules or regulations promulgated with regard to the requirement of continuing |
19 | education for the renewal of any real estate broker's or salesperson's license whose application for |
20 | an initial broker's or salesperson's license is approved within one hundred eighty (180) days of the |
21 | expiration date of his or her initial license is not subject to the continuing education requirement at |
22 | the time of his or her first renewal. An attorney at law licensed by the supreme court of the state |
23 | and granted a license pursuant to § 5-20.5-4(d) is not subject to the continuing education |
24 | requirements. The director, after a due and proper hearing, may suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew |
25 | any license upon proof that it was obtained by fraud or misrepresentation or that the holder of the |
26 | license has been guilty of fraud or misrepresentation or criminal acts in the performance of his or |
27 | her functions, or upon proof that the holder of the license has violated this statute or any rule or |
28 | regulation issued pursuant to this statute. |
29 | (c)(e) The director shall, for licenses issued or renewed after July 1, 2004, require proof of |
30 | reasonable familiarity with and knowledge of duties and responsibilities established by the lead |
31 | poisoning prevention act, chapter 24.6 of title 23, and the lead hazard mitigation act, chapter 128.1 |
32 | of title 42. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the requirements of this |
33 | subsection shall apply to first renewals when licenses were initially issued before July 1, 2004. This |
34 | subsection shall be put into force and effect by the director in the manner set forth in chapter 128.1 |
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1 | of title 42 and with the advice of the Rhode Island real estate commission. |
2 | 5-20.5-14. Revocation, suspension of license -- Probationary period -- Penalties. |
3 | (a) The director may, upon his or her own motion, and shall, upon the receipt of the written |
4 | verified complaint of any person initiating a cause under this section, ascertain the facts and, if |
5 | warranted, hold a hearing for the suspension or revocation of a license. The director has power to |
6 | refuse a license for cause or to suspend or revoke a license or place a licensee on probation for a |
7 | period not to exceed one year where it has been obtained by false representation, or by fraudulent |
8 | act or conduct, or where a licensee, in performing or attempting to perform any of the acts |
9 | mentioned in this chapter, is found to have committed any of the following acts or practices: |
10 | (1) Making any substantial misrepresentation; |
11 | (2) Making any false promise of a character likely to influence, persuade, or induce any |
12 | person to enter into any contract or agreement when he or she could not or did not intend to keep |
13 | that promise; |
14 | (3) Pursuing a continued and flagrant course of misrepresentation or making of false |
15 | promises through salespersons, other persons, or any medium of advertising, or otherwise; |
16 | (4) Any misleading or untruthful advertising; |
17 | (5) Failing to deposit money or other customers' funds received by a broker or salesperson |
18 | into an escrow account maintained by the broker that complies with the requirements set forth in § |
19 | 5-20.5-26, upon execution of a purchase and sales agreement; |
20 | (6) Failing to preserve for three (3) years following its consummation records relating to |
21 | any real estate transaction as described in the regulations issued by the department; |
22 | (7) Acting for more than one party in a transaction without the knowledge and consent, in |
23 | writing, of all parties for whom he or she acts; |
24 | (8) Placing a "for sale" or "for rent" sign on any property without the written consent of the |
25 | owner, or his or her authorized agent; |
26 | (9) Failing to furnish a copy of any listing, sale, lease, or other contract relevant to a real |
27 | estate transaction to all signatories of the contract at the time of execution; |
28 | (10) Failing to specify a definite termination date that is not subject to prior notice, in any |
29 | listing contract; |
30 | (11) Inducing any party to a contract, sale, or lease to break that contract for the purpose |
31 | of substitution in lieu of that contract a new contract, where that substitution is motivated by the |
32 | personal gain of the licensee; |
33 | (12) Accepting a commission or any valuable consideration by a salesperson for the |
34 | performance of any acts specified in this chapter, from any person, except the licensed real estate |
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1 | broker with whom he or she is affiliated; |
2 | (13) Failing to disclose to an owner his or her intention or true position if he or she, directly |
3 | or indirectly through a third party, purchases for himself or herself or acquires or intends to acquire |
4 | any interest in or any option to purchase property that has been listed with his or her office to sell |
5 | or lease; |
6 | (14) Being convicted of any criminal felony in a court of competent jurisdiction of this or |
7 | any other state or federal court involving dishonesty, breach of trust, forgery, embezzlement, |
8 | obtaining money under false pretenses, bribery, larceny, extortion, conspiracy to defraud, fraud, |
9 | false dealing, or any similar offense(s) or by pleading guilty or nolo contendere to any such criminal |
10 | offense or offenses; |
11 | (15) Violating any rule or regulation promulgated by the department in the interest of the |
12 | public and consistent with the provisions of this chapter; |
13 | (16) In the case of a broker licensee, failing to exercise adequate supervision over the |
14 | activities of his or her licensed salesperson within the scope of this chapter; |
15 | (17) Failing or refusing to provide information requested by the commission or director as |
16 | the result of a formal or informal complaint to the director that would indicate a violation of this |
17 | chapter; |
18 | (18) Soliciting, selling, or offering for sale real property by offering free lots or conducting |
19 | lotteries or contests or offering prizes for the purpose of influencing a purchaser or prospective |
20 | purchaser of real property; |
21 | (19) Paying or accepting, giving, or charging any undisclosed commission, rebate, |
22 | compensation, or profit or expenditures for a principal or in violation of this chapter; |
23 | (20) Any conduct in a real estate transaction that demonstrates bad faith, dishonesty, |
24 | untrustworthiness, or incompetence; |
25 | (21) Failing to have all listing agreements in writing, properly identifying the property and |
26 | containing all of the terms and conditions of the sale, including the commission to be paid, the |
27 | signatures of all parties concerned, and a definite expiration date in that contract that shall not |
28 | require an owner to notify a broker of his or her intention to terminate. An exclusive agency listing |
29 | or exclusive right to sell listing shall be clearly indicated in the listing agreement; |
30 | (22) Accepting a listing based on "net price." In cases where the owner wishes to list in this |
31 | manner, the agreed-upon commission is added and listings made in the usual manner; |
32 | (23) Negotiating, or attempting to negotiate, the sale, exchange, or lease of any real |
33 | property directly with an owner or lessor knowing that the owner or lessor has an outstanding |
34 | exclusive listing contract with another licensee covering the same property, except when the real |
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1 | estate broker or salesperson is contacted by the client of another broker regarding a real estate |
2 | service, and the broker or salesperson has not directly or indirectly initiated those discussions, they |
3 | may discuss the terms under which they might enter into a future agency agreement; or they may |
4 | enter into an agency agreement that becomes effective upon termination of any existing exclusive |
5 | agreement; or they may enter into an agreement for other real estate service not covered by an |
6 | existing agency relationship; |
7 | (24) Accepting an exclusive right to sell or lease or an exclusive agency and subsequently |
8 | failing to make a diligent effort to sell or lease the listed property; |
9 | (25) Advising against the use of the services of an attorney in any real estate transaction; |
10 | (26) Representing to any lender or any other party in interest, either verbally or through the |
11 | preparation of a false sales contract, an amount other than the true and actual sales price; |
12 | (27) Submitting to an owner a written offer to purchase or lease unless that offer contains |
13 | the essential terms and conditions of the offer, including the manner in which the purchase price is |
14 | to be paid, and if that offer is contingent upon certain conditions, those conditions shall be clearly |
15 | stated in the offer, or unless the offer is conditioned upon the later execution of a complete |
16 | agreement for sale; |
17 | (28) Paying any sums of money being held in an escrow account to any person, or |
18 | converting the sums of money for his or her own use, in the event of a failed real estate transaction, |
19 | without having complied with the department's rules and regulations relative to the transfer of |
20 | disputed deposit funds to the office of the general treasurer; |
21 | (29) Advertising to sell, buy, exchange, rent, or lease the property of another in a manner |
22 | indicating that the offer to sell, buy, exchange, rent, or lease that property is being made by a private |
23 | party not engaged in the real estate business, or inserting advertisements in any publication |
24 | containing only a post office or other box number, telephone number, or street address. No |
25 | salesperson shall advertise the property of another under his or her own name; |
26 | (30) As a licensed salesperson, failing upon termination of his or her employment or |
27 | affiliation with a real estate broker and upon demand by the broker to immediately turn over to the |
28 | broker any and all information, records, or other materials obtained during his or her employment, |
29 | whether the information or records were originally given to him or her by the broker or copied from |
30 | the records of that broker or affiliation or acquired by the salesperson during his or her employment; |
31 | (31) Offering, promising, giving, or paying, directly or indirectly, any part or share of his |
32 | or her commission or compensation arising or accruing from any real estate transaction to any |
33 | person who is not licensed as a real estate broker, but who, by law, should be licensed, or who is |
34 | not a real estate salesperson employed by that licensee; |
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1 | (32) Soliciting Violating chapter 37 of title 34 in his or her capacity as a real estate licensee, |
2 | including, but not limited to, soliciting the sale, lease, or the listing for sale or lease, of residential |
3 | property on the ground of loss of value due to the present or prospective entry in the neighborhood |
4 | of a person or persons of another race, religion, or ethnic origin, nor shall he or she distribute, or |
5 | cause to be distributed, material or make statements designed to induce a residential property owner |
6 | to sell or lease his or her property due to these factors; |
7 | (33) Failure of the employing broker to notify the director, in writing, within ten (10) days |
8 | of the termination of a salesperson's employment or contractual relationship, or failure of a |
9 | salesperson to notify the director, in writing, within ten (10) days of any change in his or her broker |
10 | affiliation; |
11 | (34) Failure to report all written offers to the owner prior to the signing of a purchase and |
12 | sale agreement by the owner; |
13 | (35) Failure of agents to provide buyers and sellers of real property with disclosure |
14 | regarding real estate agency relationships as specified in chapter 20.6 of this title; |
15 | (36) Failure of an associate broker to inform the public of associate broker status by not |
16 | listing associate broker on business cards and correspondence or by informing the public that his |
17 | or her status in the real estate firm is that of broker; or |
18 | (37) Failure to pay sums of money being held in an escrow account, pursuant to § 5-20.5- |
19 | 26, within ten (10) days of receipt of a written release that has been signed by all parties to a failed |
20 | real estate transaction. |
21 | (b) The director is authorized to levy an administrative penalty not exceeding two thousand |
22 | dollars ($2,000) for any violation under this section or the rules and regulations of the department |
23 | of business regulation. |
24 | SECTION 2. Section 34-37-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-37 entitled "Rhode Island |
25 | Fair Housing Practices Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
26 | 34-37-4. Unlawful housing practices. |
27 | (a) No owner having the right to sell, rent, lease, or manage a housing accommodation as |
28 | defined in § 34-37-3(10), or an agent of any of these, shall, directly or indirectly, make, or cause to |
29 | be made, any written or oral inquiry concerning the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, |
30 | gender identity or expression, marital status, military status as a veteran with an honorable |
31 | discharge or an honorable or general administrative discharge, servicemember in the armed forces, |
32 | country of ancestral origin or disability, age, familial status nor make any written or oral inquiry |
33 | concerning whether a tenant or applicant or a member of the household is, or has been, or is |
34 | threatened with being the victim of domestic abuse, or whether a tenant or applicant has obtained, |
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1 | or sought, or is seeking relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from |
2 | domestic abuse, of any prospective purchaser, occupant, or tenant of the housing accommodation; |
3 | directly or indirectly, refuse to sell, rent, lease, let, or otherwise deny to or withhold from any |
4 | individual the housing accommodation because of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, |
5 | gender identity or expression, marital status, military status as a veteran with an honorable |
6 | discharge or an honorable or general administrative discharge, servicemember in the armed forces, |
7 | country of ancestral origin, disability, age, or familial status of the individual or the race, color, |
8 | religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status as a |
9 | veteran with an honorable discharge or an honorable or general administrative discharge, |
10 | servicemember in the armed forces, country of ancestral origin or disability, age, or familial status |
11 | of any person with whom the individual is or may wish to be associated; or shall, or on the basis |
12 | that a tenant or applicant, or a member of the household, is or has been, or is threatened with being, |
13 | the victim of domestic abuse, or that the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking, |
14 | relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse. Nor |
15 | shall an owner having the right to sell, rent, lease, or manage a housing accommodation as defined |
16 | in § 34-37-3(10), or an agent of any of these, directly or indirectly, issue any advertisement relating |
17 | to the sale, rental, or lease of the housing accommodation that indicates any preference, limitation, |
18 | specification, or discrimination based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender |
19 | identity or expression, marital status, military status as a veteran with an honorable discharge or an |
20 | honorable or general administrative discharge, servicemember in the armed forces, country of |
21 | ancestral origin, disability, age, familial status, or on the basis that a tenant or applicant or a member |
22 | of the household is, or has been, or is threatened with being the victim of domestic abuse, or that |
23 | the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking relief from any court in the form of a |
24 | restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, or shall, directly or indirectly, discriminate |
25 | against any individual because of his or her race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender |
26 | identity or expression, marital status, military status as a veteran with an honorable discharge or an |
27 | honorable or general administrative discharge, servicemember in the armed forces, country of |
28 | ancestral origin, disability, age, familial status, or on the basis that a tenant or applicant or a member |
29 | of the household is, or has been, or is threatened with being the victim of domestic abuse, or that |
30 | the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking relief from any court in the form of a |
31 | restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, in the terms, conditions, or privileges of the |
32 | sale, rental, or lease of any housing accommodation or in the furnishing of facilities or services in |
33 | connection with it. Nor shall an owner having the right to sell, rent, lease, or manage a housing |
34 | accommodation as defined in § 34-37-3(10), or an agent of any of these, directly or indirectly, |
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1 | misrepresent the availability of a housing accommodation or delay the processing of applications |
2 | relating to the sale, rental, or lease of the housing accommodation based upon an individual's race, |
3 | color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status |
4 | as a veteran with an honorable discharge or an honorable or general administrative discharge, |
5 | servicemember in the armed forces, country of ancestral origin, disability, age, familial status, or |
6 | on the basis that a tenant or applicant or a member of the household is, or has been, or is threatened |
7 | with being the victim of domestic abuse, or that the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or |
8 | is seeking relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic |
9 | abuse. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit any oral or written inquiry as to |
10 | whether the prospective purchaser or tenant is over the age of eighteen (18). |
11 | (b) No person to whom application is made for a loan or other form of financial assistance |
12 | for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair, or maintenance of any housing |
13 | accommodation, whether secured or unsecured shall directly or indirectly make or cause to be made |
14 | any written or oral inquiry concerning the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender |
15 | identity or expression, marital status, military status as a veteran with an honorable discharge or an |
16 | honorable or general administrative discharge, servicemember in the armed forces, country of |
17 | ancestral origin, disability, age, familial status, or any express written or oral inquiry into whether |
18 | a tenant or applicant or a member of the household is, or has been, or is threatened with being the |
19 | victim of domestic abuse, or whether a tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking |
20 | relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, of any |
21 | individual seeking the financial assistance, or of existing or prospective occupants or tenants of the |
22 | housing accommodation; nor shall any person to whom the application is made in the manner |
23 | provided, directly or indirectly, discriminate in the terms, conditions, or privileges relating to the |
24 | obtaining or use of any financial assistance against any applicant because of the race, color, religion, |
25 | sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status as a veteran |
26 | with an honorable discharge or an honorable or general administrative discharge, servicemember |
27 | in the armed forces, country of ancestral origin, disability, age, familial status, or on the basis that |
28 | a tenant or applicant or a member of the household is, or has been, or is threatened with being the |
29 | victim of domestic abuse, or that the tenant or applicant has obtained, or sought, or is seeking relief |
30 | from any court in the form of a restraining order for protection from domestic abuse, of the applicant |
31 | or of the existing or prospective occupants or tenants. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed |
32 | to prohibit any written or oral inquiry as to whether the applicant is over the age of eighteen (18). |
33 | (c) Nothing in this section contained shall be construed in any manner to prohibit or limit |
34 | the exercise of the privilege of every person and the agent of any person having the right to sell, |
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1 | rent, lease, or manage a housing accommodation to establish standards and preferences and set |
2 | terms, conditions, limitations, or specifications in the selling, renting, leasing, or letting thereof or |
3 | in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection therewith that do not discriminate on the |
4 | basis of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital |
5 | status, military status as a veteran with an honorable discharge or an honorable or general |
6 | administrative discharge, servicemember in the armed forces, country of ancestral origin, disability, |
7 | age, familial status, or on the basis that a tenant or applicant or a member of the household is, or |
8 | has been, or is threatened with being the victim of domestic abuse, or that the tenant or applicant |
9 | has obtained, or sought, or is seeking relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for |
10 | protection from domestic abuse, of any prospective purchaser, lessee, tenant, or occupant thereof |
11 | or on the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, |
12 | military status as a veteran with an honorable discharge or an honorable or general administrative |
13 | discharge, servicemember in the armed forces, country of ancestral origin, disability, age, or |
14 | familial status of any person with whom the prospective purchaser, lessee, tenant, or occupant is or |
15 | may wish to be associated. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed in any manner to |
16 | prohibit or limit the exercise of the privilege of every person and the agent of any person making |
17 | loans for, or offering financial assistance in, the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair, or |
18 | maintenance of housing accommodations to set standards and preferences, terms, conditions, |
19 | limitations, or specifications for the granting of loans or financial assistance that do not discriminate |
20 | on the basis of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, |
21 | marital status, military status as a veteran with an honorable discharge or an honorable or general |
22 | administrative discharge, servicemember in the armed forces, country of ancestral origin, disability, |
23 | age, familial status, or on the basis that a tenant or applicant or a member of the household is, or |
24 | has been, or is threatened with being the victim of domestic abuse, or that the tenant or applicant |
25 | has obtained, or sought, or is seeking relief from any court in the form of a restraining order for |
26 | protection from domestic abuse, of the applicant for the loan or financial assistance or of any |
27 | existing or prospective owner, lessee, tenant, or occupant of the housing accommodation. |
28 | (d) An owner may not refuse to allow a person with a disability to make, at his or her |
29 | expense, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied or to be occupied by the person if |
30 | the modifications may be necessary to afford the person full enjoyment of the premises, except that, |
31 | in the case of a rental, the owner may, where it is reasonable to do so, condition permission for a |
32 | modification on the renter agreeing to restore the interior of the premises to the condition that |
33 | existed before the modification, reasonable wear and tear excepted. Where it is necessary in order |
34 | to ensure with reasonable certainty that funds will be available to pay for the restorations at the end |
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1 | of the tenancy, the landlord may negotiate as part of the restoration agreement a provision requiring |
2 | that the tenant pay into an interest bearing escrow account, over a reasonable period, a reasonable |
3 | amount of money not to exceed the cost of the restorations. The interest in the account shall accrue |
4 | to the benefit of the tenant. The restoration deposition shall be exempt from § 34-18-19(a) but will |
5 | be subject to § 34-18-19(b) -- (f). |
6 | (e)(1) An owner may not refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, |
7 | practices, or services when those accommodations may be necessary to afford an occupant with a |
8 | disability equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling. |
9 | (2) Every person with a disability who has a guide dog or other personal assistive animal, |
10 | or who obtains a guide dog or other personal assistive animal, shall be entitled to full and equal |
11 | access to all housing accommodations provided for in this section and shall not be required to pay |
12 | extra compensation for the guide dog or other personal assistive animal but shall be liable for any |
13 | damage done to the premises by a guide dog or other personal assistive animal. For the purposes |
14 | of this subsection, a "personal assistive animal" is an animal specifically trained by a certified |
15 | animal training program to assist a person with a disability to perform independent living tasks. |
16 | (f) Any housing accommodation of four (4) units or more constructed for first occupancy |
17 | after March 13, 1991, shall be designed and constructed in such a manner that: |
18 | (1) The public use and common use portions of the dwellings are readily accessible to and |
19 | usable by persons with disabilities; |
20 | (2) All the doors designed to allow passage into and within all premises within the |
21 | dwellings are sufficiently wide to allow passage by persons with disabilities in wheelchairs; |
22 | (3) All premises within the dwellings contain the following features of adaptive design: |
23 | (i) Accessible route into and through the dwelling; |
24 | (ii) Light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats, and other environmental controls in |
25 | accessible locations; |
26 | (iii) Reinforcements in bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars; and |
27 | (iv) Usable kitchens and bathrooms such that an individual in a wheelchair can maneuver |
28 | about the space. To the extent that any state or local building codes, statutes, or ordinances are |
29 | inconsistent with this section, they are hereby repealed. The state building code standards |
30 | committee is hereby directed to adopt rules and regulations consistent with this section as soon as |
31 | possible, but no later than September 30, 1990. |
32 | (g) Compliance with the appropriate requirements of the state building code 14 |
33 | "accessibility for individuals with disabilities for residential use groups" suffices to satisfy the |
34 | requirements of subsection (f). |
| LC002155/SUB A - Page 11 of 12 |
1 | (h) As used in subsection (f), the term "housing accommodation of four (4) units or more" |
2 | means: |
3 | (1) Buildings consisting of four (4) or more units if those buildings have one or more |
4 | elevators; and |
5 | (2) Ground floor units in other buildings consisting of four (4) or more units; |
6 | (i) Nothing in subsection (f) shall be construed to limit any law, statute, or regulation that |
7 | requires a greater degree of accessibility to persons with disabilities. |
8 | (j) Nothing in this section requires that a dwelling be made available to an individual whose |
9 | tenancy would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals or whose tenancy |
10 | would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others. |
11 | (k) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit an owner, lessee, |
12 | sublessee, or assignee from advertising or selecting a person of the same or opposite gender to rent, |
13 | lease, or share the housing unit that the owner, lessee, sublessee, or assignee will occupy with the |
14 | person selected. |
15 | (l) No person shall aid, abet, incite, compel, or coerce the doing of any act declared by this |
16 | section to be an unlawful housing practice; or obstruct or prevent any person from complying with |
17 | the provisions of this chapter or any order issued thereunder; or attempt directly or indirectly to |
18 | commit any act declared by this section to be an unlawful housing practice. |
19 | (m) No owner; person defined in § 34-37-3(13); person to whom application is made for a |
20 | loan or other form of financial assistance for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair, or |
21 | maintenance of any housing accommodation, whether secured or unsecured; no financial |
22 | organization governed by the provisions of title 19 or any other credit-granting commercial |
23 | institution; or respondent under this chapter; or any agent of these shall discriminate in any manner |
24 | against any individual because he or she has opposed any practice forbidden by this chapter, or |
25 | because he or she has made a charge, testified, or assisted in any manner in any investigation, |
26 | proceeding, or hearing under this chapter. |
27 | (n) Nothing in this section shall prevent a landlord from proceeding with eviction action |
28 | against a tenant who fails to comply with § 34-18-24(7). |
29 | SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2022. |
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LC002155/SUB A | |
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| LC002155/SUB A - Page 12 of 12 |
EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- REAL ESTATE BROKERS AND | |
SALESPERSONS | |
*** | |
1 | This act would require all applicants for a real estate broker's or salesperson's license to |
2 | submit and pass a written examination to include topics on fair housing. This act would require all |
3 | real estate licensees to complete a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours of approved continuing |
4 | education courses during each twenty-four (24) month license renewal section. |
5 | This act would take effect on January 1, 2022. |
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LC002155/SUB A | |
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| LC002155/SUB A - Page 13 of 12 |