By Edwards H.B. No. 2224
77R6363 SGA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to a prohibition on discrimination against criminal
1-3 offenders in the sale or rental of a dwelling.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 301.021, Property Code, is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 301.021. SALE OR RENTAL. (a) A person may not refuse
1-8 to sell or rent, after the making of a bona fide offer, refuse to
1-9 negotiate for the sale or rental of, or in any other manner make
1-10 unavailable or deny a dwelling to another on the basis [because] of
1-11 race, color, religion, sex, familial status, [or] national origin,
1-12 or a state or federal criminal conviction.
1-13 (b) A person may not discriminate against another in the
1-14 terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling or
1-15 in providing services or facilities in connection with a sale or
1-16 rental of a dwelling on the basis [because] of race, color,
1-17 religion, sex, familial status, [or] national origin, or a state or
1-18 federal criminal conviction.
1-19 [(c) This section does not prohibit discrimination against a
1-20 person because the person has been convicted under federal law or
1-21 the law of any state of the illegal manufacture or distribution of
1-22 a controlled substance.]
1-23 SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
1-24 to an act or practice that occurs on or after the effective date of
2-1 this Act. An act or practice that occurs before the effective date
2-2 of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the act or
2-3 practice occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for
2-4 that purpose.
2-5 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-6 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-7 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
2-8 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-9 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.