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.