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79R1116 QS-D

By:  Jones of Dallas                                              H.B. No. 673



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to prohibiting housing discrimination against certain 
persons convicted of a nonviolent criminal offense.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Property Code, is 
amended by adding Section 301.028 to read as follows:
	Sec. 301.028.  CRIMINAL CONVICTION.  (a)  In this section, 
"nonviolent criminal activity" means criminal activity that does 
not have as any of its elements the use, attempted use, or 
threatened use of physical force substantial enough to cause, or be 
reasonably likely to cause, serious bodily injury or property 
damage.
	(b)  A person may not refuse to rent, after the making of a 
bona fide offer, refuse to negotiate for the rental of, or in any 
other manner make unavailable or deny a dwelling to another because 
of a conviction for nonviolent criminal activity.
	(c)  A person may not discriminate against another in the 
terms, conditions, or privileges of a rental of a dwelling or in 
providing services or facilities in connection with a rental of a 
dwelling because of a conviction for nonviolent criminal activity.
	(d)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b) or (c), this section 
does not prohibit discrimination against a person because the 
person:
		(1)  has been convicted under federal law or the law of 
any state of the illegal manufacture or distribution of a 
controlled substance; or
		(2)  is required to register as a sex offender under 
Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure.
	SECTION 2.  This Act applies only to a complaint filed with 
the Texas Workforce Commission civil rights division on or after 
the effective date of this Act.  A complaint filed before that date 
is governed by the law in effect on the date the complaint was 
filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.