Susan Eggman
- Democratic
- Senator
- District 5
Existing law requires a landlord to change the locks of a protected tenant's dwelling unit upon the protected tenant's written request not later than 24 hours after the protected tenant gives the landlord a copy of a court order or police report that restrains a person who is not a tenant of the same dwelling unit as the protected tenant from contact with the protected tenant. Existing law permits the protected tenant to change the locks if the landlord fails to do so within 24 hours, as provided. For these purposes, existing law defines "protected tenant" as a tenant who has obtained a court order, as defined, or a police report showing that the tenant or the tenant's household member is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, as specified. This bill would repeal, recast, and revise these provisions to apply when a person is alleged to have committed abuse or violence against an eligible tenant or the immediate family or household member of an eligible tenant, and the person is not a tenant of the same dwelling unit as the eligible tenant. The bill would define "eligible tenant" for these purposes as either a tenant who is a victim of abuse or violence, as defined, or a tenant whose immediate family member or household member is a victim of abuse or violence. The bill would require a landlord to, at the landlord's expense and upon the eligible tenant's written request, change the locks of an eligible tenant's dwelling unit not later than 24 hours after the eligible tenant gives the landlord specified documentation. The bill would require an eligible tenant's written request to include one of the following forms of documentation, of the tenant's choosing: (1) a copy of a temporary restraining order, emergency protective order, or protective order, as specified; (2) a copy of a written report by a peace officer; (3) specified documentation from a qualified third party, as defined, showing that the tenant, their household member, or their immediate family member is seeking assistance for physical or mental injuries resulting from an act of abuse or violence; or (4) any other form of documentation that reasonably verifies the abuse or violence, as specified. The bill would require a landlord to reimburse the eligible tenant for expenses the tenant incurred if the eligible tenant changes the locks. Existing law, if a tenant is restrained under a court order from contact with a protected tenant, as defined, of the same dwelling unit, requires a landlord to change the locks of a protected tenant's dwelling unit upon the protected tenant's written request not later than 24 hours after the protected tenant gives the landlord a copy of the court order. This bill would require the landlord to change the locks at their own expense, and additionally require the landlord to reimburse the protected tenant for expenses the tenant incurred in changing the locks if the landlord fails to change the locks within 24 hours of the tenant providing a written request to the landlord. The bill would make other nonsubstantive changes. This bill would also prohibit a landlord or landlord's agent from making an adverse action, as defined, based on, among other things, the prospective tenant having previously requested to have their locks changed due to abuse or violence pursuant to the above-described provisions or the prospective tenant, or an immediate family member or household member of the prospective tenant, having been a victim of abuse or violence. The bill would provide that a landlord or landlord's agent who violates this prohibition is liable to the prospective or current tenant in a civil action for actual damages and statutory damages of not less than $100 and not more than $5,000.
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 75, Statutes of 2024.
Approved by the Governor.
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 1:30 p.m.
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 5887.) Ordered to the Senate.
In Senate. Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 11).
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 4022.) Ordered to the Assembly.
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Ordered to second reading.
Read third time and amended.
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
Set for hearing May 6.
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0. Page 3725.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
Set for hearing April 23.
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 9.
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Bill Text Versions | Format |
---|---|
SB1051 | HTML |
02/07/24 - Introduced | |
03/20/24 - Amended Senate | |
04/11/24 - Amended Senate | |
05/15/24 - Amended Senate | |
06/19/24 - Enrolled | |
07/02/24 - Chaptered |
Document | Format |
---|---|
04/19/24- Senate Judiciary | |
05/08/24- Sen. Floor Analyses | |
05/17/24- Sen. Floor Analyses | |
06/07/24- Assembly Judiciary |
Data on Open States is updated periodically throughout the day from the official website of the California State Legislature.
If you notice any inconsistencies with these official sources, feel free to file an issue.