SB 97

Abstract

Virginia Fair Housing Law; unlawful discriminatory housing practices. Provides that it is an unlawful discriminatory housing practice for any political jurisdiction or its employees or appointed commissions to discriminate in the application of local land use ordinances or guidelines, or in the permitting of housing developments, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, or handicap. The bill also provides that it is an unlawful discriminatory housing practice for any political jurisdiction or its employees or appointed commissions to discriminate in the application of local land use ordinances or guidelines, or in the permitting of housing developments, because a housing development contains or is expected to contain affordable housing units occupied or intended for occupancy by families or individuals with incomes at or below 80 percent of the median income of the area where the housing development is located or is proposed to be located, unless the location of a development or proposed development is, at the time of municipal decision, within a census tract wherein more than 50 percent of the residential units house families or individuals at or below 80 percent of the area median income. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act.

Virginia Fair Housing Law; unlawful discriminatoryhousing practices. Provides that it is an unlawful discriminatoryhousing practice for any political jurisdiction or its employeesor appointed commissions to discriminate in the application of localland use ordinances or guidelines, or in the permitting of housingdevelopments, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin,sex, elderliness, familial status, handicap, or because the housingdevelopment contains or is expected to contain affordable housingunits occupied or intended for occupancy by families or individualswith incomes at or below 80 percent of the median income of the areawhere the housing development is located or is proposed to be located.The bill also requires the Fair Housing Board, after consultationwith the Attorney General and instead of issuing a charge for a violation,to immediately refer the matter to the Attorney General for civilaction in the appropriate circuit court for appropriate relief. Thebill contains technical amendments.