Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) Act

Bill: 111-hr-6500
Sponsor: Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-8]
Introduced: 2010-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Building construction
Civil actions and liability
Disability and health-based discrimination
Evidence and witnesses
Government studies and investigations
Housing discrimination
Housing finance and home ownership
Housing for the elderly and disabled
Judicial procedure and administration
Marriage and family status
Real estate business
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2010-12-08
text: 
Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) Act - Amends the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, source of income, or marital status in housing sales and rentals, residential real estate-related transactions, and brokerage services.
 
Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1968 to prohibit the intimidation, interference, or injury of individuals because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, source of income, or marital status.
 
Redefines &quot;discriminatory housing practice&quot; to specify that the definition: (1) applies regardless of whether the discriminatory practices occur pre- or post-acquisition; and (2) includes a failure to comply with administrative requirements of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including related regulations, in a manner affirmatively to further nondiscrimination policies.
 
Redefines &quot;familial status&quot; to include individuals (under age 18) residing with: (1) a foster parent or another person having physical custody of such individuals; or (2) anyone standing in loco parentis of such individuals (currently, the designee of such parent or other person having such custody, with the parent's or other person's written permission).
 
 
Amends the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act to grant the Attorney General pre-litigation subpoena power if there is reason to believe that any person may be in possession, custody, or control of any documentary material or information relevant to an investigation under the respective Act.
 
States that discrimination against a person because of a handicap includes the failure, in connection with a real estate-related transaction, to make reasonable accommodations for such persons.
 
Revises the limitations on filing complaints and commencing civil actions by certain individuals alleging discriminatory housing practices to deem that the failure to design and construct a dwelling that meets requirements for reasonable modifications for handicapped persons shall continue (and with it the alleged discriminatory housing practice) until such time as the dwelling conforms to them.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-12-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2010-12-08
text: Referred to House Financial Services
action_date: 2010-12-08
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2010-12-08
text: Referred to House Judiciary
action_date: 2010-12-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2010-12-08
text: Introduced in House