D.C. Law Library

D.C. Law 23-213. Rental Housing Source of Income Amendment Act of 2020.

AN ACT

To amend the Housing Act of 2002 to clarify that rental housing assistance provided by the District government shall be considered the income of the tenant for the purposes of any minimum income qualification for a rental unit and for the purposes of the Human Rights Act of 1977, to prohibit the owner of a housing accommodation from refusing to rent a rental unit to a person because the person will provide the rental payment through a voucher for rental housing assistance provided by the District or federal government, and to require the owner of a housing accommodation to clearly state in any written notice, statement, or advertisement for a rental unit that the housing provider will not refuse to rent a rental unit to a person because the person will provide the rental payment through a voucher for rental housing assistance.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Rental Housing Source of Income Amendment Act of 2020".

Sec. 2. Section 206 of the Housing Act of 2002, effective April 19, 2002 (D.C. Law 14-114; D.C. Official Code § 42-2851.06), is amended as follows:

(a) The section heading is amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 206. Vouchers for rental housing assistance.

(b) Subsection (a) is amended by striking the phrase "Act of 1937," and inserting the phrase "Act of 1937 or any District law or program authorizing the payment of rental housing assistance," in its place.

(c) Subsection (b) is amended by striking the phrase "Act of 1937," and inserting the phrase "Act of 1937 or any District law or program authorizing the payment of rental housing assistance," in its place.

(d) Subsection (c) is amended by striking the phrase "section 8 voucher." and inserting the phrase "voucher for rental housing assistance provided by the District or federal government." in its place.

(e) A new subsection (d) is added to read as follows:

"(d) In any written notice, statement, or advertisement of a dwelling unit for rent, the housing provider shall clearly state that the housing provider will not refuse to rent a rental unit to a person because the person will provide the rental payment, in whole or in part, through a voucher for rental housing assistance provided by the District or federal government.".

Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (12 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).

Sec. 4. Effective date.

This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.

Law Information

Cites

  • D.C. Law 23-213 (PDF)
  • D.C. Act 23-574 (PDF)
  • 68 DCR 001106

Effective

Mar. 16, 2021

Legislative History (LIMS)

Law 23-213, the “Rental Housing Source of Income Amendment Act of 2020,” was introduced in the Council and assigned Bill No. 23-528 which was referred to the Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization . The bill was adopted on first and second readings on Dec. 1, 2020, and Dec. 15, 2020, respectively. After mayoral review, it was assigned Act No. 23-574 on Jan. 13, 2021, and transmitted to Congress for its review. D.C. Law 23-213 became effective Mar. 16, 2021.