HCS HB 894 -- HUMAN RIGHTS

SPONSOR:  Hosmer (Bray)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Civil and
Criminal Law by a vote of 9 to 6.

This substitute adds "household as it relates to housing" to the
protected classifications for which discrimination is barred.
The bill also defines "household" as one or more persons living
in a single  dwelling unit, including minors who are related to
a member of the dwelling unit, under legal custody of a member
of the unit, under foster care placement, or under power of
attorney or guardianship.  The bill clarifies that it is an
unlawful housing practice to make unavailable or deny a permit
or permission to reside in a dwelling or to evict any member of
a dwelling because of race, color, religion, national origin,
ancestry, sex, handicap, household, or familial status.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill cleans up the
definition of disability and makes it a discriminatory practice
to bar living accommodations on the basis of shared living.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Bray; Advisory
Coordinator of Older Women League; Independent Living Center;
Governor's Council on Disabilities; Missouri Impact; Missouri
Commission on Human Rights; and Coalition of Citizens With
Disabilities, St. Louis Chapter.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Michael Warrick, Research Analyst

HB 894 -- Human Rights

Sponsor:  Bray

This bill adds "household as it relates to housing" to the
protected classifications for which discrimination is barred.
The bill also defines household as one or more persons living in
a single  dwelling unit, including minors who are related to a
member of the dwelling unit, under legal custody of a member of
the unit, under foster care placement, or under power of
attorney or guardianship.  The bill clarifies that it is an
unlawful housing practice to make unavailable or deny a permit
or permission to reside in a dwelling or to evict any member of
a dwelling because of race, color, religion, national origin,
ancestry, sex, handicap, household, or familial status.