2009 Wisconsin Act 95

66.1301 (2m) Discrimination. Persons entitled to any right, benefit, facility, or privilege under ss. 66.1301 to 66.1329 shall may not be denied them the right, benefit, facility, or privilege in any manner for any purpose nor be discriminated against because of sex, race, color, creed, sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, as defined in s. 106.50 (1m) (u), or national origin.

95,10 Section 10. 66.1331 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:

66.1331 (2m) Discrimination. Persons otherwise entitled to any right, benefit, facility, or privilege under this section shall may not be denied them the right, benefit, facility, or privilege in any manner for any purpose nor be discriminated against because of sex, race, color, creed, sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, as defined in s. 106.50 (1m) (u), or national origin.

95,11 Section 11. 66.1333 (3) (e) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

66.1333 (3) (e) 2. Persons otherwise entitled to any right, benefit, facility, or privilege under this section may not be denied the right, benefit, facility, or privilege in any manner for any purpose nor be discriminated against because of sex, race, color, creed, sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, as defined in s. 106.50 (1m) (u), or national origin.

95,12 Section 12. 106.50 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

106.50 (1) Intent. It is the intent of this section to render unlawful discrimination in housing. It is the declared policy of this state that all persons shall have an equal opportunity for housing regardless of sex, race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, family status, status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, lawful source of income, age, or ancestry and it is the duty of the political subdivisions to assist in the orderly prevention or removal of all discrimination in housing through the powers granted under ss. 66.0125 and 66.1011. The legislature hereby extends the state law governing equal housing opportunities to cover single-family residences which that are owner-occupied. The legislature finds that the sale and rental of single-family residences constitute a significant portion of the housing business in this state and should be regulated. This section shall be deemed considered an exercise of the police powers of the state for the protection of the welfare, health, peace, dignity, and human rights of the people of this state.

95,13 Section 13. 106.50 (1m) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:

106.50 (1m) (h) "Discriminate" means to segregate, separate, exclude, or treat a person or class of persons unequally in a manner described in sub. (2), (2m), or (2r) because of sex, race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, family status, status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, lawful source of income, age, or ancestry.

95,14 Section 14. 106.50 (1m) (nm) of the statutes is amended to read:

106.50 (1m) (nm) "Member of a protected class" means a group of natural persons, or a natural person, who may be categorized based on one or more of the following characteristics: because of sex, race, color, disability, sexual orientation as defined in s. 111.32 (13m), religion, national origin, marital status, family status, status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or stalking, lawful source of income, age, or ancestry.

95,15 Section 15. 106.50 (1m) (u) of the statutes is created to read:

106.50 (1m) (u) "Status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking" means the status of a person who is seeking to rent or purchase housing or of a member or prospective member of the person's household having been, or being believed by the lessor or seller of housing to be, a victim of domestic abuse, as defined in s. 813.12 (1) (am), sexual assault under s. 940.225, 948.02, or 948.025, or stalking under s. 940.32.

95,16 Section 16. 106.50 (5m) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

106.50 (5m) (d) Nothing in this section requires that housing be made available to an individual whose tenancy would constitute a direct threat to the safety of other tenants or persons employed on the property or whose tenancy would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others, if the risk of direct threat or damage cannot be eliminated or sufficiently reduced through reasonable accommodations. A claim that an individual's tenancy poses a direct threat or a substantial risk of harm or damage must be evidenced by behavior by the individual that caused harm or damage, that directly threatened harm or damage, or that caused a reasonable fear of harm or damage to other tenants, persons employed on the property, or the property. No claim that an individual's tenancy would constitute a direct threat to the safety of other persons or would result in substantial damage to property may be based on the fact that a tenant has been or may be the victim of domestic abuse, as defined in s. 813.12 (1) (am) tenant's status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking.

95,16g Section 16g. 106.50 (5m) (dm) of the statutes is created to read:

106.50 (5m) (dm) It is not discrimination based on status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or stalking for a landlord to bring an action for eviction of a tenant based on a violation of the rental agreement or of a statute that entitles the landlord to possession of the premises, unless subd. 1. or 2. applies. A tenant has a defense to an action for eviction brought by a landlord if the tenant proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the landlord knew or should have known any of the following:

1. That the tenant is a victim of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or stalking and that the basis for the action for eviction is conduct that related to the commission of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or stalking by a person who was not the invited guest of the tenant.

2. That the tenant is a victim of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or stalking, that the basis for the action for eviction is conduct that related to the commission of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or stalking by a person who was the invited guest of the tenant, and that the tenant has done one of the following:

a. Sought an injunction under s. 813.12, 813.122, 813.123, or 813.125 enjoining the person from appearing on the premises.

b. Upon receiving notice under s. 704.17, provided a written statement to the landlord indicating that the person will no longer be an invited guest of the tenant and has not subsequently invited the person to be a guest of the tenant.

95,17 Section 17. 106.50 (5m) (f) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

106.50 (5m) (f) 1. Nothing in this section prohibits an owner or agent from requiring that a person who seeks to buy or rent housing supply information concerning family status, and marital, financial, and business status but not concerning race, color, physical condition, disability, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, or, subject to subd. 2., age.

95,18 Section 18. 224.77 (1) (o) of the statutes is amended to read:

224.77 (1) (o) In the course of practice as a mortgage banker, loan originator, or mortgage broker, except in relation to housing designed to meet the needs of elderly individuals, treated a person unequally solely because of sex, race, color, handicap, sexual orientation, as defined in s. 111.32 (13m), religion, national origin, age, or ancestry, the person's lawful source of income, or the sex or, marital status, or status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, as defined in s. 106.50 (1) (u), of the person maintaining a household.

95,19 Section 19. 224.77 (1) (o) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Acts 2 and .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

224.77 (1) (o) In the course of practice as a mortgage banker, mortgage loan originator, or mortgage broker, except in relation to housing designed to meet the needs of elderly individuals, treat a person unequally solely because of sex, race, color, handicap, sexual orientation, as defined in s. 111.32 (13m), religion, national origin, age, or ancestry, the person's lawful source of income, or the sex, marital status, or status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, as defined in s. 106.50 (1) (u), of the person maintaining a household.

95,20 Section 20. 234.29 of the statutes is amended to read:

234.29 Equality of occupancy and employment. The authority shall require that occupancy of housing projects assisted under this chapter be open to all regardless of sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, as defined in s. 106.50 (1m) (u), or creed, and that contractors and subcontractors engaged in the construction of economic development or housing projects, shall provide an equal opportunity for employment, without discrimination as to sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, or creed.

95,21 Section 21. 452.14 (3) (n) of the statutes is amended to read:

452.14 (3) (n) Treated any person unequally solely because of sex, race, color, handicap, national origin, ancestry, marital status or, lawful source of income, or status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, as defined in s. 106.50 (1m) (u).

95,22 Section 22. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:

(1) Discrimination based on status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. The repeal and recreation of section 224.77 (1) (o) of the statutes takes effect on January 1, 2010, or on the day after publication, whichever is later.