LRB-4620/1
MES&PG:cjs:jf
1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE
March 13, 2000 - Introduced by Representatives Reynolds and Boyle,
cosponsored by Senator Risser, by request of Anna Threlfall. Referred to
Committee on Housing.
AB874,1,2 1An Act to amend 66.432 (2) of the statutes; relating to: local antidiscrimination
2housing ordinances.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a city, village, town or county (political subdivision) may
enact an ordinance prohibiting discrimination in housing against an individual
solely because the individual is a member of a protected class. "Protected class" is
defined to mean a group of natural persons, or a natural person, who may be
categorized based on one or more of the following characteristics: sex, race, color,
disability, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, family status,
lawful source of income, age or ancestry. The ordinance may be similar to state
statutes, or it may be more inclusive. Also under current law, the ordinance may
permit a complainant, aggrieved person or respondent to elect to remove an action
brought under the ordinance to circuit court, after a finding has been made that there
is reasonable cause to believe that a violation of the ordinance has occurred.
Under this bill, a political subdivision has no authority to determine whether
a complainant, aggrieved person or respondent may remove such an action to circuit
court; such persons may elect to remove the action to circuit court.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB874, s. 1
1Section 1. 66.432 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB874,2,152 66.432 (2) Antidiscrimination housing ordinances. Political subdivisions A
3political subdivision
may enact ordinances an ordinance prohibiting discrimination
4in housing within their respective its boundaries solely on the basis of an individual
5being a member of a protected class. Such an The ordinance may be similar to ss.
6101.132 and 106.04 (1) to (8) or may be more inclusive in its terms or in respect to
7the different types of housing subject to its provisions, but any such an ordinance
8establishing a forfeiture as a penalty for violation shall not be for an amount that is
9less than the statutory forfeitures under s. 106.04. Such an ordinance may permit
10a
A complainant, aggrieved person or respondent to may elect to remove the action
11to circuit court after a finding has been made that there is reasonable cause to believe
12that a violation of the ordinance has occurred. Such an The ordinance may also
13authorize the political subdivision, at any time after a complaint has been filed
14alleging an ordinance violation, to file a complaint in circuit court seeking a
15temporary injunction or restraining order pending final disposition of the complaint.
AB874, s. 2 16Section 2. Initial applicability.
AB874,2,1817 (1) This act first applies to complaints that are pending or filed on the effective
18date of this subsection.
AB874,2,1919 (End)
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