SB 18-057

Senate Bill 18-057 in Colorado aims to protect individuals with criminal records from housing discrimination. It prohibits landlords and housing authorities from considering arrest records that did not lead to convictions or sealed/expunged criminal records when making decisions about renting or leasing properties. The bill also requires landlords to inform applicants if their application is denied based on any record used against them. Signed into law, this means that it's now illegal for housing providers in Colorado to use these types of records against potential tenants, helping more people find homes regardless of past legal issues that are no longer active or have been legally sealed.

Official Summary

Under current law, it is an unfair housing practice to honor or exercise, or attempt to honor or exercise, any restrictive covenant pertaining to housing. Section 1 of the bill adds to the definition of 'restrictive covenant' limitations on the transfer, rental, or lease of housing based on records of any arrest or charge that did not result in a conviction and the criminal case is not actively pending (arrest records) or criminal justice records that have been sealed or expunged. Section 2 makes it an unfair housing practice to inquire about or take an adverse action based on arrest records or sealed or expunged criminal justice records. Section 3 prohibits landlords from requiring an applicant to disclose any information contained in sealed criminal records. Section 4 prohibits housing authorities from denying or terminating dwelling accommodations, or taking adverse action against a person, on the basis of arrest records or certain conviction records. Section 6 requires a landlord to provide applicants with access to records that are used as the basis for denying a rental application. Section 5 prevents certain tenant criminal records from being admitted as evidence in a civil case against a landlord that is based on the tenant's conduct.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More

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