House Judiciary Committee Hearing

There is a hearing on Thursday, February 24, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. in room 325 on some bills of interest to community associations before the House Judiciary Committee before chair Rep. Sylvia J. Luke. The hearing notice discusses the following bills of interest to community associations:

HB1715 This bill adds sexual orientation and gender identity to the category of protected classifications in the residential real property transactions. Sexual orientation is currently a protected classification under the State fair employment laws. The bill would mean that Hawaii condo associations would be subject to claims for discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

PERSONS WISHING TO TESTIFY ARE REQUESTED TO SUBMIT 35 COPIES OF THEIR TESTIMONY AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE HEARING TO: (1) THE COMMITTEE'S VICE CHAIR IN ROOM 422, STATE CAPITOL, OR (2) THE HOUSE SGT.-AT-ARMS TESTIMONY DROP OFF BOX IN THE TURNAROUND AREA OF THE CAPITOL BASEMENT PARKING LOT. TESTIMONY MAY ALSO BE FAXED IF LESS THAN 5 PAGES IN LENGTH TO THE HOUSE SGT.-AT-ARMS OFFICE AT: 586-6501 (OAHU) OR 1-800-535-3859 (NEIGHBOR ISLANDS). WHEN FAXING, PLEASE INDICATE TO WHOM THE TESTIMONY IS BEING SUBMITTED, THE DATE AND TIME OF THE HEARING, AND THE REQUIRED NO. OF COPIES THAT IS NEEDED FOR SUBMITTAL.

What is the Federal Fair Housing Act?

The Federal Fair Housing Act was adopted in 1968 as Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. In 1988, Congress expanded the scope of the Federal Fair Housing Act by adopting the Federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988. The Federal Fair Housing Amendments Act established new enforcement procedures and created two new protected classifications. The Federal Fair Housing Act protects individuals from housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, or national origin. These categories are known as "Protected Classes". In addition, the Hawaii State Fair Housing Act adds the classification of age and marital status to the Protected Classes.

What is Familial Status Discrimination?

What is Familial Status Discrimination? The Federal Fair Housing Act introduced “familial status discrimination” in 1988. Lawmakers chose to use the term "familial status discrimination” rather than the more easily understood term “discrimination against families with minor children”. Under the Federal Fair Housing Act, it is illegal to discriminate against families with minor children in housing.