HF 1878

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 02/25/2014 01:31pm

A bill for an act
relating to housing; criminal background checks in residential tenant screening;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 504B.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [504B.174] APPLICANT SCREENING; CRIMINAL BACKGROUND
CHECK.
new text end

new text begin (a) A landlord may not request information on a prospective tenant's criminal
background in an application for a rental unit, except as provided for in this section.
new text end

new text begin (b) A landlord may conduct a criminal background check once a rental unit is
offered to a prospective tenant and the landlord may make the offer contingent on the
criminal background check. Any other tenant screening the landlord requires must have
been completed prior to the criminal background check.
new text end

new text begin (c) A landlord may include in a rental application or other notice to the prospective
tenant any criminal activity that would prevent the tenant from being offered the rental
unit. Not providing notice to the tenant does not prohibit the landlord from rejecting a
prospective tenant based on the criminal background of the tenant.
new text end