Domestic violence victims could more easily break costly leases to seek refuge from abusive relationships under legislation sent to the governor on Friday.
The House and Senate approved a bill on Friday relieving tenants of their responsibility for rent after leaving the property in cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking so long as they provide notice.
The House approved the rental bill on a 100-23 vote. It was approved in the Senate on a 36-1 vote.
The bill would only apply to anyone who has been a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or stalking within the preceding year.
It allows landlords to impose a “reasonable” termination fee not to exceed one month’s rent for domestic violence victims and others in similar situations who want out of their lease.
The bill is intended to address cases where domestic violence victims can’t break a lease to escape their abusers without paying hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to cover several months’ rent and forfeiting their deposit as well.
A landlord can require renters to document evidence of domestic violence or sexual assault with a protective court order or a statement signed by someone licensed by the Board of Healing Arts, the Board of Nursing or the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board.
The new legislation will save lives, said Democratic state Sen Dinah Sykes, who sponsored the legislation along with Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau.
Sykes has noted that domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness for women and children, a point that was emphasized during a hearing on the bill.
United Community Services of Johnson County, for instance, reported that half the homeless children in Johnson County were without a home because of domestic violence in their family.
Supporters of the bill told lawmakers of occasions when domestic violence victims would show documentation of abuse and would still not be allowed to break their lease without buying out the lease agreement or paying some other type of penalty.
The legislation also makes it illegal to evict someone because they’re a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking.
It also outlaws landlords from denying rental housing to someone because they’re in imminent danger of abuse.
The bill had the support of The Associated Landlords of Kansas.
The organization said the bill provided “fair and reasonable” language for protecting victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking.
