Chapter 3 - Prohibitions and Enforcement

California Health and Safety Code — §§ 35810-35816

Sections (7)

Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 366, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1994.

(a)No financial institution shall discriminate in the availability of, or in the provision of, financial assistance for the purpose of purchasing, constructing, rehabilitating, improving, or refinancing housing accommodations due, in whole or in part, to the consideration of conditions, characteristics, or trends in the neighborhood or geographic area surrounding the housing accommodation, unless the financial institution can demonstrate that consideration of these conditions in the particular case is required to avoid an unsafe and unsound business practice.

(b)Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any financial institution from establishing a special loan program designed to engender equality in housing in accordance with the federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. Secs. 3601 et seq.) or similar state and federal laws, so long as the program promotes housing opportunities in ethnic minority or low-income neighborhoods.

§ 35811

Amended (as amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 181, Sec. 72) by Stats. 2013, Ch. 605, Sec. 42. (SB 752) Effective January 1, 2014.

(a)No financial institution shall discriminate in the availability of, or in the provision of, financial assistance for the purpose of purchasing, constructing, rehabilitating, improving, or refinancing housing accommodations due, in whole or in part, to the consideration of any basis listed in subdivision (a) or (d) of Section 12955 of the Government Code, as those bases are defined in Sections 12926, 12926.1, subdivision (m) and paragraph (1) of subdivision (p) of Section 12955, and Section 12955.2 of the Government Code.

(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), with respect to familial status, subdivision (a) shall not be construed to apply to housing for older persons, as defined in Section 12955.9 of the Government Code.

With respect to familial status, nothing in subdivision (a) shall be construed to affect Sections 51.2, 51.3, 51.4, 51.10, 51.11, and 799.5 of the Civil Code, relating to housing for senior citizens. Subdivision (d) of Section 51, Section 4760, and Section 6714 of the Civil Code, and subdivisions (n), (o), and (p) of Section 12955 of the Government Code shall apply to subdivision (a).

§ 35812

Added by Stats. 1977, Ch. 1140.

No financial institution shall consider the racial, ethnic, religious, or national origin composition of a neighborhood or geographic area surrounding a housing accommodation or whether or not such composition is undergoing change, or is expected to undergo change, in appraising a housing accommodation or in determining whether or not, and under what terms and conditions, to provide financial assistance for the purpose of purchasing, constructing, rehabilitating, improving, or refinancing a housing accommodation. No financial institution shall utilize appraisal practices that are inconsistent with the provisions of this part.

§ 35813

Added by Stats. 1977, Ch. 1140.

Nothing in this part shall (1) require a financial institution to provide financial assistance if it is clearly evident that occupancy of the housing accommodation would create an imminent threat to the health or safety of the occupant, or (2) be construed to preclude a financial institution from considering the fair market value of the property which will secure the proposed loan.

§ 35814

Added by Stats. 1977, Ch. 1140.

The secretary shall issue such rules, regulations, guidelines, and orders as are necessary to interpret and enforce the provisions of this part and to affirmatively further the provisions of this part. The secretary may delegate the responsibilities imposed by this section to one or more departments within the agency that license persons or organizations engaged in a business related to, or affecting compliance with, this part.

§ 35815

Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1492, Sec. 3.

(a)The secretary or the secretary’s designee shall monitor and investigate the lending patterns and practices of financial institutions for compliance with this part, including the lending patterns and practices for housing accommodations which are not occupied by the owner. If a finding is made that such patterns or practices violate the provisions of this part the secretary or the secretary’s designee shall take such action as will effectuate the purposes of this part. In addition to other remedies provided by this part or other provisions of law, the secretary may recommend to the Treasurer that state funds not be deposited in a financial institution where the secretary has made a finding that such financial institution has engaged in a lending pattern and practice which violates this part.

(b)The secretary shall annually report to the Legislature on the activities of the appropriate regulatory agencies and departments in complying with this part. The report shall include a description of any actions taken by the secretary or the secretary’s designee to remedy patterns or practices the secretary determines are in violation of this part.

§ 35816

Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 396. Effective January 1, 2007.

(a)The secretary shall adopt regulations applicable to all persons who are in the business of originating residential mortgage loans in this state, including, but not limited to, insurers, mortgage bankers, investment bankers, and credit unions and who are not depository institutions within the meaning of subsection (2) of Section 2802 of Title 12 of the United States Code. The regulations for residential mortgage loans shall impose substantially the same reporting requirements by geographic area and loan product as are imposed by the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975, as amended (12 U.S.C. Sec. 2801 et seq.).

(b)This section does not apply to subsidiaries of depository institutions or subsidiaries of depository institution holding companies that are currently reporting to a federal or state regulatory agency as provided by the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975, as amended (12 U.S.C. Sec. 2801 et seq.) or are subject to substantially the same reporting requirements by geographic area and loan product pursuant to an act of a federal or state regulatory agency.