SB429: SB429 "Housing for Heroes Act"; enact

26 LC 46 1357 Senate Bill 429 By: Senators Dickerson of the 21st, Walker III of the 20th, Harbison of the 15th, Anavitarte of the 31st, McLaurin of the 14th and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 44 of the Official Cod e of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to landlord and tenant in general, so as to limit the monthly income requirement for2 disabled veterans to qualify as tenants; to provide for definit ions; to provide for related3 matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:5 SECTION 1.6 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Housing for Heroes Act."7 SECTION 2.8 Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to9 landlord and tenant in general, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:10 "44-7-26.11 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:12 (1) 'Disabled veteran' means:13 (A) Any veteran who is a citizen and a resident of this state, who was discharged under14 honorable conditions, and who has been adjudicated by the United States Department15 S. B. 429 - 1 - 26 LC 46 1357 of Veterans Affairs as having a service related disability that renders such veteran as16 being 100 percent totally disabled or as being less than 100 percent totally disabled but17 is compensated at the 100 percent level due to individual unemployability or is entitled18 to receive a statutory award from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for:19 (i) Loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet;20 (ii) Loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands;21 (iii) Loss of sight in one or both eyes; or22 (iv) Permanent impairment of vision of both eyes of the follow ing status: central23 visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye, with correct ive glasses, or central24 visual acuity of more than 20/200 if there is a field defect in which the peripheral field25 has contracted to such an extent that the widest diameter of visual field subtends on26 angular distance no greater than 20 degrees in the better eye;27 (B) An American veteran of any war or armed conflict in which any branch of the28 armed forces of the United States engaged, whether under United States command or29 otherwise, and that he or she is disabled due to the loss or lo ss of use of both lower30 extremities such as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes,31 or a wheelchair; due to blindness in both eyes, having only light perception, together32 with the loss or loss of use of one lower extremity; or due to the loss or loss of use of33 one lower extremity together with residuals of organic disease or injury which so affect34 the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotio n without resort to a35 wheelchair;36 (C) Any disabled veteran who is not entitled to receive benefits from the Department37 of Veterans Affairs but who qualifies otherwise, as provided fo r by Article VII,38 Section I, Paragraph IV of the Constitution of Georgia of 1976;39 (D) An American veteran of any war or armed conflict who is disabled due to loss or40 loss of use of one lower extremity together with the loss or lo ss of use of one upper41 S. B. 429 - 2 - 26 LC 46 1357 extremity which so affects the functions of balance or propulsi on as to preclude42 locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair; or43 (E) A veteran becoming eligible for assistance in acquiring housing under Section 210144 of Title 38 of the United States Code as hereafter amended on or after July 1, 1999.45 (2) 'Income' means federal adjusted gross income, as defined i n the Internal Revenue46 Code of 1986, as amended, from all sources.47 (b) No landlord shall require a disabled veteran to have a mon thly income of more than48 twice the amount of the monthly rent in order to qualify as a tenant."49 SECTION 3.50 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.51 S. B. 429 - 3 -