BILL NUMBER: SB 1055	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 15, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Lieu

                        FEBRUARY 9, 2012

   An act to add Section 1947.2 to the Civil Code, relating to
landlord and tenant.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1055, as amended, Lieu. Landlord and tenant: payments.
   Existing law regulates the relationship between landlord and
tenant and the terms and conditions of tenancies. Existing law
requires a tenant to pay rent as it successively becomes due.
   This bill would prohibit a landlord or a landlord's agent from
requiring  cash   online Internet payments 
as the exclusive  form of  payment of rent or deposit of
security  . The bill would require any landlord or landlord's
agent that offers the option of payment of rent or deposit of
security online to also accept payment of rent or deposit of security
by check or money order  for any lease or rental agreement
that is first effective on or after January 1, 2013. The bill would
provide that a waiver of these provisions is contrary to public
policy, and is void and unenforceable.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 1947.2 is added to the Civil Code, to read:
   1947.2.  (a) A landlord or a landlord's agent may not demand or
require online Internet payments as the exclusive form of payment of
rent or deposit of security in any lease or rental agreement that is
first effective on or after January 1, 2013. Any landlord or
landlord's agent that offers the option of payment of rent or deposit
of security online shall also accept payment of rent or deposit of
security by check or money order. 
   (b) Subdivision (a) does not enlarge or diminish a landlord's or
landlord's agent's legal right to terminate a tenancy.
   (c) A waiver of the provisions of this section is contrary to
public policy, and is void and unenforceable.