BILL NUMBER: SB 1055	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


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 introduced, 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 as the exclusive 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.