HOUSE BILL TO PROHIBIT LANDLORDS FROM INQUIRING ABOUT ARREST RECORDS

A house bill that would prohibit landlords from inquiring about certain arrest records is winding its way through the state legislature. State Representative Ismail Smith-Wade El says the fair housing measure would ban people who lease properties from looking too far into a person’s criminal record as a condition of occupancy. Another bill would create a policy that would seal eviction records. Members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus back the measures, saying many people trying to find homes are discriminated against or are wrongfully evicted because of their backgrounds.