CA AB1991

Shelter program participants in motels or hotels do not establish tenant rights or constitute "persons who hire" under unlawful detainer law if the shelter program meets Housing First core components and specified requirements for termination policies and grievance processes.

Shelter programs must establish written termination policies, provide 30 days' notice before termination (except for direct threats), create an escalation process with warnings before termination, and establish a due process grievance appeal procedure through the shelter program administrator.

Permissible termination reasons include sexual assault, physically or verbally threatening behavior rising to the level of a "direct threat," physical violence, direct observation of illegal onsite activity, or program-established time limits.

Hotels and motels cannot adopt special termination policies, access restrictions, or fees specifically for shelter program participants that do not apply to other guests, and cannot require participants to check out and reregister to prevent establishment of tenant rights.

The law expires and is repealed on January 1, 2025, and does not restrict the duration of occupancy for shelter program participants under building standards codes.