PA HB1492

Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 to regulate how housing providers may use criminal records when screening rental applicants, specifically limiting consideration of drug trafficking convictions (18 Pa.C.S. § 7508) to those with prison sentences concluded within the past seven years

Prohibits housing providers from considering arrests without convictions, expunged or pardoned convictions, vacated convictions, sealed records, and juvenile adjudications when evaluating applicants for drug trafficking offenses

Requires housing providers to conduct individualized assessments considering offense severity, applicant's age at time of offense, time elapsed, rehabilitation evidence, and potential safety impact before denying housing based on criminal history

Establishes tiered penalties enforced by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission: up to $500 for first violations, up to $5,000 for second violations within five years, and up to $10,000 for two or more violations within seven years

Exempts housing providers with 10 or fewer rental units and owner-occupied properties with four or fewer units; grants civil immunity to landlords who rent to formerly incarcerated individuals covered under this article