AB 694

This bill specifies certain activities that tenants and tenant organizers are

allowed to engage in. A “tenant organizer” is defined in the bill as a person who

assists tenants in establishing and operating a tenant organization. The bill defines

a “tenant organization” as an organization made up of tenants that exists for the

purpose, in whole or in part, of communicating with landlords concerning grievances,

disputes, rent increases, or other terms or conditions of tenancy.

Under the bill, a landlord or landlord's agent may not interfere with a tenant

or tenant organizer who is engaging in any of the activities protected under the bill;

restrict a tenant organizer's access to rental premises in a manner contrary to the

requirements under the bill; discriminate or retaliate against a tenant or tenant

organizer for engaging in any of the protected activities, or threaten to do so;

interfere with or delay any investigations into violations of the provisions of the bill;

or attend or make an audio recording of any tenant organization meeting.

The bill specifies that a tenant has a right to join, meet with, or assist other

tenants; confer with a landlord through a representative of the tenant's choosing;

and engage in concerted activities with other tenants for the purpose of mutually

aiding or protecting tenants.

The bill further specifies that a tenant or tenant organizer has the right to

distribute literature relating to landlord and tenant issues in common areas of rental

premises; place literature relating to landlord and tenant issues at or under tenants'

doors; post literature relating to landlord and tenant issues on any bulletin boards

in common areas of rental premises; assist tenants in participating in tenant

organization activities; convene tenant meetings or tenant organization meetings at

any reasonable time in any tenant's unit or common area of the rental premises;

formulate responses to landlord actions, including rent increases, proposed changes

in facilities and services, and conversion of residential units to nonresidential use;

propose that the landlord modify the rental premises' facilities and services; and

engage in any other activity reasonably related to the establishment or operation of

a tenant organization.

Under the bill, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

is required to investigate alleged violations of the bill's provisions. A person who

violates the bill's provisions is subject to a civil forfeiture of not more than $10,000

for each violation. In addition, a tenant who is injured by a violation of the bill's

provisions may bring a civil action to recover damages and reasonable attorney fees.