§2254. Nondiscrimination policy in educational facilities, real estate transactions, and state-funded programs

A. No otherwise qualified person shall, on the basis of a disability, be subjected to discrimination by any educational facility, in any real estate transaction, or be excluded from participating in, or denied the benefits of, any program or activity which receives financial assistance from the state or any of its political subdivisions.

B. In accordance with Subsection A of this Section an educational institution shall not:

(1) Discriminate in any manner in the full utilization of the institution, or the services provided and rendered thereby to an otherwise qualified individual because of a disability that is unrelated to the individual's ability to utilize and benefit from the institution or its services, or because of the use of adaptive devices or aids.

(2) Exclude, expel, limit, or otherwise discriminate against an otherwise qualified individual seeking admission as a student or an individual enrolled as a student at the institution on the basis of a disability that is unrelated to the individual's academic ability or ability to utilize and benefit from the institution, or because of the use of adaptive devices or aids.

(3) Make or use a written or oral inquiry or form of application for admission that elicits or attempts to elicit information, or make or keep a record, concerning the disability of an otherwise qualified applicant for admission for discriminatory purposes contrary to the provisions or purposes of this Chapter.

(4) Print, publish, or cause to be printed or published a catalog or other notice or advertisement indicating a preference, limitation, specification, or discrimination based on the disability of an otherwise qualified applicant that is unrelated to the applicant's academic ability or ability to utilize and benefit from the institution or its services, or the use of adaptive devices or aids by an otherwise qualified applicant for admission.

(5) Announce or follow a policy of denial or limitation of educational opportunities to a group or its members because of a disability that is unrelated to the group or members' academic ability or ability to utilize and benefit from the institution or its services, or because of the use of adaptive devices or aids.

(6) Nothing in this Subsection shall be construed so as to limit, alter or modify in any way, the responsibilities of the State and local educational agencies to provide a free, appropriate public education to exceptional children under R.S. 17:1941 et seq.

C. An owner or any other person engaging in a real estate transaction, such as a real estate broker or salesman, shall not, in accordance with Subsection A of this Section on the basis of a disability that is unrelated to an otherwise qualified individual's ability to acquire, rent, or maintain property:

(1) Refuse to engage in a real estate transaction.

(2) Discriminate against a person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of a real estate transaction or in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection therewith.

(3) Refuse to receive or fail to transmit a bona fide offer to engage in a real estate transaction from a person.

(4) Refuse to negotiate for a real estate transaction with a person.

(5) Represent to a person that real property is not available for inspection, sale, rental, or lease when in fact it is available, or fail to bring a property listing to a person's attention, or refuse to permit a person to inspect real property.

(6) Print, circulate, post, or mail, or cause to be so published, a statement, advertisement, or sign, or use a form of application for a real estate transaction, or make a record of inquiry in connection with a prospective real estate transaction, which indicates, directly or indirectly, an intent to make a limitation, specification, or discrimination with respect thereto.

(7) Offer, solicit, accept, use, or retain a listing of real property with the understanding that a person may be discriminated against in a real estate transaction or in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection therewith.

D. Subsection C of this Section shall not apply to the rental of a housing accommodation in a building which contains housing accommodations for two or less units living independently of each other, if the owner resides in one of the housing units, or to the rental of a room or rooms in a single housing dwelling by a person if the lessor or a member of the lessor's immediate family resides therein.

E.(1) A person to whom application is made for financial assistance or financing in connection with a real estate transaction or for the construction, rehabilitation, repair, maintenance, or improvement of immovable property, or a representative of such a person shall not discriminate against the otherwise qualified applicant on the basis of a disability that is unrelated to the individual's ability to acquire, rent, or maintain property or use a form of application for financial assistance or financing or make or keep a record of inquiry for reasons contrary to the provisions or purposes of this Chapter in connection with applications for financial assistance or financing which indicates, directly or indirectly, a limitation, specification, or discrimination based on disability that is unrelated to the individual's ability to acquire, rent, or maintain property.

(2) Nothing in this Subsection shall be construed to prohibit an owner, lender, or his agency from requiring that an applicant who seeks to buy, rent, lease, or obtain financial assistance or housing accommodations supply information concerning the applicant's financial, business, or employment status or other information designed solely to determine the applicant's credit worthiness.

(3) Nothing in this Subsection shall require any person renting, leasing, or providing for compensation immovable property to modify his property in any way or provide a higher degree of care for a person with a disability than for a person who does not have a disability.

F.(1) In accordance with Subsection A of this Section, any program or activity which receives financial assistance from the state or any of its political subdivisions shall not directly or through contractual, licensing, or other arrangements:

(a) Deny an otherwise qualified person on the basis of disability the opportunity to participate in or benefit from the aid, benefit, or service.

(b) Provide an otherwise qualified person with an aid, benefit, or service that is not as effective as, or equal to, that provided to others because of their disability.

(c) Provide different or separate aid benefits, or services to otherwise qualified persons because of disability, unless such action is necessary to provide qualified persons with disabilities with aid, benefits, or services that are as effective as those provided to others.

(2) A recipient of state financial assistance shall operate a program or activity in a facility which is accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities and shall comply with ANSI specifications as defined in R.S. 46:2253 by January 1, 1982.

Added by Acts 1980, No. 665, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1409, §§2, 4, eff. Aug. 1, 1997; Acts 2014, No. 811, §24, eff. June 23, 2014; Acts 2018, No. 206, §5.