§2603. Definitions

            As used in this Chapter:

            (1) "Aggrieved person" includes any person who:

            (a) Claims to have been injured by a discriminatory housing practice; or

            (b) Believes that he will be injured by a discriminatory housing practice that is about to occur.

            (2) "Complainant" means that person who files a complaint pursuant to R.S. 51:2611.

            (3) "Conciliation" means the attempted resolution of issues raised by a complaint, or by the investigation of such complaint, through informal negotiations involving the aggrieved person, the respondent, and the attorney general or his designee.

            (4) "Conciliation agreement" means a written agreement setting forth the resolution of the issues in conciliation.

            (5)(a) "Disability" means, with respect to a person:

            (i) A physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of such person's major life activities.

            (ii) A record of having such an impairment; or

            (iii) Being regarded as having such an impairment,

            (b) Such term does not include current, illegal use of, or addiction to a controlled substance as defined in Section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. 802.

            (6) "Discriminatory housing practice" means an act that is unlawful pursuant to R.S. 51:2606 through 2609.

            (7) "Dwelling" means any building, structure, or portion thereof which is occupied as, or designed or intended for occupancy as, a residence by one or more families, and any vacant land which is offered for sale or lease for the construction or location thereon at any such building, structure, or portion thereof.

            (8)(a) "Familial status" means one or more individuals, who have not attained the age of eighteen years, being domiciled with:

            (i) A parent or another person having legal custody of such individual or individuals; or

            (ii) The designee of such parent or other person having such custody, with the written permission of such parent or other person.

            (b) The protections afforded against discrimination on the basis of familial status shall apply to any person who is pregnant or is in the process of securing legal custody of any individual who has not attained the age of eighteen years.

            (9) "Family" includes a single individual.

            (10) "Natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle" shall include but is not limited to afros, dreadlocks, twists, locs, braids, cornrow braids, Bantu knots, curls, and hair styled to protect hair texture or for cultural significance.

            (11) "Person" includes one or more individuals, corporations, partnerships, associations, labor organizations, legal representatives, mutual companies, joint stock companies, trusts, unincorporated organizations, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, receivers, and fiduciaries.

            (12) "Respondent" means the person or other entity accused in a complaint of a discriminatory housing practice, or, any other person or entity identified in the course of an investigation and notified that they are a respondent who shall be joined in the complaint.

            (13) "To rent" includes to lease, to sublease, to let, and otherwise to grant for a consideration the right to occupy premises owned by the occupant.

            Acts 1991, No. 527, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 569, §1; Acts 2014, No. 811, §28, eff. July 23, 2014; Acts 2022, No. 529, §3.