Enact New Laws
The following bills are now winding their way through the Florida Legislature. Hopefully, if passed, these will provide some financial relief to Community Associations throughout Florida, sometime in the year 2010. This kind of legislative action should have happened more than a year ago. Finally our legislators have noticed the plight of the residents of community associations throughout the state and are now taking action. We still have the Charlie Crist veto hurdle, even if these bills make it out of the legislature, as they will still need to be signed by the Governor.
The full bills, their original language and any amendments can be followed at MyFloridahouse.gov.
SB 398 GENERAL BILL by Dockery
Residential Properties: Revises a ground for disciplinary action relating to misconduct or negligence. Requires the DBPR to enter an order permanently revoking the license of a community association manager under certain circumstances. Provides requirements for an association to borrow funds or commit to a line of credit, including a meeting of the board of administration and prior notice. Provides requirements for association access to a unit, etc.
Effective Date: 07/01/2010
HB 419 GENERAL BILL by Robaina (CO-SONSORS) Mayfield
Community Associations: Provides various provisions relating to specified community associations, including disputes, powers, duties, insurance, officers, meetings, notices, governance, foreclosure, liens, contracts, borrowing, transfer fees, maintenance, termination, etc.
Effective Date: July 1, 2010
HB 561 – GENERAL BILL by Bogdanoff and Hudson
Condominiums: Provides and revises various provisions relating to condominiums, including insurance requirements, fire alarm systems, definitions, duties of owners & associations, meetings, officers, governance, etc.; creates “Distressed Condominium Relief Act” to provide regulatory provisions relating to bulk assignees & bulk buyers; repeals provision relating to public elevators and emergency operation plans in certain condominiums & multifamily dwellings.
Effective Date: upon becoming a law
SB 864 GENERAL BILL by Garcia
Community Associations [CPSC]: Provides certain inspection powers for employees of the Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes. Requires the DBPR to enter an order permanently revoking the license of a community association manager under certain circumstances. Authorizes an association to suspend, for a reasonable time, the right of a unit owner or the unit’s occupant, licensee, or invitee to use certain common elements under certain conditions, etc.
Effective Date: 07/01/2010
SB – 1196 GENERAL BILL by Fasano (CO-SPONSORS) Gaetz
Community Associations [CPSC]: Requires that coverage under a unit owner’s policy for certain assessments include at least a minimum amount of loss assessment coverage. Provides an exemption for certain condominiums from installing a manual fire alarm system as required in the Life Safety Code if certain conditions are met. Requires that certain services obtained pursuant to a bulk contract as provided in the declaration be deemed a common expense, etc.
Effective Date: 07/01/2010
There is a “Find Your Representative” Tab on this MyFlorida House.gov page. When you put your address in this search box, the representatives for the Florida House and Senate will be provided, along with your representatives for U.S. Congress, both the House and the Senate. Contact your legislators now and let them know what is happening in our community associations and how important it is for them to protect us, rather than the special interest groups in Tallahassee.
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