COMMITTEE HEARINGS OWNER-FRIENDLY ASSOCIATION BILLS

March 24, 2008

This will be a very important week for the CONDO and HOA bills we are supporting -- and a bill we want defeated. We need everybody to send e-mails and make telephone calls to the legislators who are committee members hearing these bills this week.

The success of the whole legislative session may hinge on the committee hearings this week!

Please remember: What you see now as the bills in front of the committees will most likely not be the final wording. We are still waiting for the wording of the HOA legislation proposed by the House Select Committee on Condominium and Homeowners Association Governance. We have been assured that work is in progress on the wording. That is a definite reason why all of us should support the owner-friendly association bills making their way through the legislature. No matter if you have condominium or homeowners' association interest, there is something for each of you to support! So, get busy and contact the legislators.

Here is the information:

SENATE BILL 2084 -- Senator Alex Villalobos

This companion bill of H 995 (Representative Julio Robaina) is our most important piece of owner-friendly legislation that will be heard by the Committee on Regulated Industries on Tuesday, 03/25/08, at 9:30 am in Room 110-S.

It is important that the members of the committee will receive as many e-mails and telephone calls as possible -- latest Monday afternoon!

Please ask the Senators to vote YEA on this owner-friendly association bill that is a partial work product of the House Select Committee.

SUBJECT LINE: VOTE YEA ON S 2084 -- CONDOMINIUMS

Dear Senator,

Please vote YEA on Senate bill S 2084 (Condominiums -- Senator Alex Villalobos) at Tuesday's meeting of the Committee on Regulated Industries. Florida's homeowners and condo owners really need your support!
Your YEA vote is really important for Florida's owners living in community associations.

HOW TO CONTACT THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

SENATE COMMITTEE ON REGULATED INDUSTRIES

Sen. Dennis Jones Chair	(850) 487-5065	[email protected]
Sen. Steven Geller Vice Chair	(850) 487-5097	[email protected]
Sen. Charlie Dean	(850) 487-5017	[email protected]
Sen. Tony Hill	(850) 487-5024	[email protected]
Sen. Mike Haridopolos	(850) 487-5056	[email protected]
Sen. Dave Aronberg	(850) 487-5356	[email protected]
Sen. Jim King	(850) 487-5030	[email protected]
Sen. Mike Fasano	(850) 487-5062	[email protected]
Sen. Nan Rich	(850) 487-5103	[email protected]
Sen. Stephen R. Wise	(850) 487-5027	[email protected]

Contact the Committee Members using MS e-mail program:

E-MAIL COMMITTEE

Contact the Committee Members using AOL e-mail program:

E-MAIL COMMITTEE

At the same committee hearing the members will hear Senate Bill 2470 -- sponsor Ted Deutch. This bill contains -- among insurance provisions that are contained in other bills as well -- the dangerous language headlined ASSOCIATION EMERGENCY POWER. Actually, this bill was only created to push this provision; all the other language is just garnish to hide the real intention of this bill. The trade organizations like CAI (Community Associations Institute) and CALL (Community Association Leadership Lobby) have been trying to push this legislation for many years. It's nothing but than an ill-advised attempt to circumvent safeguards created in the Condo Act trying to prevent financial mischief. Below my arguments to the Senators to vote NAY on this bill:

Dear Senator,

With all due respect: Please Vote NO on Senate Bill 2470 when it comes before you on Tuesday, March 25 (Committee on Regulated Industries)!

Provision FS 718.1265 Association emergency powers.-- has been pushed by the Community Associations Institute, the trade organization for association service providers since years. It's an ill-disguised attempt to circumvent safeguards for owners created in many other provisions of the Condo Act. It opens the door to even more misuse of funds than we already saw after the last hurricanes. There are still condos not repaired because of stupidity and shenanigans! This gives the bad guys (including non-owners!) free access to the complete money of the associations. Is that what you want?

Just note this sentence of the Bill Analysis (quote): "The bill also authorizes the levy of special assessments without owner votes regardless of declaration, articles or bylaws. It can also borrow money and pledge association assets as collateral to fund emergency repairs without unit owner approval." THAT SAYS IT ALL!

The good insurance provisions in this bill are already contained in other bills (See S 2086 -- as well on the same agenda)!

Please vote NO on S 2470.

It's an ill disguised attempt to destroy part of the good intentions of the provisions supported by the House Select Committee on Condominium and Homeowners' Association Governance. If you had listened to the hearings of this committee, you would know that S-2470 would just legalize some of the problems unit-owners testified about!

PLEASE VOTE NO!

Let the Senators know how you feel about this bill that would allow outsiders to spend your money -- without any safeguards!

HOUSE BILL H 1105 (Representative David Rivera)

Community Associations

House Bill H-1105 is on the agenda of the House SAFETY & SECURITY COUNCIL on Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 9:45 AM in Reed Hall (102 HOB).

This bill is -- among other things -- creating safeguards for consumers against frivolous liens and foreclosures, very important at this time!

Please send e-mails in support to the Council Members!

Here is a list of the committee members:

HOUSE SAFETY & SECURITY COUNCIL

Chair: Rep.Dick Kravitz [email protected]

Vice Chair Rep. Dennis Ross [email protected]

Rep. Dorothy Hukill [email protected]