SB 610 -- THE "LOCK-THEM-UP BILL" |
An
Opinion By Jan Bergemann Published March 2, 2019
On Saturday, February 23, 2019, the two sponsors of
SB 610 -- by many condo-owners dubbed THE LOCK-THEM-UP BILL
-- arranged a workshop meeting in Aventura. Senator Jason Pizzo and
State Representative Javier Fernandez had invited Assistant State
Attorney John Perikles, the Division Chief of the Economic Crime Unit of
Miami-Dade County, to speak to the many interested condo-owners that
attended the meeting. It was interested to hear froman exert on economic
crimes that he actually had to learn about the uniquue problems
condo-owners are facing. Kickbacks, election fraud and embezzlement of
funds seems to run rampant in community associations. In all honesty,
this bill only includes only condos (FS 718) -- but the owners of
property in homeowners' associations are not better off. They suffer
from the same dilemma as the condo owners.
We already hear, especially from certain law firms,
that this will prevent owners from running for the board. That argument
is totally nonsense. It may prevent dishonest folks from running for the
board, because finally they may really get punished for their misdeeds.
Condo owner should thank the two bill sponsors -- Senator Jason Pizzo and State Representative Javier Fernandez -- for their efforts to bring justice into Florida's condo associations and should strongly support these efforts.
Homeowners (FS 720) should contact these two legislators and ask them to add the same language to the HOA ACT.
Stop complaining, work actively on supporting the bill to make sure that the bill goes to Governor Ron DeSantis desk to be signed into law! SB 610 -- The "LOCK-THEM-UP BILL" Please see as well my blog dated March 1, 2019 |