Bill Text: HI HB599 | 2021 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Association Governance.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-25 - Act 083, on 06/24/2021 (Gov. Msg. No. 1185). [HB599 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2021-HB599-Amended.html
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
599 |
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 1 |
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C.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO ASSOCIATION GOVERNANCE.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Section 421J-3.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§421J-3.5 Notice required; regular, annual,
and special meetings.[]]
(a) Not less than fourteen days
in advance of any regular, annual [meeting], or special
meeting of an association, the secretary or other officer specified in the
bylaws shall give written notice of the meeting to each member of the
association as provided in the bylaws of the association or by two or more of
the following means:
(1) Hand delivery;
(2) United States mail sent to the mailing address of each unit or to another mailing address designated in writing by the association member;
(3) Electronic mail to the electronic mailing address designated in writing by the association member; or
(4) Posting of the meeting notice in its entirety on a portion of the association's website that is accessible to all members.
(b) Notice pursuant to this section shall state:
(1) The date, time, and place of the meeting; and
(2) The items on the agenda, including the general nature of and rationale for any proposed amendment to the declaration or bylaws; any proposal for a special assessment, unless the authority for a special assessment is otherwise provided for in the association's governing documents; and any proposal to remove a member of the board.
(c) The requirements of this section shall not be interpreted to preclude any association member from proposing an amendment to the declaration or bylaws or proposing to remove a member of the board at an association meeting.
(d) The requirements of this section shall not be interpreted to apply to any board meetings or committee meetings of a planned community association.
(e) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the association documents, the association may conduct an annual, regular, or special meeting remotely in a manner consistent with section 414D-101(g) or 414D-102(f), as applicable."
SECTION 2. Section 514B-121, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:
1. By amending subsection (b) to read:
"(b)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, except as provided
in subsection (e), or the declaration or bylaws of a condominium to the
contrary, at any association meeting the board may direct the use of an
electronic voting device regardless of whether a secret ballot is used or
required. [Such] Except as provided
in subsection (e), the use shall be subject to the following:
(1) The electronic voting
device and all associated equipment shall be isolated from any connection to an
external network, including the Internet;
(2) The board shall
establish reasonable procedures to provide for the secrecy and integrity of the
unit owners' votes, including but not limited to procedures that ensure the
availability of a printed audit trail containing:
(A) The
reference number of the electronic voting device;
(B) Each
common interest voted; and
(C) The
vote that was tabulated;
(3) A copy of the printed
audit trail shall be available to owners after the meeting in the same manner provided
by sections 514B-154 and 514B-154.5; and
(4) A copy of the
procedures established pursuant to paragraph (2) shall be available at no
charge to any owner and a copy shall be available at any meeting at which the
association uses an electronic voting device.
In the event of any conflict between this
subsection and subsection (e), subsection (e) shall control."
2. By
amending subsection (e) to read:
"(e)
All association meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the most
recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised. [If so provided in the declaration or
bylaws, meetings may be conducted by any means that allow
participation by all unit owners in any deliberation or discussion.] Notwithstanding
any provision to the contrary in the association's declaration or bylaws or in subsection
(b), electronic meetings and electronic, machine, or mail voting shall be authorized:
(1) During any period in which a state of emergency or local state of emergency, declared pursuant to chapter 127A, is in effect in the county in which the condominium is located;
(2) For any association meeting for which notice was given while a state of emergency or local state of emergency, declared pursuant to chapter 127A, was in effect for the county in which the condominium is located but is no longer in effect as of the date of the meeting; provided that the meeting is held within sixty days of the date the notice was first given; or
(3) Whenever otherwise authorized in an association's
declaration or bylaws."
SECTION 3.
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken. New statutory
material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
Association Meetings; Planned Community Associations; Condominium Associations; Remote Meetings; Electronic Meetings; Voting; State of Emergency; Local State of Emergency
Description:
Clarifies that planned community associations may conduct meetings remotely consistent with the Hawaii Nonprofit Corporations Act. Authorizes condominium associations to conduct electronic meetings and electronic, machine, or mail voting during a state of emergency or local state of emergency, or any meeting noticed during such emergencies and for which the applicable emergency has since expired. (CD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.