Bill Text: HI HB707 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Condominium Associations.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-12-01 - Carried over to 2020 Regular Session. [HB707 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-HB707-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	707
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATIONS.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that associations of apartment owners enjoy special protection as consumers.  Currently, the legislature has deemed individual condominium owners deserving of the same level of protection as the owners of single-family detached homes in recognition of the fact that condominium owners may not have access to sufficient resources to hire attorneys, consultants, and other advocates to act on their behalf in dealings with Hawaii's business community.

     The legislature further finds that when corporate interests are in charge of these associations, they are neither inexperienced in dealing with the business community nor do they lack resources to hire professional services firms to represent their interests.  Therefore, giving them the special status of a consumer is unnecessary and unwarranted.  Importantly, this Act preserves the special consumer status that association boards enjoy in any and all cases where the board is not under the control of a corporate entity or entities.

     The purpose of this Act is to close a loophole in Hawaii law that allows large, out-of-state corporations that control apartment associations to masquerade as consumers and exploit Hawaii's consumer protection legislation to their own benefit.

     SECTION 2.  Section 514B-104, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Except as provided in section 514B‑105, and subject to the provisions of the declaration and bylaws, the association, even if unincorporated, may:

     (1)  Adopt and amend the declaration, bylaws, and rules and regulations;

     (2)  Adopt and amend budgets for revenues, expenditures, and reserves and collect assessments for common expenses from unit owners, subject to section 514B‑148;

     (3)  Hire and discharge managing agents and other independent contractors, agents, and employees;

     (4)  Institute, defend, or intervene in litigation or administrative proceedings in its own name on behalf of itself or two or more unit owners on matters affecting the condominium.  For the purposes of actions under chapter 480, [associations] an association shall be deemed to be ["consumers";] a "consumer" only if more than fifty per cent of the units in the project are owned by individuals;

     (5)  Make contracts and incur liabilities;

     (6)  Regulate the use, maintenance, repair, replacement, and modification of common elements;

     (7)  Cause additional improvements to be made as a part of the common elements;

     (8)  Acquire, hold, encumber, and convey in its own name any right, title, or interest to real or personal property; provided that:

          (A)  Designation of additional areas to be common elements or subject to common expenses after the initial filing of the declaration or bylaws shall require the approval of at least sixty-seven per cent of the unit owners;

          (B)  If the developer discloses to the initial buyer in writing that additional areas will be designated as common elements whether pursuant to an incremental or phased project or otherwise, the requirements of this paragraph shall not apply as to those additional areas; and

          (C)  The requirements of this paragraph shall not apply to the purchase of a unit for a resident manager, which may be purchased with the approval of the board;

     (9)  Subject to section 514B‑38, grant easements, leases, licenses, and concessions through or over the common elements and permit encroachments on the common elements;

    (10)  Impose and receive any payments, fees, or charges for the use, rental, or operation of the common elements, other than limited common elements described in section 514B‑35(2) and (4), and for services provided to unit owners;

    (11)  Impose charges and penalties, including late fees and interest, for late payment of assessments and levy reasonable fines for violations of the declaration, bylaws, rules, and regulations of the association, either in accordance with the bylaws or, if the bylaws are silent, pursuant to a resolution adopted by the board that establishes a fining procedure that states the basis for the fine and allows an appeal to the board of the fine with notice and an opportunity to be heard and providing that if the fine is paid, the unit owner shall have the right to initiate a dispute resolution process as provided by sections 514B-161, 514B-162, or by filing a request for an administrative hearing under a pilot program administered by the department of commerce and consumer affairs;

    (12)  Impose reasonable charges for the preparation and recordation of amendments to the declaration, documents requested for resale of units, or statements of unpaid assessments;

    (13)  Provide for cumulative voting through a provision in the bylaws;

    (14)  Provide for the indemnification of its officers, board, committee members, and agents, and maintain directors' and officers' liability insurance;

    (15)  Assign its right to future income, including the right to receive common expense assessments, but only to the extent section 514B‑105(e) expressly so provides;

    (16)  Exercise any other powers conferred by the declaration or bylaws;

    (17)  Exercise all other powers that may be exercised in this State by legal entities of the same type as the association, except to the extent inconsistent with this chapter;

    (18)  Exercise any other powers necessary and proper for the governance and operation of the association; and

    (19)  By regulation, subject to sections 514B‑146, 514B‑161, and 514B‑162, require that disputes between the board and unit owners or between two or more unit owners regarding the condominium be submitted to nonbinding alternative dispute resolution in the manner described in the regulation as a prerequisite to commencement of a judicial proceeding."

     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.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Condominium Associations; Powers; Consumers; Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices

 

Description:

Removes the capacity to bring an action based upon unfair or deceptive acts or practices from condominium associations in which individuals own fifty per cent or fewer of the units in the project.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.