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February 7, 2006
It's the Crazy Season Again!
I took a little time off to try and find some sunshine, and that's what I found, a little sunshine. I returned to the Super Bowl madness around here, but for a change, nothing but good news about my home town. I can't say the same for the news around the country - it's crazy season again - the legislatures' are in session!
Arizona, which won the "Most Stupid Proposed Law" for 2005, is already in the running for 2006. Senate Bill 1008-472R proposes "Limits an HOA’s ability to foreclose on a lien for assessments to liens which totals $5,000 or more in unpaid assessments." Given the fact that many HOA's assessments don't exceed $250 annually, an owner can go 20 years without paying his fair share and not worry about it. Let's re-name this the "Deadbeat's Heaven" law.
Arizona is also proposing to overide local decisions by requiring HOA's to allow the outdoor flying of Service flags, (how come no one ever fights to fly a state flag); allowing municpal utility employees to park their city-owned vehicles in driveways or streets; limits the cost of providing HOA records to homeowners to $20/hour and $.20/page; and, in another bill, requires the documents to be made available in 10 business days (and only charge $.15/page), and will remove the issue of discussion of potential litigation from the conditions under which a board may close a meeting or withhold records.
Whew!, they're going to be busy.
California, feeling bad that Florida got an ombudsman before they did, is now proposing one for themselves. (If it makes you feel any better, Florida's ombudsman was quoted as saying that reserve funds were just an invitation for board abuse). Besides, California is still trying to figure out how to implements last year's laws, without breaking their budgets with legal opinions.
Colorado is having the same problems, how to implement last year's laws, but is trying to at least clean up some of the mess left behind.
Hawaii's looking at so many changes I'm just going to refer you to a local blog.
It's still early in the year, so I imagine we're going to see a lot more in a very short time. Watching this every year reminds me why old sayings never seem to go away, the "squeaky wheel" does get the grease.
Posted by joewest at February 7, 2006 11:05 AM