CT SB00129

Establishes an Office of Condominium Ombudsman within the Department of Consumer Protection, effective January 1, 2011, to investigate and resolve complaints concerning unit owners, boards of directors, and managing agents of condominiums and common interest communities.

Authorizes the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to investigate violations of condominium and common interest community statutes or bylaws related to budgets, meetings, and public records access; issue cease-and-desist orders; order restitution; and assess penalties up to $200 per knowing violation.

Requires unit owners to pay a $35 fee to file complaints with the ombudsman and mandates condominium associations to pay a $35 fee within 30 days of notice or face a $100 penalty.

Requires all condominium and common interest community associations to establish a dispute resolution process by January 1, 2011, for unit owner complaints before filing with the ombudsman office.

Imposes an annual fee of $4 per unit on all condominium and common interest community associations to fund the ombudsman office operations; increases community association manager registration fees from $100 to $400 and changes renewal from annual to biennial with fees raised from $200 to $400.