FL H0625

Establishes the Office of Community Association Hearings within the Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes and replaces arbitrators with full-time and certified community association hearing officers who must be Florida Bar members.

Requires community association hearing officers to be employed full-time or certified attorneys meeting specific experience requirements, with for-cause termination provisions and annual certification renewal.

Authorizes hearing officers to hold proceedings and impose sanctions against board members or officers who intentionally prevent associations from complying with applicable statutes, including reimbursement requirements and liens.

Modifies alternative dispute resolution procedures for homeowners' associations and condominiums to align with the new hearing officer system, maintaining $50 filing fees for nonbinding arbitration and $200 initial filing fees for election disputes.

Takes effect July 1, 2018, and conformingly amends related statutes governing condominiums, cooperatives, and homeowners' associations regarding dispute resolution and board recall procedures.