HB 1745 Summary

• Establishes an ombudsman's office for homeowner associations within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to address disputes involving condominiums, cooperative housing corporations, and planned community associations.

• Creates an ombudsman position (appointed by the director with governor approval) and supporting staff including complaints and enforcement officers and intake specialists to investigate disputes, provide advisory opinions, and conduct contested case hearings.

• Requires all board members of homeowner associations to complete educational classes established by the ombudsman within three months and recertify every three years on their responsibilities, duties, and governing laws.

• Replaces existing mediation and arbitration procedures with a new dispute intervention process through the ombudsman's office for disputes involving interpretation and enforcement of association governing documents and applicable laws.

• Establishes an ombudsman's office special fund financed by condominium education trust fund fees and assessments from cooperative housing corporations and planned community associations to cover administrative costs and operations.