S.F. No. 339 Summary

• Creates an Office of Ombudsman for Common Interest Communities within the Commissioner of Commerce, with an attorney experienced in common interest ownership law to assist unit owners, associations, and the public.

• Establishes a common interest community calendar program in the Second and Fourth Judicial Districts (and optionally in other districts) with referees to hear disputes involving unit owners' and associations' rights under chapter 515B and governing documents.

• Requires associations to establish fair dispute resolution procedures and creates a mandatory "meet and confer" process if no procedure is established; requires alternative dispute resolution before enforcement actions can be filed in court.

• Allows courts to award reasonable attorney's fees to prevailing parties in enforcement actions and to unit owners prevailing in actions arising from association failures to comply with disclosure requirements.

• Increases recording and registration fees for common interest community documents (plats, amendments, declarations) with portions of fees directed to fund the new ombudsman office.