H
1397 IS ON THE AGENDA OF THE COMMITTEE
ON
FRIDAY, 03/27/09, at 8:00 A.M.
H
1397 will be a STRIKE-ALL BILL. Lots of changes are prepared to
the original filed bill.
Besides
all the original provisions, amendments are prepared for changes to FS 720 (HOA):
-
FS
720.303 -- Stop frivolous charges for record requests. We have seen charges of $100
for demand of minutes for one year. The charge for copying is set, but
they charge for manager’s time, getting docs out of storage etc. The
language needs serious clarification.
-
FS 720.303(10)
Recall needs to be rewritten to close the loopholes created by rulings
of the Division Arbitration Section. Interpretations now allows recall
without proof of sufficient ballots and a so-called reversed recall.
Totally killing legislative intent!
-
FS
720.305 – Frivolous legal
fees etc. Attorneys even charge legal fees for writing letters and
owners have to pay, no matter if the alleged violation was bogus. This
circumvents the legislative intent of FS 720.305 (prevailing party)
-
FS
720.306
-- Proxy Voting, Election and Eligibility of board members needs
to be changed. Annual meeting,
election and eligibility should be the same as in FS 718. (Rewrite of FS
720.306 – change to condo language)
-
FS
720.307 + 720.308
+ 720.3086 -- Developer
Control – It is imperative, especially because lots of developers
are going bankrupt, to protect the owners in developer controlled
associations that are far from fully being built out! These people are
losing everything! The number of associations with this problem is
growing by the day!
-
FS
720.3085 – Foreclosure
provision. We need to put in the owner’s protection against legal fees
with official notification letter. In many cases the legal fees are much
higher than the unpaid dues. Legal fees are often the reason why owners
can’t come up with the demanded amount!
Renters have to pay to
association if owner fails to pay dues. Same as in condos!
-
FS
720.405 + 407 – Revitalization – This is causing many nasty lawsuits with owners
pitted against owners, due to the vague language – not even the
Department of Community Affairs knows what to
make of it! And the opt-out clause expired in 2005!
Talking
Points:
MAKE SURE THAT YOU ASK THAT THE HOA AMENDMENTS ARE ADOPTED!
This
bill helps associations and owners to stay afloat in this bad economy. It
gives owners more financial security. Financial woes of associations caused
by foreclosures and empty homes in the community causes owners to pay more
to make up for the financially irresponsible neighbors and developers,
causing further financial hardship.
Owners
living in homeowners associations, who have no place to turn to -- no
regulatory agency -- need these proposed amendments. It gives them a
fighting chance to weather these hard times and gives them more influence in
association affairs and more protection against frivolous legal
charges and lawsuits. Bankrupt developers shouldn't bankrupt homeowners,
whose life-savings are invested in their homes.
We
need to protect the owners in order not to create more foreclosures!
COMPLETE
COMMITTEE
MAIL TO ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS and Legislative Aids:
(REGULAR
E-MAIL PROGRAM)
All
Legislative Aids:
Katie.Dickerson@myfloridahouse.gov;
Sandy.Matthews@myfloridahouse.gov;
[email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected]
MAIL TO ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS (AOL)
COMMITTEE
MEMBERS:
Thompson,
Nicholas R. (R)
CHAIR
[email protected]
Leg.
Aid: Katie.Dickerson@myfloridahouse.gov
Fort
Myers
,
FL
33901-3010
Phone:
(239) 533-2411
District
Secretary: Charlotte.Gammie
Weinstein,
Michael B. (R)
Vice Chair
[email protected]
Leg.
Aid: Sandy.Matthews@myfloridahouse.gov
Orange Park, FL 32073-2624
Phone: (904) 213-3005
District Secretary: Gwen Carmichael
Scionti,
Michael (D) Democratic Ranking Member
[email protected]
Leg.
Aid: John.Rodriguez@myfloridahouse.gov
Tampa, FL 33607-6228
Phone: (813) 673-4673
District Secretary: Rebekah Torres
Ambler,
Kevin (R)
[email protected]
Leg. Aid: [email protected]
Tampa, FL 33624-1865
Phone: (813) 558-1333
District Secretary: Amber Smith
Eisnaugle,
Eric (R)
[email protected]
Leg. Aid: Joshua.Johnson@myfloridahouse.gov
Orlando, FL 32806-2419
Phone: (407) 893-3141
District Secretary: Heidi McLaughlin
Fetterman,
Adam M. (D)
[email protected]
Leg.
Aid: Gaby.Suarez@myfloridahouse.gov
Port Saint Lucie, FL 34984-5042
Phone: (772) 873-6500
District Secretary: Thomas Rehyansky
Gibson,
Audrey (D)
[email protected]
Leg.
Aid: [email protected]
Jacksonville, FL 32202-3065
Phone: (904) 353-2180
District Secretary: Audrey Stripling
Grady,
Tom (R)
[email protected]
Leg.
Aid: Jacob.Pewitt@myfloridahouse.gov
Naples, FL 34112-4902
Phone: (239) 417-6200
District Secretary: Denise Rakich
Hukill,
Dorothy
(R)
[email protected]
Leg. Aid: Adam.Zurbriggen@myfloridahouse.gov
Port Orange, FL 32127-8915
Phone: (386) 322-5111
District Secretary: Edith Little
Stargel,
Kelli (R)
[email protected]
Leg.
Aid: [email protected]
Lakeland, FL 33803-3639
Phone: (863) 614-9156
District Secretary: Chris Dowdy
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