HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 1 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S A bill to be entitled 1 An act relating to homeowners' associations; amending 2 s. 468.4334, F.S.; providing requirements for certain 3 community association managers and community 4 association management firms; amending s. 468.4337, 5 F.S.; requiring certain community association manag ers 6 to take a specific number of hours of continuing 7 education biennially; amending s. 720.303, F.S.; 8 requiring official records of a homeowners' 9 association to be maintained for a certain number of 10 years; requiring an association to post certain 11 documents on its website or make such documents 12 available through an application by a date certain; 13 providing requirements for an association's website or 14 application; requiring an association to provide 15 certain information to parcel owners upon request; 16 requiring an association to ensure certain information 17 and records are not accessible on the website or 18 application; providing that an association or its 19 agent is not liable for the disclosure of certain 20 information; requiring an association to adopt certain 21 rules; requiring an association to provide or make 22 available subpoenaed records within a certain 23 timeframe; requiring an association to assist in a law 24 enforcement investigation as allowed by law; requiring 25 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 2 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S that certain associations use an independent certified 26 public accountant to prepare its annual budget; 27 requiring certain associations to retain an attorney 28 for certain purposes; prohibiting certain persons from 29 acting as the accountant or attorney; amending s. 30 720.3033, F.S.; providing education requirements fo r 31 newly elected or appointed directors; providing 32 requirements for the educational curriculum; requiring 33 certain newly elected or appointed directors to 34 complete a certain number of hours of continuing 35 education annually; requiring the Department of 36 Business and Professional Regulation to adopt certain 37 rules; providing criminal penalties for certain 38 actions by an officer, a director, or a manager of an 39 association; amending s. 720.3035, F.S.; requiring an 40 association or any architectural, construction 41 improvement, or other such similar committee of an 42 association to apply and enforce certain standards 43 reasonably and equitably; requiring an association or 44 any architectural, construction improvement, or other 45 such similar committee of an association to provide 46 certain written notice to a parcel owner; amending s. 47 720.3085, F.S.; conforming a cross -reference; 48 providing an effective date. 49 50 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 3 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 51 52 Section 1. Subsection (3) is added to section 468.4334, 53 Florida Statutes, to read: 54 468.4334 Professional practice standards; liability ; 55 community association manager requirements .— 56 (3) A community association manager or community 57 association management firm that is authorized by contract to 58 provide community association management services to a 59 homeowners' association must do all of the following: 60 (a) Attend in person at least one member meeting or board 61 meeting of the homeowners' association annually. 62 (b) Provide to the members of the homeowners' associat ion 63 the name and contact information for each community association 64 manager or representative of a community association management 65 firm assigned to the homeowners' association, the manager's or 66 representative's hours of availability, and a summary of the 67 duties for which the manager or representative is responsible. 68 The homeowners' association must also post this information on 69 the association's website or application required under s. 70 720.303(4)(b). The community association manager or community 71 association management firm must update the homeowners' 72 association and its members within 14 business days after any 73 change to such information. 74 (c) Provide to any member upon request a copy of the 75 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 4 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S contract between the community association manager or community 76 association management firm and the homeowners' association and 77 include such contract with association's governing documents. 78 Section 2. Section 468.4337, Florida Statutes, is amended 79 to read: 80 468.4337 Continuing education. —The department may not 81 renew a license until the licensee submits proof that the 82 licensee has completed the requisite hours of continuing 83 education. No more than 10 hours of continuing education 84 annually shall be required for renewal of a license. The number 85 of continuing education hours, criteria, and course content 86 shall be approved by the council by rule. The council may not 87 require more than 10 hours of continuing education annually for 88 renewal of a license. A community association manager who 89 provides community association mana gement services to a 90 homeowners' association must biennially complete at least 5 91 hours of continuing education that pertains specifically to 92 homeowners' associations, 3 hours of which must relate to 93 recordkeeping. 94 Section 3. Subsections (4) and (5) and paragraphs (a), 95 (d), and (f) of subsection (6) of section 720.303, Florida 96 Statutes, are amended to read: 97 720.303 Association powers and duties; meetings of board; 98 official records; budgets; financial reporting; association 99 funds; recalls.— 100 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 5 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S (4) OFFICIAL RECORDS.— 101 (a) The association shall maintain each of the following 102 items, when applicable, for at least 7 years, unless the 103 governing documents of the association require a longer period 104 of time, which constitute the official records of the 105 association: 106 1.(a) Copies of any plans, specifications, permits, and 107 warranties related to improvements constructed on the common 108 areas or other property that the association is obligated to 109 maintain, repair, or replace. 110 2.(b) A copy of the bylaws of the association and of each 111 amendment to the bylaws. 112 3.(c) A copy of the articles of incorporation of the 113 association and of each amendment thereto. 114 4.(d) A copy of the declaration of covenants and a copy of 115 each amendment thereto. 116 5.(e) A copy of the current rules of the homeowners' 117 association. 118 6.(f) The minutes of all meetings of the board of 119 directors and of the members , which minutes must be retained for 120 at least 7 years. 121 7.(g) A current roster of all members and the ir designated 122 mailing addresses and parcel identifications. A member's 123 designated mailing address is the member's property address, 124 unless the member has sent written notice to the association 125 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 6 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S requesting that a different mailing address be used for all 126 required notices. The association shall also maintain the e -mail 127 addresses and the facsimile numbers designated by members for 128 receiving notice sent by electronic transmission of those 129 members consenting to receive notice by electronic transmission. 130 A member's e-mail address is the e -mail address the member 131 provided when consenting in writing to receiving notice by 132 electronic transmission, unless the member has sent written 133 notice to the association requesting that a different e -mail 134 address be used for all re quired notices. The e -mail addresses 135 and facsimile numbers provided by members to receive notice by 136 electronic transmission must be removed from association records 137 when the member revokes consent to receive notice by electronic 138 transmission. However, the association is not liable for an 139 erroneous disclosure of the e -mail address or the facsimile 140 number for receiving electronic transmission of notices. 141 8.(h) All of the association's insurance policies or a 142 copy thereof, which policies must be retained for at least 7 143 years. 144 9.(i) A current copy of all contracts to which the 145 association is a party, including, without limitation, any 146 management agreement, lease, or other contract under which the 147 association has any obligation or responsibility. Bids receive d 148 by the association for work to be performed are must also be 149 considered official records and must be kept for a period of 1 150 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 7 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S year. 151 10.(j) The financial and accounting records of the 152 association, kept according to good accounting practices. All 153 financial and accounting records must be maintained for a period 154 of at least 7 years. The financial and accounting records must 155 include: 156 a.1. Accurate, itemized, and detailed records of all 157 receipts and expenditures. 158 b.2. A current account and a periodic statem ent of the 159 account for each member, designating the name and current 160 address of each member who is obligated to pay assessments, the 161 due date and amount of each assessment or other charge against 162 the member, the date and amount of each payment on the accou nt, 163 and the balance due. 164 c.3. All tax returns, financial statements, and financial 165 reports of the association. 166 d.4. Any other records that identify, measure, record, or 167 communicate financial information. 168 11.(k) A copy of the disclosure summary descri bed in s. 169 720.401(1). 170 12.(l) Ballots, sign-in sheets, voting proxies, and all 171 other papers and electronic records relating to voting by parcel 172 owners, which must be maintained for at least 1 year after the 173 date of the election, vote, or meeting. 174 13.(m) All affirmative acknowledgments made pursuant to s. 175 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 8 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S 720.3085(3)(c)3. 176 14.(n) All other written records of the association not 177 specifically included in this subsection which are related to 178 the operation of the association. 179 (b)1. By January 1, 2025, an association shall post a 180 current digital copy of the documents specified in paragraph (a) 181 on its website or make such documents available through an 182 application that can be downloaded on a mobile device. 183 2. The association's website or application must b e 184 accessible through the Internet and must contain a subpage, web 185 portal, or other protected electronic location that is 186 inaccessible to the general public and accessible only to parcel 187 owners and employees of the association. 188 3. Upon written request by a parcel owner, the association 189 must provide the parcel owner with a username and password and 190 access to the protected sections of the association's website or 191 application which contains the official documents of the 192 association. 193 4. The association shall ensure that the information and 194 records described in paragraph (5)(d), which are not allowed to 195 be accessible to parcel owners, are not posted on the 196 association's website or application. If protected information 197 or information restricted from being acces sible to parcel owners 198 is included in documents that are required to be posted on the 199 association's website or application, the association must 200 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 9 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S ensure the information is redacted before posting the documents. 201 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the association or its authorized 202 agent is not liable for disclosing information that is protected 203 or restricted under paragraph (5)(d) unless such disclosure was 204 made with a knowing or intentional disregard of the protected or 205 restricted nature of such information. 206 (c) The association shall adopt written rules governing 207 the method or policy by which the official records of the 208 association are to be retained and for how long such records 209 must be retained. Such information must be made available to the 210 parcel owners through the association's website or application. 211 (5) INSPECTION AND COPYING OF RECORDS. —Unless otherwise 212 provided by law or the governing documents of the association, 213 the official records must shall be maintained within the state 214 for at least 7 years and shall be made available to a parcel 215 owner for inspection or photocopying within 45 miles of the 216 community or within the county in which the association is 217 located within 10 business days after receipt by the board or 218 its designee of a written request from the parcel owner. This 219 subsection may be complied with by having a copy of the official 220 records available for inspection or copying in the community or , 221 at the option of the association, by making the records 222 available to a parcel owner electronically via t he association's 223 website or application Internet or by allowing the records to be 224 viewed in electronic format on a computer screen and printed 225 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 10 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S upon request. If the association has a photocopy machine 226 available where the records are maintained, it must prov ide 227 parcel owners with copies on request during the inspection if 228 the entire request is limited to no more than 25 pages. An 229 association shall allow a member or his or her authorized 230 representative to use a portable device, including a smartphone, 231 tablet, portable scanner, or any other technology capable of 232 scanning or taking photographs, to make an electronic copy of 233 the official records in lieu of the association's providing the 234 member or his or her authorized representative with a copy of 235 such records. The association may not charge a fee to a member 236 or his or her authorized representative for the use of a 237 portable device. 238 (a) The failure of an association to provide access to the 239 records within 10 business days after receipt of a written 240 request submitted by certified mail, return receipt requested, 241 creates a rebuttable presumption that the association willfully 242 failed to comply with this subsection. 243 (b) A member who is denied access to official records is 244 entitled to the actual damages or minimum dam ages for the 245 association's willful failure to comply with this subsection. 246 The minimum damages are to be $50 per calendar day up to 10 247 days, the calculation to begin on the 11th business day after 248 receipt of the written request. 249 (c) The association may a dopt reasonable written rules 250 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 11 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S governing the frequency, time, location, notice, records to be 251 inspected, and manner of inspections, but may not require a 252 parcel owner to demonstrate any proper purpose for the 253 inspection, state any reason for the inspection, or limit a 254 parcel owner's right to inspect records to less than one 8 -hour 255 business day per month. The association may impose fees to cover 256 the costs of providing copies of the official records, including 257 the costs of copying and the costs required for pe rsonnel to 258 retrieve and copy the records if the time spent retrieving and 259 copying the records exceeds one -half hour and if the personnel 260 costs do not exceed $20 per hour. Personnel costs may not be 261 charged for records requests that result in the copying of 25 or 262 fewer pages. The association may charge up to 25 cents per page 263 for copies made on the association's photocopier. If the 264 association does not have a photocopy machine available where 265 the records are kept, or if the records requested to be copied 266 exceed 25 pages in length, the association may have copies made 267 by an outside duplicating service and may charge the actual cost 268 of copying, as supported by the vendor invoice. The association 269 shall maintain an adequate number of copies of the recorded 270 governing documents, to ensure their availability to members and 271 prospective members. 272 (d) Notwithstanding this subsection paragraph, the 273 following records are not accessible to members or parcel 274 owners: 275 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 12 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S 1. Any record protected by the lawyer -client privilege as 276 described in s. 90.502 and any record protected by the work -277 product privilege, including, but not limited to, a record 278 prepared by an association attorney or prepared at the 279 attorney's express direction which reflects a mental impression, 280 conclusion, litigation strategy, or legal theory of the attorney 281 or the association and which was prepared exclusively for civil 282 or criminal litigation or for adversarial administrative 283 proceedings or which was prepared in anticipation of such 284 litigation or proceedings until the conclusion of the litigation 285 or proceedings. 286 2. Information obtained by an association in connection 287 with the approval of the lease, sale, or other transfer of a 288 parcel. 289 3. Information an association obtains in a gated community 290 in connection with guests' visits to parcel owners or community 291 residents. 292 4. Personnel records of association or management company 293 employees, including, but not limited to, disciplinary, payroll, 294 health, and insurance records. For purposes of this 295 subparagraph, the term "personnel records" does not include 296 written employment agreements with an association or management 297 company employee or budgetary or financial records that indicate 298 the compensation paid to an association or management company 299 employee. 300 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 13 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S 5. Medical records of parcel owners or community 301 residents. 302 6. Social security numbers, driver license numbers, credit 303 card numbers, electronic mailing addresses, telephone numbers, 304 facsimile numbers, emergency contact information, any addresses 305 for a parcel owner other than as provided for association notice 306 requirements, and other personal identifying information of any 307 person, excluding the person's name, parcel designation, mailing 308 address, and property address. Notwithstanding the restrictions 309 in this subparagraph, an association may print and distribute to 310 parcel owners a directory containing the name, parcel address, 311 and all telephone numbers of each parcel owner. However, an 312 owner may exclude his or her telephone numbers from the 313 directory by so requesting in writing to the association. An 314 owner may consent in writing to the disclosure of other contact 315 information described in this subparagraph. The association is 316 not liable for the disclosure of information that is protected 317 under this subparagraph if the information is included in an 318 official record of the association and is voluntarily provided 319 by an owner and not requested by the association. 320 7. Any electronic security measure that is used by the 321 association to safeguard data, including passwor ds. 322 8. The software and operating system used by the 323 association which allows the manipulation of data, even if the 324 owner owns a copy of the same software used by the association. 325 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 14 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S The data is part of the official records of the association. 326 9. All affirmative acknowledgments made pursuant to s. 327 720.3085(3)(c)3. 328 (e)(d) The association or its authorized agent is not 329 required to provide a prospective purchaser or lienholder with 330 information about the residential subdivision or the association 331 other than information or documents required by this chapter to 332 be made available or disclosed. The association or its 333 authorized agent may charge a reasonable fee to the prospective 334 purchaser or lienholder or the current parcel owner or member 335 for providing good fai th responses to requests for information 336 by or on behalf of a prospective purchaser or lienholder, other 337 than that required by law, if the fee does not exceed $150 plus 338 the reasonable cost of photocopying and any attorney fees 339 incurred by the association i n connection with the response. 340 (f) If an association receives a subpoena for records from 341 a law enforcement agency, the association must provide a copy of 342 such records or otherwise make the records available for 343 inspection and copying to a law enforceme nt agency within 5 344 business days after receipt of the subpoena, unless otherwise 345 specified by the law enforcement agency or subpoena. An 346 association must assist a law enforcement agency in its 347 investigation to the extent permissible by law. 348 (6) BUDGETS.— 349 (a)1. The association shall prepare an annual budget that 350 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 15 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S sets out the annual operating expenses. The budget must reflect 351 the estimated revenues and expenses for that year and the 352 estimated surplus or deficit as of the end of the current year. 353 The budget must set out separately all fees or charges paid for 354 by the association for recreational amenities, whether owned by 355 the association, the developer, or another person. The 356 association shall provide each member with a copy of the annual 357 budget or a written notice that a copy of the budget is 358 available upon request at no charge to the member. The copy must 359 be provided to the member within the time limits set forth in 360 subsection (5). 361 2. An association that has 2,500 members or more must use 362 an independent certified public accountant to prepare the 363 association's annual budget. Such association must also retain 364 an attorney to advise the association and its members on 365 procedural matters relating to the annual budget and to foster 366 communications between the boa rd and the members of the 367 association. The independent certified public accountant or 368 attorney required under this subparagraph may not be: 369 a. The community association manager or an employee of the 370 community association management firm providing communi ty 371 association management services to the association; or 372 b. An officer or a director of the association or an 373 immediate family member of an officer or a director. 374 (d) An association is deemed to have provided for reserve 375 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 16 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S accounts upon the affirmative approval of a majority of the 376 total voting interests of the association. Such approval may be 377 obtained by vote of the members at a duly called meeting of the 378 membership or by the written consent of a majority of the total 379 voting interests of the associatio n. The approval action of the 380 membership must state that reserve accounts shall be provided 381 for in the budget and must designate the components for which 382 the reserve accounts are to be established. Upon approval by the 383 membership, the board of directors or the independent certified 384 public accountant, if required under paragraph (a), shall 385 include the required reserve accounts in the budget in the next 386 fiscal year following the approval and each year thereafter. 387 Once established as provided in this subsectio n, the reserve 388 accounts must be funded or maintained or have their funding 389 waived in the manner provided in paragraph (f). 390 (f) After one or more reserve accounts are established, 391 the membership of the association, upon a majority vote at a 392 meeting at which a quorum is present, may provide for no 393 reserves or less reserves than required by this section. If a 394 meeting of the parcel unit owners has been called to determine 395 whether to waive or reduce the funding of reserves and such 396 result is not achieved or a quorum is not present, the reserves 397 as included in the budget go into effect. After the turnover, 398 the developer may vote its voting interest to waive or reduce 399 the funding of reserves. Any vote taken pursuant to this 400 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 17 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S subsection to waive or reduce reserves is applicable only to one 401 budget year. 402 Section 4. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 720.3033, 403 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 404 720.3033 Officers and directors. — 405 (1)(a) Within 90 days after being elected or appointed to 406 the board, each director shall certify in writing to the 407 secretary of the association that he or she has read the 408 association's declaration of covenants, articles of 409 incorporation, bylaws, and current written rules and policies; 410 that he or she will work to uphold such documents and policies 411 to the best of his or her ability; and that he or she will 412 faithfully discharge his or her fiduciary responsibility to the 413 association's members. Within 90 days after being elected or 414 appointed to the board, in lieu of such written certificat ion, 415 the newly elected or appointed director must may submit a 416 certificate of having satisfactorily completed the educational 417 curriculum administered by a department-approved division-418 approved education provider. 419 1. The newly elected or appointed directo r must complete 420 the department-approved education within 90 days after being 421 elected or appointed. 422 2. The certificate of completion is valid for a maximum of 423 4 years. 424 3. A director must complete such education at least every 425 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 18 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S 4 years. 426 4. The department-approved educational curriculum must 427 include training relating to financial literacy and 428 transparency, recordkeeping, levying of fines, and notice and 429 meeting requirements. 430 5. A newly elected or appointed director of an association 431 that has fewer than 1,000 members must complete at least 4 hours 432 of continuing education annually. 433 6. A newly elected or appointed director of an association 434 that has 1,000 members or more must complete at least 8 hours of 435 continuing education annually within 1 year before or 90 days 436 after the date of election or appointment . 437 (b) The written certification or educational certificate 438 is valid for the uninterrupted tenure of the director on the 439 board. A director who does not timely file the written 440 certification or educational certificate is shall be suspended 441 from the board until he or she complies with the requirement. 442 The board may temporarily fill the vacancy during the period of 443 suspension. 444 (c) The association shall retain each director's written 445 certification or educational certificate for inspection by the 446 members for 5 years after the director's election. However, the 447 failure to have the written certification or educational 448 certificate on file does not affect the validity of any board 449 action. 450 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 19 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S (d) The department shall adopt rules to implement and 451 administer the educational curriculum and continuing education 452 requirements under this subsection. 453 (3) An officer, a director, or a manager may not solicit, 454 offer to accept, or accept, or receive any thing or service of 455 value for which consideration has not been provided for his or 456 her benefit or for the benefit of a member of his or her 457 immediate family from any person providing or proposing to 458 provide goods or services to the association. An off icer, a 459 director, or a manager who knowingly solicits, offers to accept, 460 or accepts, or receives any thing or service of value or 461 kickback that is at least $25 but not more than $1,000 for which 462 consideration has not been provided for his or her own benefi t 463 or that of his or her immediate family from any person providing 464 or proposing to provide goods or services to the association 465 commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as 466 provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083 and is subject to monetary 467 damages under s. 617.0834. If such thing or kickback is valued 468 at $1,000 or more, the officer, director, or manager commits a 469 felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 470 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084 and is subject to monetary 471 damages under s. 617.0834. If the board finds that an officer or 472 a director has violated this subsection, the board shall 473 immediately remove the officer or director from office. The 474 vacancy shall be filled according to law until the end of the 475 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 20 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S officer's or director's term o f office. However, an officer, a 476 director, or a manager may accept food to be consumed at a 477 business meeting with a value of less than $25 per individual or 478 a service or good received in connection with trade fairs or 479 education programs. 480 Section 5. Subsections (1) and (4) of section 720.3035, 481 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 482 720.3035 Architectural control covenants; parcel owner 483 improvements; rights and privileges. — 484 (1) The authority of an association or any architectural, 485 construction improve ment, or other such similar committee of an 486 association to review and approve plans and specifications for 487 the location, size, type, or appearance of any structure or 488 other improvement on a parcel, or to enforce standards for the 489 external appearance of any structure or improvement located on a 490 parcel, is shall be permitted only to the extent that the 491 authority is specifically stated or reasonably inferred as to 492 such location, size, type, or appearance in the declaration of 493 covenants or other published guide lines and standards authorized 494 by the declaration of covenants. An association or any 495 architectural, construction improvement, or similar committee of 496 an association must reasonably and equitably apply and enforce 497 on all parcel owners the architectural and construction 498 improvement standards authorized by the declaration of covenants 499 or other published guidelines and standards authorized by the 500 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 21 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S declaration of covenants. 501 (4) Each parcel owner is shall be entitled to the rights 502 and privileges set forth in th e declaration of covenants or 503 other published guidelines and standards authorized by the 504 declaration of covenants concerning the architectural use of the 505 parcel, and the construction of permitted structures and 506 improvements on the parcel and such rights an d privileges may 507 shall not be unreasonably infringed upon or impaired by the 508 association or any architectural, construction improvement, or 509 other such similar committee of the association. If the 510 association or any architectural, construction improvement, or 511 other such similar committee of the association denies a parcel 512 owner's request or application for the construction of a 513 structure or other improvement on a parcel, the association or 514 committee must provide written notice to the parcel owner 515 stating with specificity the rule or covenant on which the 516 association or committee relied when denying the request or 517 application and the specific aspect or part of the proposed 518 improvement that does not conform to such rule or covenant. If 519 the association or any ar chitectural, construction improvement, 520 or other such similar committee of the association should 521 unreasonably, knowingly, and willfully infringe upon or impair 522 the rights and privileges set forth in the declaration of 523 covenants or other published guideline s and standards authorized 524 by the declaration of covenants, the adversely affected parcel 525 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 22 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S owner is shall be entitled to recover damages caused by such 526 infringement or impairment, including any costs and reasonable 527 attorney attorney's fees incurred in prese rving or restoring the 528 rights and privileges of the parcel owner set forth in the 529 declaration of covenants or other published guidelines and 530 standards authorized by the declaration of covenants. 531 Section 6. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section 532 720.3085, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 533 720.3085 Payment for assessments; lien claims. — 534 (3) Assessments and installments on assessments that are 535 not paid when due bear interest from the due date until paid at 536 the rate provided in the declaration o f covenants or the bylaws 537 of the association, which rate may not exceed the rate allowed 538 by law. If no rate is provided in the declaration or bylaws, 539 interest accrues at the rate of 18 percent per year. 540 (c)1. If an association sends out an invoice for 541 assessments or a parcel's statement of the account described in 542 s. 720.303(4)(a)10.b. s. 720.303(4)(j)2., the invoice for 543 assessments or the parcel's statement of account must be 544 delivered to the parcel owner by first -class United States mail 545 or by electronic transmission to the parcel owner's e -mail 546 address maintained in the association's official records. 547 2. Before changing the method of delivery for an invoice 548 for assessments or the statement of the account, the association 549 must deliver a written notice of such change to each parcel 550 HB 1243 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1243-00 Page 23 of 23 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S owner. The written notice must be delivered to the parcel owner 551 at least 30 days before the association sends the invoice for 552 assessments or the statement of the account by the new delivery 553 method. The notice must be sent by f irst-class United States 554 mail to the owner at his or her last address as reflected in the 555 association's records and, if such address is not the parcel 556 address, must be sent by first -class United States mail to the 557 parcel address. Notice is deemed to have b een delivered upon 558 mailing as required by this subparagraph. 559 3. A parcel owner must affirmatively acknowledge his or 560 her understanding that the association will change its method of 561 delivery of the invoice for assessments or the statement of the 562 account before the association may change the method of 563 delivering an invoice for assessments or the statement of 564 account. The parcel owner may make the affirmative 565 acknowledgment electronically or in writing. 566 Section 7. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 567