EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0071*
SENATE BILL 71
N1 5lr1650
(PRE–FILED) CF 5lr1647
By: Senator Sydnor
Requested: November 1, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Task Force on Common Ownership Communities 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the Task Force on Common Ownership Communities; 3
requiring the Task Force to submit a report of findings and recommendations; and 4
generally relating to the Task Force on Common Ownership Communities. 5
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 6
That: 7
(a) In this section, “common ownership community” means: 8
(1) a condominium, as defined in § 11–101 of the Real Property Article; 9
(2) a cooperative housing corporation, as defined in § 5–6B–01 of the 10
Corporations and Associations Article; or 11
(3) a homeowners association, as defined in § 11B–101 of the Real Property 12
Article. 13
(b) There is a Task Force on Common Ownership Communities. 14
(c) The Task Force consists of the following members: 15
(1) two members of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of 16
the Senate; 17
(2) two members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of 18
the House; 19
(3) the Secretary of Housing and Community Development, or the 20 2 SENATE BILL 71
Secretary’s designee; 1
(4) the Secretary of Labor, or the Secretary’s designee; 2
(5) one representative of the Consumer Protection Division in the Office of 3
the Attorney General; 4
(6) one representative from the field of alternative dispute resolution, 5
appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland; 6
(7) two representatives of the general public, appointed by the President of 7
the Senate: 8
(i) one of whom is a member of a board of directors of a large 9
common ownership community; and 10
(ii) one of whom is a member of a board of directors of a 11
medium–sized or small common ownership community; 12
(8) two representatives of the general public, appointed by the Speaker of 13
the House: 14
(i) one of whom is a member of a board of directors of a large 15
common ownership community; and 16
(ii) one of whom is a member of a board of directors of a 17
medium–sized or small common ownership community; and 18
(9) seven representatives of the general public, appointed by the Governor: 19
(i) one of whom owns a home or dwelling unit in a common 20
ownership community; 21
(ii) one of whom is not a member of a board of directors of a common 22
ownership community; 23
(iii) one of whom is an attorney with experience representing 24
common ownership communities; 25
(iv) one of whom is an insurance agent or broker with experience 26
serving common ownership communities; 27
(v) one of whom is a certified public accountant with experience 28
serving common ownership communities; 29
(vi) one of whom is a manager of a common ownership community; 30
and 31 SENATE BILL 71 3
(vii) one of whom is a representative of the Maryland State Builders 1
Association. 2
(d) The Task Force shall elect a chair from among its members. 3
(e) The Office of the Attorney General shall provide staff for the Task Force. 4
(f) A member of the Task Force: 5
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Task Force; but 6
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 7
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 8
(g) The Task Force shall study: 9
(1) the education and training needs of common ownership community 10
boards and new and prospective owners of homes and dwelling units in common ownership 11
communities, including: 12
(i) creation and dissemination of information on the best practices 13
for common ownership community governing boards; and 14
(ii) options for providing classes and brochures through a State 15
agency or an institution regulated by the Maryland Higher Education Commission on: 16
1. the responsibilities of members of common ownership 17
community governing boards; and 18
2. the obligations and rights of owners of homes and dwelling 19
units in common ownership communities; 20
(2) the feasibility of establishing statewide alternative dispute resolution 21
services for common ownership communities, including: 22
(i) providing resources to the Office of the Attorney General for 23
enforcement of laws related to common ownership communities; and 24
(ii) offering assistance and guidance to owners of homes and 25
dwelling units in common ownership communities prior to litigation; 26
(3) the advisability of creating a permanent State Commission on Common 27
Ownership Communities; 28
(4) the feasibility of requiring common ownership community managers to 29
be licensed; and 30 4 SENATE BILL 71
(5) best practices related to common ownership community election 1
processes and governance. 2
(h) The Task Force shall submit a final report of its findings and 3
recommendations on or before December 31, 2026, to the Governor and, in accordance with 4
§ 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 5
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 6
1, 2025. It shall remain effective for a period of 2 years and 1 month and, at the end of June 7
30, 2027, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be 8
abrogated and of no further force and effect. 9