Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB866 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	sb0866
6	6
7	7	SENATE BILL 866
8	8	N1, I3, P1 5lr3466
9	9	CF HB 306
10	10	By: Senators Muse, Augustine, and Charles
11	11	Introduced and read first time: January 28, 2025
12	12	Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
17	17
18	18	Common Ownership Communities – Ombudsman Unit, Governing Document 2
19	19	Database, and Local Commissions 3
20	20
21	21	FOR the purpose of establishing the Common Ownership Community Ombudsman Unit in 4
22	22	the Division of Consumer Protection in the Office of the Attorney General to receive 5
23	23	and respond to certain complaints; requiring common ownership communities to file 6
24	24	certain documents with the Department of Housing and Community Development; 7
25	25	requiring the Department to establish a certain database; establishing requirements 8
26	26	for a local common ownership commission established by the local government of a 9
27	27	county; and generally relating to common ownership communities. 10
28	28
29	29	BY adding to 11
30	30	Article – Commercial Law 12
31	31	Section 13–207 13
32	32	Annotated Code of Maryland 14
33	33	(2013 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15
34	34
35	35	BY adding to 16
36	36	Article – Housing and Community Development 17
37	37	Section 2–304 18
38	38	Annotated Code of Maryland 19
39	39	(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 20
40	40
41	41	BY adding to 21
42	42	Article – Real Property 22
43	43	Section 11C–101 through 11C–114 to be under the new title “Title 11C. Local 23
44	44	Commissions on Common Ownership Communities” 24
45	45	Annotated Code of Maryland 25
46	46	(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 26
47	47	2 SENATE BILL 866
48	48
49	49
50	50	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEM BLY OF MARYLAND, 1
51	51	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
52	52
53	53	Article – Commercial Law 3
54	54
55	55	13–207. 4
56	56
57	57	(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 5
58	58	INDICATED. 6
59	59
60	60	(2) “COMMON OWNERSHIP COMM UNITY” MEANS: 7
61	61
62	62	(I) A COOPERATIVE HOUSING CORPORATION AS DEFINED IN § 8
63	63	5–6B–01 OF THE CORPORATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS ARTICLE; 9
64	64
65	65	(II) A CONDOMINIUM AS DEFIN ED IN § 11–101 OF THE REAL 10
66	66	PROPERTY ARTICLE; OR 11
67	67
68	68	(III) A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATI ON AS DEFINED IN § 11B–101 OF 12
69	69	THE REAL PROPERTY ARTICLE. 13
70	70
71	71	(3) “GOVERNING BODY” MEANS: 14
72	72
73	73	(I) THE COUNCIL OF UNIT O WNERS OF A CONDOMINI UM; 15
74	74
75	75	(II) THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR S OF A COOPERATIVE H OUSING 16
76	76	CORPORATION ; 17
77	77
78	78	(III) A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATI ON, BOARD OF DIRECTORS , OR 18
79	79	ANY OTHER ENTITY EST ABLISHED TO GOVERN A PROPERTY SUBJECT TO AN 19
80	80	INSTRUMENT THAT IMPO SES ON LOTS, OR ON THE OWNERS OR OCCUPANTS OF LOTS , 20
81	81	ANY MANDATORY FEE IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROVISION OF SERVICE S OR 21
82	82	OTHERWISE FOR THE BE NEFIT OF SOME OR ALL OF THE LOTS; OR 22
83	83
84	84	(IV) ANY OTHER BODY AUTHOR IZED TO ADOPT RULES OR 23
85	85	REGULATIONS GOVERNING A CONDOMINIUM , COOPERATIVE HOUSING 24
86	86	CORPORATION , OR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCI ATION. 25
87	87
88	88	(4) “GOVERNING DOCUMENTS ” MEANS ANY BYLAW , COVENANT, 26
89	89	DECLARATION , RULE, PROPRIETARY LEASE , OR OTHER SIMILAR DOC UMENT OF A 27
90	90	COMMON OWNERSHIP COM MUNITY. 28
91	91	SENATE BILL 866 3
92	92
93	93
94	94	(5) “LOCAL COMMISSION ” MEANS A COMMISSION O N COMMON 1
95	95	OWNERSHIP COMMUNITIE S ESTABLISHED BY A C OUNTY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2
96	96	11C–101 OF THE REAL PROPERTY ARTICLE. 3
97	97
98	98	(6) “MEMBER” MEANS: 4
99	99
100	100	(I) AN OCCUPANT OR A UNIT OWNER UNDER THE MARYLAND 5
101	101	CONDOMINIUM ACT; 6
102	102
103	103	(II) A LOT OWNER UNDER THE MARYLAND HOMEOWNERS 7
104	104	ASSOCIATION ACT; OR 8
105	105
106	106	(III) A MEMBER OF A COOPERAT IVE HOUSING CORPORAT ION AS 9
107	107	DEFINED IN § 5–6B–01 OF THE CORPORATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS ARTICLE. 10
108	108
109	109	(7) “UNIT” MEANS THE COMMON OWNERSHIP COMMUNITY 11
110	110	OMBUDSMAN UNIT IN THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. 12
111	111
112	112	(B) THERE IS A COMMON OWNERSHIP COMMUNITY OMBUDSMAN UNIT IN 13
113	113	THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION. 14
114	114
115	115	(C) THE PURPOSE OF THE UNIT IS: 15
116	116
117	117	(1) TO MONITOR CHANGES IN FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS RELATING 16
118	118	TO COMMON OWNERSHIP COMMUNITIES; 17
119	119
120	120	(2) TO PUBLISH INFORMATIO N CONCERNING COMMON OWNERSHIP 18
121	121	COMMUNITIES ON THE W EBSITE OF THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL; 19
122	122
123	123	(3) TO ASSIST MEMBERS IN UNDERSTANDING RIGHTS AND 20
124	124	PROCESSES AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS UNDER LAW S AND REGULATIONS GO VERNING 21
125	125	COMMON OWNERSHIP COMMUN ITIES; AND 22
126	126
127	127	(4) ON REQUEST, TO PROVIDE REFERRALS TO PUBLIC AND PRIVAT E 23
128	128	ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICES , WITH A GOAL OF REDUC ING AND 24
129	129	RESOLVING CONFLICTS AMONG GOVERNING BODI ES AND MEMBERS . 25
130	130
131	131	(D) THE UNIT SHALL INCLUDE : 26
132	132
133	133	(1) A FULL–TIME COMMON OWNERSHIP COMMUNITY OMBUDSMAN ; 27
134	134	AND 28
135	135
136	136	(2) STAFF AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . 29 4 SENATE BILL 866
137	137
138	138
139	139
140	140	(E) (1) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL APPOINT THE COMMON 1
141	141	OWNERSHIP COMMUNITY OMBUDSMAN . 2
142	142
143	143	(2) THE COMMON OWNERSHIP COMMUNITY OMBUDSMAN MUST BE A 3
144	144	MEMBER OF TH E MARYLAND BAR. 4
145	145
146	146	(F) THE UNIT SHALL RECEIVE AN D RESPOND TO COMPLAI NTS BY MEMBERS 5
147	147	REGARDING FINAL ADVE RSE DECISIONS BY A G OVERNING BODY OR COM MON 6
148	148	OWNERSHIP COMMUNITY MANAGER. 7
149	149
150	150	(G) IN RESPONSE TO A COMP LAINT, OR ON THE INITIATIVE OF THE 8
151	151	OMBUDSMAN , THE UNIT SHALL: 9
152	152
153	153	(1) REFER THE COMPLAINT T O AN APPROPRIATE LOC AL COMMISSION 10
154	154	FOR FURTHER REVIEW O F WHETHER THE FINAL ADVERSE DECISION CON FLICTS 11
155	155	WITH LAWS OR REGULAT IONS GOVERNING COMMO N OWNERSHIP COMMUNIT IES IN 12
156	156	THE JURISDICTION ; OR 13
157	157
158	158	(2) MAKE A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER THE FINAL AD VERSE 14
159	159	DECISION CONFLICTS W ITH LAWS OR REGULATI ONS GOVERNING COMMON 15
160	160	OWNERSHIP COMMUNITIE S AND PROMPTLY NOTIF Y THE COMPLAINANT OF THE 16
161	161	DETERMINATION . 17
162	162
163	163	(H) (1) IF THE UNIT DETERMINES THAT A FINAL ADVERSE DECI SION 18
164	164	CONFLICTS WITH LAWS OR REGULATIONS GOVERNING COMMON OWNERSHIP 19
165	165	COMMUNITIES , THE UNIT SHALL PROMPTLY N OTIFY THE MEMBER , THE GOVERNING 20
166	166	BOARD, AND, IF APPLICABLE, THE COMMON OWNERSHIP COMMUNITY MANAGER 21
167	167	THAT THE ADVERSE DEC ISION CONFLICTS WITH LAWS OR REGULATIONS 22
168	168	GOVERNING COMMON OWN ERSHIP COMMUNITIES . 23
169	169
170	170	(2) IF WITHIN 1 YEAR AFTER ISSUING A DETERMINATION , THE 24
171	171	OMBUDSMAN RECEIVES A SUBSEQUENT COMPLAINT OF A FINAL ADVERSE D ECISION 25
172	172	FOR THE SAME VIOLATI ON, THE UNIT SHALL REFER THE MATTER TO THE 26
173	173	APPROPRIATE LOCAL CO MMISSION. 27
174	174
175	175	(I) (1) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2027, AND EACH DECEMBER 1 28
176	176	THEREAFTER , THE UNIT SHALL REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND 29
177	177	COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE 30
178	178	GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE ACTIV ITIES OF THE 31
179	179	UNIT DURING THE REPORTING PER IOD. 32
180	180	SENATE BILL 866 5
181	181
182	182
183	183	(2) THE REPORT REQUIRED U NDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 1
184	184	SUBSECTION SHALL INC LUDE: 2
185	185
186	186	(I) THE NUMBER OF COMPLAI NTS RECEIVED BY THE UNIT; 3
187	187
188	188	(II) THE TYPES OF ASSISTAN CE REQUESTED ; 4
189	189
190	190	(III) ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE UNIT; 5
191	191
192	192	(IV) THE N UMBER OF REFERRALS M ADE TO LOCAL 6
193	193	COMMISSIONS ; AND 7
194	194
195	195	(V) DATA ON DISPOSITIONS AND OUTCOMES OF COMP LAINTS 8
196	196	RECEIVED. 9
197	197
198	198	Article – Housing and Community Development 10
199	199
200	200	2–304. 11
201	201
202	202	(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 12
203	203	INDICATED. 13
204	204
205	205	(2) “COMMON OWNERSHIP COMM UNITY” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED 14
206	206	IN § 2–303 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 15
207	207
208	208	(3) “GOVERNING DOCUMENTS ” MEANS AN OFFERING ST ATEMENT, A 16
209	209	DECLARATION , BYLAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS , A PROPRIETARY LEASE , OR ANY 17
210	210	OTHER SIMILAR DOCUME NT OF A COMMON OWNER SHIP COMMUNITY. 18
211	211
212	212	(B) (1) A COMMON OWNERSHIP COM MUNITY LOCATED IN TH E STATE 19
213	213	SHALL FILE WITH THE DEPARTMENT A COPY OF THE GOVERNING DOCUME NTS, AND 20
214	214	ANY AMENDMENTS TO TH E GOVERNING DOCUMENT S, OF THE COMMON OWNERS HIP 21
215	215	COMMUNITY . 22
216	216
217	217	(2) A COMMON OWNERSHIP COM MUNITY TH AT FAILS TO MAKE A 23
218	218	FILING REQUIRED UNDE R PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION I S SUBJECT TO A 24
219	219	FINE OF $500. 25
220	220
221	221	(C) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVE LOP AND MAINTAIN A D ATABASE 26
222	222	OF GOVERNING DOCUMEN TS FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SUBS ECTION 27
223	223	(B) OF THIS SECTION ACC ESSIBLE TO THE PUBLI C THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT ’S 28
224	224	WEBSITE DESCRIBED IN § 2–303 OF THIS SUBTITLE . 29
225	225	6 SENATE BILL 866
226	226
227	227
228	228	(2) THE DEPARTMENT MAY CHARGE THE FOLLOWING FEES F OR 1
229	229	FILINGS REQUIRED UND ER THIS SECTION: 2
230	230
231	231	(I) FOR AN INITIAL FILIN G, UP TO $100; AND 3
232	232
233	233	(II) FOR ANY AMENDMENT TO A GOVER NING DOCUMENT , UP TO 4
234	234	$25. 5
235	235
236	236	Article – Real Property 6
237	237
238	238	TITLE 11C. LOCAL COMMISSIONS ON COMMON OWNERSHIP COMMUNITIES . 7
239	239
240	240	11C–101. 8
241	241
242	242	(A) IN THIS TITLE THE FOL LOWING WORDS HAVE TH E MEANINGS 9
243	243	INDICATED. 10
244	244
245	245	(B) “COMMON ELEMENT ” MEANS: 11
246	246
247	247	(1) ANY PORTION OF A COMMON OWNERSHIP COMMUNITY OTHER 12
248	248	THAN THE UNITS OF A CONDOMINIUM OR COOPE RATIVE; AND 13
249	249
250	250	(2) PROPERTY THAT IS OWNE D OR LEASED BY A HOM EOWNERS 14
251	251	ASSOCIATION. 15
252	252
253	253	(C) (1) “COMMON OWNERSHIP COMM UNITY” MEANS: 16
254	254
255	255	(I) A CONDOMINIUM AS DEFIN ED IN § 11–101 OF THIS ARTICLE 17
256	256	THAT IS USED FOR RES IDENTIAL PURPOSES ; 18
257	257
258	258	(II) A COOPERATIVE HOUSING CORPORATION AS DEFIN ED IN § 19
259	259	5–6B–01 OF THE CORPORATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS ARTICLE; AND 20
260	260
261	261	(III) A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATI ON AS DEFINED IN § 11B–101 OF 21
262	262	THIS ARTICLE. 22
263	263
264	264	(2) “COMMON OWNERSHIP COMM UNITY” DOES NOT INCLUDE A 23
265	265	TIME–SHARE PROJECT AS DEF INED IN § 11A–101 OF THIS ARTICLE. 24
266	266
267	267	(D) (1) “DISPUTE” MEANS A DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN AT LEAST TWO 25
268	268	PARTIES THAT INVOLVE S: 26
269	269	SENATE BILL 866 7
270	270
271	271
272	272	(I) THE AUTHORITY OF A GO VERNING BODY OF A CO MMON 1
273	273	OWNERSH IP COMMUNITY TO : 2
274	274
275	275	1. REQUIRE OR PROHIBIT A NY ACTION INVOLVING A 3
276	276	UNIT OR COMMON ELEME NT; 4
277	277
278	278	2. REQUIRE ANY PERSON TO PAY A FEE, A FINE, OR AN 5
279	279	ASSESSMENT ; 6
280	280
281	281	3. SPEND COMMON OWNERSHI P COMMUNITY FUNDS ; OR 7
282	282
283	283	4. ALTER OR ADD TO A COM MON ELEMENT ; OR 8
284	284
285	285	(II) THE FAILURE OF A GOVE RNING BODY OF A COMM ON 9
286	286	OWNERSHIP COMMUNITY TO: 10
287	287
288	288	1. PROPERLY CONDUCT AN E LECTION; 11
289	289
290	290	2. GIVE ADEQUATE NOTICE OF A MEETING OR AN O THER 12
291	291	ACTION; 13
292	292
293	293	3. PROPERLY CONDUCT A ME ETING; 14
294	294
295	295	4. PROPERLY ADOPT A BUDG ET OR RULES; 15
296	296
297	297	5. MAINTAIN OR AUDIT BOO KS AND RECORDS ; 16
298	298
299	299	6. ALLOW INSPECTION OF B OOKS AND RECORDS ; 17
300	300
301	301	7. MAINTAIN OR REPAIR A COMMON ELEMENT IF TH E 18
302	302	FAILURE RESULTS IN S IGNIFICANT PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY D AMAGE; OR 19
303	303
304	304	8. EXERCISE ITS JUDGMENT IN GOOD FAITH 20
305	305	CONCERNING THE ENFORC EMENT OF THE ASSOCIA TION DOCUMENTS AGAIN ST ANY 21
306	306	PERSON THAT IS SUBJE CT TO THOSE DOCUMENT S. 22
307	307
308	308	(2) “DISPUTE” DOES NOT INCLUDE A D ISAGREEMENT THAT 23
309	309	INVOLVES: 24
310	310
311	311	(I) TITLE TO ANY UNIT OR COMMON ELEMENT ; 25
312	312
313	313	(II) THE PERCENTAGE INTERE ST OR VOTE ALLOCABLE TO A 26
314	314	UNIT; 27 8 SENATE BILL 866
315	315
316	316
317	317
318	318	(III) THE INTERPRETATION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY 1
319	319	WARRANTY; 2
320	320
321	321	(IV) THE COLLECTION OF AN ASSESSMENT VALIDLY L EVIED 3
322	322	AGAINST A PARTY ; OR 4
323	323
324	324	(V) THE EXERCISE OF THE J UDGMENT OR DISCRETIO N OF A 5
325	325	COMMON OWNERSHIP COM MUNITY REGARDING ANY LEGALLY AUTHORIZ ED ACTION. 6
326	326
327	327	(E) “GOVERNING BODY OF A C OMMON OWNERSHIP COMM UNITY” MEANS: 7
328	328
329	329	(1) THE COUNCIL OF UNIT O WNERS OF A CONDOMINI UM; 8
330	330
331	331	(2) THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR S OF A COOPERATIVE H OUSING 9
332	332	CORPORATION ; 10
333	333
334	334	(3) A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATI ON, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OR AN 11
335	335	OTHER ENTITY ESTABLI SHED TO GOVERN A PRO PERTY SUBJECT TO AN INSTRUMENT 12
336	336	THAT IMPOSES ON LOTS , OR ON THE OWNERS OR OCCUPANTS OF LOTS , ANY 13
337	337	MANDATORY FEE IN CON NECTION WITH THE PRO VISION OF SERVICES O R 14
338	338	OTHERWISE FOR THE BE NEFIT OF SOME OR ALL OF THE LOTS; OR 15
339	339
340	340	(4) ANY OTHER BODY AUTHOR IZED TO ADOPT RULES OR 16
341	341	REGULATIONS GOVERNIN G A CONDOMINIUM , COOPERATIVE HOUSING 17
342	342	CORPORATION , OR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCI ATION. 18
343	343
344	344	(F) (1) “GOVERNING DOCUMENT ” MEANS: 19
345	345
346	346	(I) THE MASTER DEED , DECLARATION , INCORPORATION 20
347	347	DOCUMENT, BYLAWS, OR RULES OF ANY COMM ON OWNERSHIP COMMUNI TY; 21
348	348
349	349	(II) A WRITTEN PRIVATE AGRE EMENT BETWEEN PARTIE S 22
350	350	CONCERNING THE OPERA TION OF THE COMMUNIT Y OR MAINTENANCE OR CONTROL 23
351	351	OF COMMON OR LIMITED COMMON PROPERTY ; OR 24
352	352
353	353	(III) A DOCUMENT CONCERNING THE OPERATION OR 25
354	354	GOVERNANCE OF A COMM ON OWNERSHIP COMMUNI TY. 26
355	355
356	356	(2) “GOVERNING DOCUMENT ” DOES NOT INCLUDE A L EASE UNLESS 27
357	357	THE LEASE PROVIDES T HAT IT MAY BE ENFORC ED UNDER THIS TITLE . 28
358	358	SENATE BILL 866 9
359	359
360	360
361	361	(G) “LOCAL COMMISSION ” MEANS A COMMISSION O N COMMON OWNERSHIP 1
362	362	COMMUNITIES ESTABLIS HED BY A COUNTY IN A CCORDANCE WITH THIS TITLE. 2
363	363
364	364	(H) “LOCAL GOVERNMENT ” MEANS: 3
365	365
366	366	(1) THE COUNTY COMMISSION ERS OR COUNTY COUNCI L OF A 4
367	367	COUNTY; 5
368	368
369	369	(2) IF THE CHARTER OF THE COUNTY PROVIDES FOR A COUNTY 6
370	370	EXECUTIVE, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL ; OR 7
371	371
372	372	(3) THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE CITY. 8
373	373
374	374	(I) “OWNER” MEANS: 9
375	375
376	376	(1) A UNIT OWNER IN A COND OMINIUM; 10
377	377
378	378	(2) A MEMBER OF A COOPERAT IVE HOUSING CORPORAT ION; OR 11
379	379
380	380	(3) A LOT OWNER IN A HOMEO WNERS ASSOCIATION . 12
381	381
382	382	11C–102. 13
383	383
384	384	THE PROVISIONS OF THIS T ITLE SUPERSEDE ANY I NCONSISTENT PROVISIO NS 14
385	385	OF LOCAL LAW THAT CO NFLICT WITH THIS TIT LE TO THE EXTENT OF THE CONFLICT. 15
386	386
387	387	11C–103. 16
388	388
389	389	(A) A LOCAL COMMISSION ON COMMON OWNERSHIP COM MUNITIES 17
390	390	ESTABLISHED BY THE L OCAL GOVERNMENT OF A COUNTY BY L OCAL LAW SHALL 18
391	391	COMPLY WITH THE REQU IREMENTS OF THIS TIT LE. 19
392	392
393	393	(B) (1) (I) SUBJECT TO SUBPARAGRA PH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH , A 20
394	394	LOCAL COMMISSION SHA LL INCLUDE MEMBERS W HO: 21
395	395
396	396	1. ARE OWNERS IN A COMMO N OWNERSHIP COMMUNIT Y; 22
397	397	AND 23
398	398
399	399	2. REPRESENT PROFESSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH 24
400	400	COMMON OWNERSHIP COM MUNITIES, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL S INVOLVED IN 25
401	401	HOUSING DEVELOPMENT OR REAL ESTATE SALES , DEVELOPERS , OR ATTORNEYS 26
402	402	WHO REPRESENT COMMON OWNERSHIP COMMUNITIE S INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE 27
403	403	MEMBER WHO IS A LICE NSED COMMON OWNERSHI P COMMUNITY MANAGER . 28 10 SENATE BILL 866
404	404
405	405
406	406
407	407	(II) THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHALL DETERMINE THE TOTAL 1
408	408	NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL COMMISSION . 2
409	409
410	410	(2) THE FOLLOWING INDIVID UALS SHALL SERVE AS NONVOTING 3
411	411	MEMBERS OF A LOCAL C OMMISSION: 4
412	412
413	413	(I) A DESIGNEE OF THE LOCA L GOVERNMENT ; AND 5
414	414
415	415	(II) A DESIGNEE OF A COUNTY AGENCY DEALING WITH : 6
416	416
417	417	1. PLANNING; 7
418	418
419	419	2. ENVIRONMENT ; 8
420	420
421	421	3. PERMITTING; 9
422	422
423	423	4. TRANSPORTATION ; OR 10
424	424
425	425	5. HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. 11
426	426
427	427	(C) THE CHAIR AND VICE CH AIR OF A LOCAL COMMI SSION SHALL BE 12
428	428	ELECTED FROM AMONG THE VOTING MEMBERSHI P OF THE LOCAL COMMI SSION. 13
429	429
430	430	(D) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A LOCAL 14
431	431	GOVERNMENT ESTABLISH ING A LOCAL COMMISSI ON SHALL ADOPT PROCE DURES 15
432	432	FOR THE APPOINTMENT AND TERMS OF MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL COMMISS ION. 16
433	433
434	434	(2) A MEMBER OF A LOCAL CO MMISSION MAY NOT SER VE MORE THAN 17
435	435	TWO CONSECUTIVE TERM S. 18
436	436
437	437	11C–104. 19
438	438
439	439	(A) A MAJORITY OF THE TOTA L MEMBERSHIP OF A LO CAL COMMISSION 20
440	440	SHALL CONSTITUTE A Q UORUM. 21
441	441
442	442	(B) A LOCAL COMMISSION SHA LL MEET AT LEAST MON THLY AND 22
443	443	DETERMINE THE TIMES AND PLACES OF ITS MEETIN GS. 23
444	444
445	445	(C) A MEMBER OF A LOCAL CO MMISSION: 24
446	446
447	447	(1) MAY NOT RECEIVE COMPE NSATION AS A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL 25
448	448	COMMISSION; BUT 26 SENATE BILL 866 11
449	449
450	450
451	451
452	452	(2) IS ENTITLED TO REIMBU RSEMENT FOR EXPENSES UNDER THE 1
453	453	STANDARD COUNTY TRAV EL REGULATIONS . 2
454	454
455	455	(D) (1) A LOCAL COM MISSION SHALL: 3
456	456
457	457	(I) ADOPT RULES OF PROFES SIONAL CONDUCT AS 4
458	458	APPROPRIATE FOR MEMB ERS AND STAFF; 5
459	459
460	460	(II) KEEP A RECORD OF ITS PROCEEDINGS ; 6
461	461
462	462	(III) EXAMINE THE NEEDS OF COMMON OWNERSHIP 7
463	463	COMMUNITIES IN THE C OUNTY; 8
464	464
465	465	(IV) ADVISE COUNTY GOVERNM ENT AND APPROPRIATE STATE 9
466	466	AND FEDERAL AGENCIES ON MATTERS RELATING TO COMMON OWNERSHIP 10
467	467	COMMUNITIES ; AND 11
468	468
469	469	(V) PROVIDE TRAINING ON T HE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A LOCAL 12
470	470	COMMISSION’S MEMBERS TO THE GOV ERNING BODY OF A COM MON OWNERSHIP 13
471	471	COMMUNITY BY : 14
472	472
473	473	1. DEVELOPING AN EDUCATIONAL CURRICUL UM FOR 15
474	474	NEW MEMBERS ; AND 16
475	475
476	476	2. APPROVING AN ALTERNAT IVE EDUCATIONAL 17
477	477	CURRICULUM FOR NEW M EMBERS. 18
478	478
479	479	(2) A LOCAL COMMISSION MAY : 19
480	480
481	481	(I) EMPLOY STAFF AS AUTHO RIZED BY A LOCAL GOV ERNMENT; 20
482	482
483	483	(II) ESTABLISH A PROCESS F OR RESOLVING DISCI PLINARY 21
484	484	MATTERS PENDING BEFO RE THE LOCAL COMMISS ION THROUGH NONJUDIC IAL 22
485	485	DISPUTE RESOLUTION P ROCESSES; 23
486	486
487	487	(III) DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL A ND TRAINING OPPORTUN ITIES 24
488	488	FOR GOVERNING BODIES ; 25
489	489
490	490	(IV) ADOPT ADDITIONAL BYLA WS NECESSARY TO CARR Y OUT 26
491	491	THE BUSINESS OF TH E LOCAL COMMISSION ; AND 27
492	492	12 SENATE BILL 866
493	493
494	494
495	495	(V) ADOPT ANY ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS , PROCEDURES , OR 1
496	496	STANDARDS CONSISTENT WITH THE MISSION OF THE LOCAL COMMISSION AND TO 2
497	497	CARRY OUT THE REQUIR EMENTS OF THIS TITLE . 3
498	498
499	499	11C–105. 4
500	500
501	501	(A) A LOCAL LAW ESTABLISHI NG A LOCAL COMMISSIO N SHALL REQUIRE 5
502	502	COMMON OWNERSHIP COM MUNITIES IN THE COUN TY TO REGISTER WITH THE LOCAL 6
503	503	COMMISSION ANNUALLY ON A FORM THAT IDENT IFIES: 7
504	504
505	505	(1) THE ELECTED LEADERSHI P OF THE COMMON OWNE RSHIP 8
506	506	COMMUNITY ; AND 9
507	507
508	508	(2) THE MANAGING AGENTS O F THE COMMON OWNERSH IP 10
509	509	COMMUNITY . 11
510	510
511	511	(B) A COMMON OWNERSHIP COM MUNITY THAT FAILS TO REGISTER OR 12
512	512	MAKES A FALSE STATEM ENT ON A REGISTRATIO N FORM IS INELIGIBLE TO FILE A 13
513	513	DISPUTE. 14
514	514
515	515	11C–106. 15
516	516
517	517	(A) A LOCAL LAW ESTABLISHI NG A LOCAL COMMISSIO N MAY AUTHORIZE 16
518	518	THE COLLECTION OF A REASONABLE FEE FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE LOCAL 17
519	519	COMMISSION. 18
520	520
521	521	(B) ANY AUTHORIZED FEE SH ALL BE USED TO COVER THE COST OF 19
522	522	MAINTAINING THE LOCA L COMMISSION AND MAY INCLUDE: 20
523	523
524	524	(1) A PER UNIT ANNUAL CHAR GE TO COMMON OWNERSH IP 21
525	525	COMMUNITIES TO RENEW REGISTRATION ; 22
526	526
527	527	(2) FEES FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION U NDER § 11C–110 OF THIS 23
528	528	TITLE, SERVICE, AND TECHNICAL ASSIST ANCE; AND 24
529	529
530	530	(3) A PER UNIT CHARGE TO D EVELOPERS FOR THE RE CORDATION OF 25
531	531	DOCUMENTS . 26
532	532
533	533	(C) IF THE COLLECTION OF A FEE BY A LOCAL COM MISSION IS AUTHORIZE D 27
534	534	UNDER THIS SECTION , THE LOCAL COMMISSION SHAL L PUBLISH THE FEE 28
535	535	SCHEDULE. 29
536	536
537	537	11C–107. 30 SENATE BILL 866 13
538	538
539	539
540	540
541	541	A LOCAL GOVERNMENT THA T ESTABLISHES A LOCA L COMMISSION SHALL 1
542	542	DESIGNATE A COUNTY A GENCY OR AN OFFICE T O: 2
543	543
544	544	(1) DISSEMINATE EDUCATION AL MATERIALS REGARDI NG PROGRAMS 3
545	545	THAT ASSIST COMMON O WNERSHIP COM MUNITIES; 4
546	546
547	547	(2) CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL P ROGRAMS TO PROMOTE T HE 5
548	548	OPERATION OF COMMON OWNERSHIP COMMUNITIE S; 6
549	549
550	550	(3) MAINTAIN A LIST OF: 7
551	551
552	552	(I) COMMON OWNERSHIP COMM UNITIES IN THE COUNT Y, 8
553	553	INCLUDING THE LEADER SHIP OF EACH COMMON OWNERSHIP COMMUNITY ; AND 9
554	554
555	555	(II) PROFESSIONAL MANAGEME NT COMPANIES THAT PR OVIDE 10
556	556	SERVICES TO COMMON O WNERSHIP COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTY; 11
557	557
558	558	(4) MAINTAIN INFORMATION AND A REFERRAL SYSTE M FOR ALL 12
559	559	COUNTY SERVICES RELA TED TO COMMON OWNERS HIP COMMUNITIES ; 13
560	560
561	561	(5) MAINTAIN A COLLECTION OF GOVERNING DOCUMENTS ; 14
562	562
563	563	(6) PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASS ISTANCE TO GOVERNING BODIES ON 15
564	564	MATTERS INCLUDING : 16
565	565
566	566	(I) LEADERSHIP TRANSITION ; 17
567	567
568	568	(II) ELECTIONS; 18
569	569
570	570	(III) ADOPTION OF RULES ; 19
571	571
572	572	(IV) ENFORCEMENT OF RULES ; 20
573	573
574	574	(V) SELECTION OF ASSOCIAT ION MANAGERS ; AND 21
575	575
576	576	(VI) STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ; 22
577	577
578	578	(7) MAINTAIN AN OPERATION S MANUAL TO GUIDE CO MMON 23
579	579	OWNERSHIP COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP; 24
580	580	14 SENATE BILL 866
581	581
582	582
583	583	(8) ADVISE COMMON OWNERSH IP COMMUNITIES AND P ROFESSIONAL 1
584	584	ASSOCIATION MANAGERS OF CHANGES IN THE LA WS AND REGULATIONS T HAT 2
585	585	AFFECT THEI R COMMUNITIES OR OPE RATIONS; AND 3
586	586
587	587	(9) OPERATE A DISPUTE RES OLUTION PROCESS TO F URNISH 4
588	588	MEDIATION AND ADMINI STRATIVE HEARINGS . 5
589	589
590	590	11C–108. 6
591	591
592	592	(A) A LOCAL COMMISSION MAY HEAR ANY DISPUTE BET WEEN PARTIES . 7
593	593
594	594	(B) A PARTY MAY NOT FILE A DISPUTE WITH A LOCAL COMMISSION UNTIL : 8
595	595
596	596	(1) THE PARTY HAS MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO EXHAUST ALL 9
597	597	PROCEDURES AND REMED IES PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNING DOCUMENTS OF THE 10
598	598	COMMON OWNERSHIP COM MUNITY; AND 11
599	599
600	600	(2) AT LEAST 60 DAYS AFTER ANY PROCEDURE OR REMEDY HAS BEEN 12
601	601	INITIATED WITH THE G OVERNING BODY OF A C OMMON OWNERSHIP COMM UNITY. 13
602	602
603	603	(C) (1) IF THE GOVERNING BODY OF A COMMON OWNERSHI P COMMUNITY 14
604	604	DETERMINES THAT A DI SPUTE EXISTS, THE GOVERNING BODY O F THE COMMON 15
605	605	OWNERSHIP COMMUNITY SHALL NOTIFY THE OTHER PARTI ES OF THE OPTION TO 16
606	606	FILE THE DISPUTE WIT H A LOCAL COMMISSION . 17
607	607
608	608	(2) THE GOVERNING BODY OF A COMMON OWNERSHIP C OMMUNITY 18
609	609	MAY NOT TAKE ACTION TO ENFORCE OR IMPLEM ENT THE DECISION OF THE 19
610	610	GOVERNING BODY FOR 14 DAYS FOLLOWING NOTIF ICATION OF ALL OTHER PARTIES . 20
611	611
612	612	(D) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN § 11C–109 OF THIS TITLE, ON THE FILING OF 21
613	613	A DISPUTE WITH A LOC AL COMMISSION , THE DECISION OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF 22
614	614	A COMMON OWNERSHIP C OMMUNITY SHALL BE ST AYED AND MAY NOT BE ENFORCED 23
615	615	OR IMPLEMENTED , OTHER T HAN BY FILING A CIVI L ACTION, UNTIL THE 24
616	616	COMPLETION OF THE DI SPUTE PROCESS . 25
617	617
618	618	11C–109. 26
619	619
620	620	(A) (1) AT ANY TIME AFTER A D ISPUTE IS FILED, THE GOVERNING BODY 27
621	621	OF A COMMON OWNERSHI P COMMUNITY MAY SUBM IT A REQUEST TO LIFT AN 28
622	622	AUTOMATIC STAY UNDER § 11C–108 OF THIS TITLE. 29
623	623	SENATE BILL 866 15
624	624
625	625
626	626	(2) IF A HEARING PANEL HA S NOT BEEN APPOINTED UNDER § 1
627	627	11C–112 OF THIS TITLE, THE LOCAL COMMISSION SHALL AUTHORIZE A SP ECIAL 2
628	628	STANDING PANEL TO CO NSIDER REQUESTS FOR RELIEF FROM STAYS . 3
629	629
630	630	(3) THE SPECIAL PANEL SHA LL INCLUDE: 4
631	631
632	632	(I) THREE VOTING MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL COMMISSION 5
633	633	DESIGNATED BY THE CH AIR; AND 6
634	634
635	635	(II) AT LEAST ONE MEMBER D ESCRIBED UNDER § 7
636	636	11C–103(B)(1)(I)1 OF THIS TITLE AND AT LEAST ONE MEMBER DES CRIBED UNDER § 8
637	637	11C–103(B)(1)(I)2 OF THIS TITLE. 9
638	638
639	639	(B) (1) A GOVERNING BODY OF A COMMON O WNERSHIP COMMUNITY 10
640	640	THAT REQUESTS RELIEF FROM A STAY SHALL SE RVE A COPY OF ITS RE QUEST ON ANY 11
641	641	PARTY NAMED IN THE D ISPUTE BY CERTIFIED MAIL OR PERSONAL SER VICE. 12
642	642
643	643	(2) A CERTIFICATE OF SERVI CE SHALL ACCOMPANY A NY REQUEST 13
644	644	SUBMITTED UNDER THIS SECTION. 14
645	645
646	646	(3) A PARTY SERVED WITH A COPY OF THE REQUEST SHALL FILE ANY 15
647	647	OPPOSITION TO THE RE QUEST WITHIN 10 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING SERVICE. 16
648	648
649	649	(C) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION, A REQUEST 17
650	650	FOR RELIEF FROM A ST AY MAY BE GRANTED ON LY IF THE ASSIGNED PANEL FINDS 18
651	651	THAT: 19
652	652
653	653	(1) ENFORCING THE STAY WO ULD RESULT IN UNDUE HARM TO THE 20
654	654	COMMON OWNERSHIP COM MUNITY; AND 21
655	655
656	656	(2) LIFTING THE STAY WILL NOT RESULT IN UNDUE HARM TO THE 22
657	657	RIGHTS OR INTERESTS OF ANY OPPOSING PART Y. 23
658	658
659	659	(D) IF A REQUEST FOR RELI EF FROM A STAY STATING FACTS SUFF ICIENT TO 24
660	660	SHOW A NEED FOR IMME DIATE ACTION IS NOT GRANTED OR DENIED WI THIN 20 DAYS 25
661	661	AFTER THE REQUEST WA S FILED, THE REQUEST SHALL BE DEEMED GRANTED . 26
662	662
663	663	11C–110. 27
664	664
665	665	(A) (1) FOLLOWING THE FILING OF A DISPUTE WITH A LOCAL 28
666	666	COMMISSION, AN AGENC Y DESIGNATED BY A LO CAL GOVERNMENT UNDER § 29
667	667	11C–107 OF THIS TITLE MAY IN VESTIGATE FACTS AND ASSEMBLE DOCUMENTS 30 16 SENATE BILL 866
668	668
669	669
670	670	RELEVANT TO THE DISP UTE AND MAY PREPARE A SUMMARY OF THE ISS UES IN THE 1
671	671	DISPUTE FOR USE BY T HE LOCAL COMMISSION . 2
672	672
673	673	(2) THE DESIGNATED AGENCY OR OFFICE MAY NOTIFY A PARTY IF 3
674	674	THE DESIGNATED AGENC Y OR OFFICE FINDS TH AT A DISPUTE WAS NOT PROPERLY 4
675	675	FILED. 5
676	676
677	677	(3) THE DESIGNATED AGENCY OR OFFICE MAY NOTIFY EACH PARTY 6
678	678	OF THE DISPUTE REGAR DING POSSIBLE SANCTI ONS UNDER § 11C–112 OF THIS 7
679	679	TITLE. 8
680	680
681	681	(B) IF THE DESIGNATED AGENCY OR OFFICE FINDS THAT , ASSUMING ALL 9
682	682	FACTS ALLEGED BY THE PARTY THAT FILED THE DISPUTE ARE TRUE , THERE ARE NO 10
683	683	REASONABLE GROUNDS T O CONCLUDE THAT A VI OLATION OF APPLICABL E LAW OR 11
684	684	ANY GOVERNING DOCUME NT HAS OCCURRED , THE DESIGNATED AGENC Y OR OFFICE 12
685	685	SHALL INFORM THE LOC AL COMMISSION . 13
686	686
687	687	(C) ON RECEIPT OF THE RES ULTS OF AN INVESTIGA TION BY A DESIGNATED 14
688	688	AGENCY OR OFFICE , A LOCAL COMMISSION M AY: 15
689	689
690	690	(1) IF IT FINDS THAT THER E ARE NO REASONABLE GROUNDS TO 16
691	691	CONCLUDE THAT A VIOL ATION OF APPLICABLE LAW OR ANY GOVERNING DOC UMENT 17
692	692	HAS OCCURRED , DISMISS THE DISPUTE ; 18
693	693
694	694	(2) REQUEST ADDITIONAL IN VESTIGATION BY THE D ESIGNATED 19
695	695	AGENCY OR OFFICE ; OR 20
696	696
697	697	(3) SCHEDULE A HEARING ON THE DISPUTE. 21
698	698
699	699	(D) A LOCAL COMMISSION MAY RECONSIDER THE DISMI SSAL OF A DISPUTE 22
700	700	IF ANY PARTY FILES A MOTION TO RECONSIDER WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE 23
701	701	DISPUTE IS DISMISSED , DEMONSTRATING THAT : 24
702	702
703	703	(1) THE COMMISSION ERRONEOUSL Y INTERPRETED OR APP LIED 25
704	704	APPLICABLE LAW OR AN ASSOCIATION DOCUMENT ; OR 26
705	705
706	706	(2) MATERIAL ISSUES OF FA CT THAT ARE NECESSAR Y TO A FAIR 27
707	707	RESOLUTION OF THE DI SPUTE REMAIN UNRESOL VED. 28
708	708
709	709	11C–111. 29
710	710
711	711	(A) (1) ANY PARTY IN A DISPUT E MAY REQUEST MEDIAT ION. 30
712	712	SENATE BILL 866 17
713	713
714	714
715	715	(2) IF A PARTY REQUESTS M EDIATION, THE LOCAL COMMISSION 1
716	716	SHALL NOTIFY ALL PAR TIES OF THE REQUEST AND OF THE MEDIATION SESSION. 2
717	717
718	718	(3) A LOCAL COMMISSION SHA LL PROVIDE A QUALIFI ED MEDIATOR 3
719	719	TO MEET WITH THE PAR TIES WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER A PARTY R EQUESTS MEDIATION 4
720	720	TO ATTEMPT TO SETTLE THE DISPUTE. 5
721	721
722	722	(B) IF A PARTY REFUSES TO ATTEND A MEDIATION S ESSION, OR IF 6
723	723	MEDIATION DOES NOT S UCCESSFULLY RESOLVE THE DISPUTE WITHIN 10 DAYS 7
724	724	AFTER THE FIRST MEDI ATION SESSION IS HEL D, THE LOCAL COMMISSION SHALL 8
725	725	PROMPTLY SCHEDULE A HEARING. 9
726	726
727	727	11C–112. 10
728	728
729	729	(A) (1) IF A HEARING IS SCHED ULED, THE CHAIR OF THE LOC AL 11
730	730	COMMISSION SHALL CON VENE A PANEL TO HEAR THE DISPUTE. 12
731	731
732	732	(2) THE CHAIR SHALL SELEC T AT LEAST ONE MEMBE R DESCRIBED 13
733	733	UNDER § 11C–103(B)(1)(I)1 OF THIS TITLE AND AT LEAST ONE MEMBER DES CRIBED 14
734	734	UNDER § 11C–103(B)(1)(I)2 OF THIS TITLE. 15
735	735
736	736	(3) THE LOCAL COMMISSION MEMBERS SELECTED BY THE CHAIR 16
737	737	SHALL DESIGNATE A TH IRD MEMBER OF THE PAN EL FROM A LIST OF VO LUNTEER 17
738	738	ARBITRATORS TRAINED OR EXPERIENCED IN CO MMON OWNERSHIP COMMU NITY 18
739	739	ISSUES MAINTAINED BY THE LOCAL COMMISSION . 19
740	740
741	741	(4) IF A SUITABLE ARBITRA TOR IS NOT AVAILABLE , THE CHAIR OF 20
742	742	THE LOCAL COMMISSION SHALL DESIGNATE : 21
743	743
744	744	(I) A THIRD PANELIST FROM AMONG THE VOTING MEM BERS OF 22
745	745	THE LOCAL COMMISSION ; AND 23
746	746
747	747	(II) THE CHAIR OF THE PANE L. 24
748	748
749	749	(B) A PANELIST MAY NOT HAV E AN INTEREST IN THE DISPUTE TO BE HEARD. 25
750	750
751	751	(C) A HEARING PANEL SHALL HOLD A HEARING ON EA CH DISPUTE THAT IS 26
752	752	NOT RESOLVED THROUGH MEDIATION UNDER § 11C–111 OF THIS TITLE UNLESS THE 27
753	753	LOCAL COMMISSION DET ERMINES THAT THE DIS PUTE IS: 28
754	754
755	755	(1) IDENTICAL TO ANOTHER DISPUTE BETW EEN THE SAME PARTIES 29
756	756	ON WHICH A HEARING H AS ALREADY BEEN HELD UNDER THIS SECTION ; OR 30
757	757	18 SENATE BILL 866
758	758
759	759
760	760	(2) CLEARLY NOT WITHIN TH E JURISDICTION OF TH E LOCAL 1
761	761	COMMISSION. 2
762	762
763	763	(D) A LOCAL COMMISSION SHA LL PROVIDE NOTICE OF A HEARING TO ALL 3
764	764	PARTIES NOT LESS THA N 30 DAYS BEFORE A HEARING, UNLESS THE LOCAL 4
765	765	COMMISSION DETERMINE S THAT AN EXPEDITED HEARING IS NECESSARY , IN WHICH 5
766	766	CASE NOTICE SHALL BE PROVIDED TO ALL PART IES AT LEAST 15 DAYS BEFORE A 6
767	767	HEARING. 7
768	768
769	769	(E) A PARTY OR WITNESS MAY BE ADVISED BY COUNSE L AT A HEARING. 8
770	770
771	771	(F) IF A PARTY, AFTER PROPER NOTICE , DOES NOT APPEAR AT T HE 9
772	772	SCHEDULED HEARING , THE HEARING PANEL MA Y ORDER ANY RELIEF F OR ANOTHER 10
773	773	PARTY THAT THE FACTS ON RECORD WARRANT . 11
774	774
775	775	(G) (1) THE HEARING PANEL SHA LL APPLY STATE AND COUNTY LAWS 12
776	776	AND ALL RELEVANT CAS E LAW TO THE FACTS OF THE DISPUTE . 13
777	777
778	778	(2) A DECISION OF THE HEAR ING PANEL IS BINDING ON THE PARTIES. 14
779	779
780	780	(H) (1) A LOCAL COMMISSION MAY ENFORCE A DECISION O F THE 15
781	781	HEARING PANEL BY APP ROPRIATE LEGAL ACTIO N. 16
782	782
783	783	(2) IN ADDITION TO ANY OT HER ENFORCEMENT ACTI ON, A LOCAL 17
784	784	COMMISSION MAY: 18
785	785
786	786	(I) FILE FOR INJUNCTIVE R ELIEF TO ENFORCE OR CORRECT 19
787	787	ANY VIOLATION OF THI S TITLE; AND 20
788	788
789	789	(II) FILE TO RECOVER DAMAG ES FOR A LOSS SUSTAI NED AS A 21
790	790	RESULT OF A VIOLATIO N OF THIS TITLE. 22
791	791
792	792	(I) A HEARING PANEL MAY AW ARD COSTS, INCLUDING REASONABLE 23
793	793	ATTORNEY’S FEES, TO ANY PARTY IF ANY OTHER PARTY : 24
794	794
795	795	(1) FILED OR MAINTAINED A FRIVOLOUS DISPUTE , OR FILED OR 25
796	796	MAINTAINED A DISPUTE IN BAD FAITH; 26
797	797
798	798	(2) REFUSED TO PARTICIPAT E IN MEDIATION OF A DISPUTE; OR 27
799	799
800	800	(3) SUBSTANTIALLY DELAYED OR HINDERED THE DISP UTE 28
801	801	RESOLUTION PROCESS W ITHOUT GOOD CAUSE . 29
802	802	SENATE BILL 866 19
803	803
804	804
805	805	(J) A HEARING PANEL MAY RE QUIRE A LOSING PARTY IN A DISPUTE TO PAY 1
806	806	ALL OR PART OF ANY F ILING FEE. 2
807	807
808	808	(K) A LOCAL GOVERNMENT MAY : 3
809	809
810	810	(1) ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL HEARING PROCEDURES ; AND 4
811	811
812	812	(2) ADOPT ADDITIONAL REQU IREMENTS RELATING TO WIT NESSES 5
813	813	AND EVIDENCE FOR A H EARING. 6
814	814
815	815	11C–113. 7
816	816
817	817	(A) A PARTY MAY APPEAL A D ECISION OF A HEARING PANEL TO A COURT OF 8
818	818	COMPETENT JURISDICTI ON. 9
819	819
820	820	(B) AN APPEAL OF A DECISI ON SHALL BE CONSOLID ATED WITH ANY CASE 10
821	821	THAT ARISES OUT OF T HE SAME FAC TS. 11
822	822
823	823	(C) THE COURT HEARING AN APPEAL SHALL SUSTAIN THE DECISION OF THE 12
824	824	HEARING PANEL UNLESS THE DECISION IS: 13
825	825
826	826	(1) INCONSISTENT WITH APP LICABLE LAW; 14
827	827
828	828	(2) LACKING SUBSTANTIAL E VIDENCE; OR 15
829	829
830	830	(3) ARBITRARY AND CAPRICI OUS. 16
831	831
832	832	11C–114. 17
833	833
834	834	(A) A PARTY MAY FILE A CIV IL ACTION ARISING OU T OF A GOVERNING 18
835	835	DOCUMENT OR A LAW RE GULATING THE POWERS OF A GOVERNING BODY OF A 19
836	836	COMMON OWNERSHIP COM MUNITY. 20
837	837
838	838	(B) IF THE COURT IS NOTIF IED THAT A DISPUTE H AS BEEN FILED WITH A 21
839	839	LOCAL COMMISSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS TITLE, THE COURT MAY POSTPO NE 22
840	840	A PROCEEDING FOR AT LEAST 90 DAYS. 23
841	841
842	842	(C) THE COURT MAY HEAR TH E ACTION DE NOVO IF A HEARING PANEL 24
843	843	ASSIGNED TO THE DISP UTE HAS NOT ISSUED A DECISION UNDER § 11C–112 OF THIS 25
844	844	TITLE. 26
845	845
846	846	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 27
847	847	1, 2025. 28
848	848