Texas 2015 84th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1168 Comm Sub / Bill

Filed 05/19/2015

                    By: West S.B. No. 1168
 (Villalba)


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the operation of certain property owners' associations.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 82.002(c), Property Code, is amended to
 read as follows:
 (c)  This section and the following sections apply to a
 condominium in this state for which the declaration was recorded
 before January 1, 1994:  Sections 82.005, 82.006, 82.007, 82.053,
 82.054, 82.102(a)(1)-(7), (a)(12)-(21), (f), and (g), 82.108,
 82.111, 82.113, 82.114, 82.116, 82.118, 82.119, 82.157, and
 82.161.  The definitions prescribed by Section 82.003 apply to a
 condominium in this state for which the declaration was recorded
 before January 1, 1994, to the extent the definitions do not
 conflict with the declaration.  The sections listed in this
 subsection apply only with respect to events and circumstances
 occurring on or after January 1, 1994, and do not invalidate
 existing provisions of the declaration, bylaws, or plats or plans
 of a condominium for which the declaration was recorded before
 January 1, 1994.
 SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 82, Property Code, is
 amended by adding Section 82.119 to read as follows:
 Sec. 82.119.  ONLINE AVAILABILITY OF DEDICATORY
 INSTRUMENTS. If an association has, or a management company on the
 association's behalf maintains, a publicly accessible Internet
 website, the association shall make available on that website all
 dedicatory instruments relating to the association or condominium
 regime, including bylaws and association rules, that are filed in
 the county deed records.
 SECTION 3.  Section 82.157(a), Property Code, is amended to
 read as follows:
 (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), if a unit owner
 other than a declarant intends to sell a unit, before executing a
 contract or conveying the unit, the unit owner must furnish to the
 purchaser a current copy of the declaration, bylaws, any
 association rules, and a resale certificate that must have been
 prepared not earlier than three months before the date it is
 delivered to the purchaser. The resale certificate must be issued
 by the association and must contain the current operating budget of
 the association and statements of:
 (1)  any right of first refusal or other restraint
 contained in the declaration that restricts the right to transfer a
 unit;
 (2)  the amount of the periodic common expense
 assessment and the unpaid common expenses or special assessments
 currently due and payable from the selling unit owner;
 (3)  other unpaid fees or amounts payable to the
 association by the selling unit owner;
 (4)  capital expenditures, if any, approved by the
 association for the next 12 months;
 (5)  the amount of reserves, if any, for capital
 expenditures and of portions of those reserves designated by the
 association for a specified project;
 (6)  any unsatisfied judgments against the
 association;
 (7)  the nature of any pending suits against the
 association;
 (8)  insurance coverage provided for the benefit of
 unit owners;
 (9)  whether the board has knowledge that any
 alterations or improvements to the unit or to the limited common
 elements assigned to that unit violate the declaration, bylaws, or
 association rules;
 (10)  whether the board has received notice from a
 governmental authority concerning violations of health or building
 codes with respect to the unit, the limited common elements
 assigned to that unit, or any other portion of the condominium;
 (11)  the remaining term of any leasehold estate that
 affects the condominium and the provisions governing an extension
 or renewal of the lease; [and]
 (12)  the name, mailing address, and telephone number
 of the association's managing agent, if any;
 (13)  the association's current operating budget and
 balance sheet; and
 (14)  a statement of all fees associated with the
 transfer of ownership, including a description of each fee, to whom
 each fee is paid, and the amount of each fee.
 SECTION 4.  Section 207.001(2), Property Code, is amended to
 read as follows:
 (2)  "Dedicatory instrument," "property owners'
 association," and "restrictive covenant" have the meanings
 assigned by Section 209.002 [202.001].
 SECTION 5.  Section 207.002, Property Code, is amended to
 read as follows:
 Sec. 207.002.  APPLICABILITY. (a)  This chapter applies to
 a subdivision with a property owners' association that is entitled
 to levy regular or special assessments.
 (b)  This chapter does not apply to a condominium council of
 owners governed by Chapter 81 or a condominium unit owners'
 association governed by Chapter 82.
 SECTION 6.  Section 209.002, Property Code, is amended by
 amending Subdivision (4-a) and adding Subdivision (13) to read as
 follows:
 (4-a)  "Development period" means a period stated in a
 declaration during which a declarant reserves:
 (A)  a right to facilitate the development,
 construction, and marketing of the subdivision; or [and]
 (B)  a right to direct the size, shape, and
 composition of the subdivision.
 (13)  "Verified mail" means any method of mailing for
 which evidence of mailing is provided by the United States Postal
 Service or a common carrier.
 SECTION 7.  Section 209.003(d), Property Code, is amended to
 read as follows:
 (d)  This chapter does not apply to a condominium as defined
 [development governed] by Section 81.002 or 82.003 [Chapter 82].
 SECTION 8.  Section 209.0041, Property Code, is amended by
 amending Subsection (h) and adding Subsection (h-1) to read as
 follows:
 (h)  Except as provided by Subsection (h-1) [this
 subsection], a declaration may be amended only by a vote of 67
 percent of those entitled to vote on the amendment of the
 declaration [the total votes allocated to property owners in the
 property owners' association], in addition to any governmental
 approval required by law.
 (h-1)  If the declaration contains a lower percentage than
 prescribed by Subsection (h), the percentage in the declaration
 controls.
 SECTION 9.  Section 209.0051, Property Code, is amended by
 amending Subsections (b), (c-1), and (h) and adding Subsection
 (c-2) to read as follows:
 (b)  In this section, "board [:
 [(1)  "Board] meeting":
 (1) [(A)]  means a deliberation between a quorum of the
 voting board of the property owners' association, or between a
 quorum of the voting board and another person, during which
 property owners' association business is considered and the board
 takes formal action; and
 (2) [(B)]  does not include the gathering of a quorum
 of the board at a social function unrelated to the business of the
 association or the attendance by a quorum of the board at a
 regional, state, or national convention, ceremonial event, or press
 conference, if formal action is not taken and any discussion of
 association business is incidental to the social function,
 convention, ceremonial event, or press conference.
 [(2)     "Development period" means a period stated in a
 declaration during which a declarant reserves:
 [(A)     a right to facilitate the development,
 construction, and marketing of the subdivision; and
 [(B)     a right to direct the size, shape, and
 composition of the subdivision.]
 (c-1)  Except for a meeting held by electronic or telephonic
 means under Subsection (c-2) [(h)], a board meeting must be held in
 a county in which all or part of the property in the subdivision is
 located or in a county adjacent to that county.
 (c-2)  A board meeting may be held by electronic or
 telephonic means provided that:
 (1)  each board member may hear and be heard by every
 other board member;
 (2)  except for any portion of the meeting conducted in
 executive session:
 (A)  all owners in attendance at the meeting may
 hear all board members; and
 (B)  owners are allowed to listen using any
 electronic or telephonic communication method used or expected to
 be used by a board member to participate; and
 (3)  the notice of the meeting includes instructions
 for owners to access any communication method required to be
 accessible under Subdivision (2)(B).
 (h)  Except as provided by this subsection, a [A] board may
 take action outside of a meeting [meet by any method of
 communication], including voting by electronic or [and] telephonic
 means, without prior notice to owners under Subsection (e), if each
 board member is given a reasonable opportunity to express the board
 member's opinion to all other board members and to vote [director
 may hear and be heard by every other director, or the board may take
 action by unanimous written consent to consider routine and
 administrative matters or a reasonably unforeseen emergency or
 urgent necessity that requires immediate board action]. Any action
 taken without notice to owners under Subsection (e) must be
 summarized orally, including an explanation of any known actual or
 estimated expenditures approved at the meeting, and documented in
 the minutes of the next regular or special board meeting. The board
 may not, unless done in an open meeting for which [without] prior
 notice was given to owners under Subsection (e), consider or vote
 on:
 (1)  fines;
 (2)  damage assessments;
 (3)  initiation of foreclosure actions;
 (4)  initiation of enforcement actions, excluding
 temporary restraining orders or violations involving a threat to
 health or safety;
 (5)  increases in assessments;
 (6)  levying of special assessments;
 (7)  appeals from a denial of architectural control
 approval; [or]
 (8)  a suspension of a right of a particular owner
 before the owner has an opportunity to attend a board meeting to
 present the owner's position, including any defense, on the issue;
 (9)  lending or borrowing money;
 (10)  the adoption or amendment of a dedicatory
 instrument;
 (11)  the approval of an annual budget or the approval
 of an amendment of an annual budget that increases the budget by
 more than 10 percent;
 (12)  the sale or purchase of real property;
 (13)  the filling of a vacancy on the board;
 (14)  the construction of capital improvements other
 than the repair, replacement, or enhancement of existing capital
 improvements; or
 (15)  the election of an officer.
 SECTION 10.  Section 209.0056, Property Code, is amended by
 amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
 follows:
 (a)  For an election or vote taken at a meeting of the owners,
 not [Not] later than the 10th day or earlier than the 60th day
 before the date of the [an] election or vote, a property owners'
 association shall give written notice of the election or vote to:
 (1)  each owner of property in the property owners'
 association, for purposes of an association-wide election or vote;
 or
 (2)  each owner of property in the property owners'
 association entitled under the dedicatory instruments to vote in a
 particular representative election, for purposes of a vote that
 involves election of representatives of the association who are
 vested under the dedicatory instruments of the property owners'
 association with the authority to elect or appoint board members of
 the property owners' association.
 (a-1)  For an election or vote of owners not taken at a
 meeting, the property owners' association shall give notice of the
 election or vote to all owners entitled to vote on any matter under
 consideration. The notice shall be given not later than the 20th
 day before the latest date on which a ballot may be submitted to be
 counted.
 SECTION 11.  Section 209.0057, Property Code, is amended by
 amending Subsections (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsections
 (b-1), (b-2), (b-3), and (b-4) to read as follows:
 (b)  Any owner may, not later than the 15th day after the
 later of the date of any [the] meeting of owners at which the
 election or vote was held or the date of the announcement of the
 results of the election or vote, require a recount of the votes.  A
 demand for a recount must be submitted in writing either:
 (1)  by verified [certified] mail[, return receipt
 requested,] or by delivery by the United States Postal Service with
 signature confirmation service to the property owners'
 association's mailing address as reflected on the latest management
 certificate filed under Section 209.004; or
 (2)  in person to the property owners' association's
 managing agent as reflected on the latest management certificate
 filed under Section 209.004 or to the address to which absentee and
 proxy ballots are mailed.
 (b-1)  The property owners' association must estimate the
 costs for performance of the recount by a person qualified to
 tabulate votes under Subsection (c) and must send an invoice for the
 estimated costs to the requesting owner at the owner's last known
 address according to association records not later than the 20th
 day after the date the association receives the owner's demand for
 the recount.
 (b-2)  The owner demanding a recount under this section must
 pay the invoice described by Subsection (b-1) in full to the
 property owners' association on or before the 30th day after the
 date the invoice is sent to the owner.
 (b-3)  If the invoice described by Subsection (b-1) is not
 paid by the deadline prescribed by Subsection (b-2), the owner's
 demand for a recount is considered withdrawn and a recount is not
 required.
 (b-4)  If the estimated costs under Subsection (b-1) are
 lesser or greater than the actual costs, the property owners'
 association must send a final invoice to the owner on or before the
 30th business day after the date the results of the recount are
 provided. If the final invoice includes additional amounts owed by
 the owner, any additional amounts not paid to the association
 before the 30th business day after the date the invoice is sent to
 the owner may be added to the owner's account as an assessment. If
 the estimated costs exceed the final invoice amount, the owner is
 entitled to a refund. The refund shall be paid to the owner at the
 time the final invoice is sent under this subsection.
 (c)  Following receipt of payment under Subsection (b-2),
 the [The] property owners' association shall, at the expense of the
 owner requesting the recount, retain for the purpose of performing
 the recount[,] the services of a person qualified to tabulate votes
 under this subsection.  The association shall enter into a contract
 for the services of a person who:
 (1)  is not a member of the association or related to a
 member of the association board within the third degree by
 consanguinity or affinity, as determined under Chapter 573,
 Government Code; and
 (2)  is:
 (A)  a current or former:
 (i)  county judge;
 (ii)  county elections administrator;
 (iii)  justice of the peace; or
 (iv)  county voter registrar; or
 (B)  a person agreed on by the association and
 each person [the persons] requesting the recount.
 (d)  On [Any recount under Subsection (b) must be performed
 on] or before the 30th day after the date of receipt of [a request
 and] payment for a recount in accordance with Subsection (b-2), the
 recount must be completed and the property owners' association must
 provide each owner who requested the recount with notice of the
 results of the recount [Subsections (b) and (c)]. If the recount
 changes the results of the election, the [property owners']
 association shall reimburse the requesting owner for the cost of
 the recount not later than the 30th day after the date the results
 of the recount are provided. [The property owners' association
 shall provide the results of the recount to each owner who requested
 the recount.] Any action taken by the board in the period between
 the initial election vote tally and the completion of the recount is
 not affected by any recount.
 SECTION 12.  Section 209.0058, Property Code, is amended by
 amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsections (a-1) and
 (d) to read as follows:
 (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), a [Any] vote cast
 [in an election or vote] by a member of a property owners'
 association must be in writing and signed by the member if the vote
 is cast:
 (1)  outside of a meeting;
 (2)  in an election to fill a position on the board;
 (3)  on a proposed adoption or amendment of a
 dedicatory instrument;
 (4)  on a proposed increase in the amount of a regular
 assessment or the proposed adoption of a special assessment; or
 (5)  on the proposed removal of a board member.
 (a-1)  If a property owners' association elects to use a
 ballot for a vote on a matter other than a matter described by
 Subsection (a), the ballot must be:
 (1)  in writing and signed by the member; or
 (2)  cast by secret ballot in accordance with
 Subsection (d).
 (c)  In a property owners' association [an association-wide]
 election, written and signed ballots are not required for
 uncontested races.
 (d)  A property owners' association may adopt rules to allow
 voting by secret ballot by association members. The association
 must take measures to reasonably ensure that:
 (1)  a member cannot cast more votes than the member is
 eligible to cast in an election or vote; and
 (2)  the association counts each vote cast by a member
 that the member is eligible to cast.
 SECTION 13.  Section 209.00591, Property Code, is amended by
 adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (c) to read as
 follows:
 (a-1)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter,
 a property owners' association's bylaws may require one or more
 board members to reside in the subdivision subject to the
 dedicatory instruments but may not require all board members to
 reside in that subdivision. A requirement described by this
 subsection is not applicable during the development period.
 (c)  The declaration may provide for a period of declarant
 control of the association during which a declarant, or persons
 designated by the declarant, may appoint and remove board members
 and the officers of the association, other than board members or
 officers elected by members of the property owners' association.
 Regardless of the period of declarant control provided by the
 declaration, on or before the 120th day after the date 75 percent of
 the lots that may be created and made subject to the declaration are
 conveyed to owners other than a declarant or a builder in the
 business of constructing homes who purchased the lots from the
 declarant for the purpose of selling completed homes built on the
 lots, at least one-third of the board members must be elected by
 owners other than the declarant.  If the declaration does not
 include the number of lots that may be created and made subject to
 the declaration, at least one-third of the board members must be
 elected by owners other than the declarant not later than the 10th
 anniversary of the date the declaration was recorded.
 SECTION 14.  Section 209.00592, Property Code, is amended by
 amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (b-1) to
 read as follows:
 (a)  Subject to Subsection (a-1), the [The] voting rights of
 an owner may be cast or given:
 (1)  in person or by proxy at a meeting of the property
 owners' association;
 (2)  by absentee ballot in accordance with this
 section;
 (3)  by electronic ballot in accordance with this
 section; or
 (4)  by any method of representative or delegated
 voting provided by a dedicatory instrument.
 (a-1)  Except as provided by this subsection, unless a
 dedicatory instrument provides otherwise, a property owners'
 association is not required to provide an owner with more than one
 voting method.  An owner must be allowed to vote by absentee ballot
 or proxy.
 (b-1)  For purposes of Subsection (b), a nomination taken
 from the floor in a board member election is not considered an
 amendment to the proposal for the election.
 SECTION 15.  Section 209.00593, Property Code, is amended by
 adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2), and (a-3) and amending Subsection
 (d) to read as follows:
 (a-1)  At least 10 days before the date a property owners'
 association composed of more than 100 lots disseminates absentee
 ballots or other ballots to association members for purposes of
 voting in a board member election, the association must provide
 notice to the association members soliciting candidates interested
 in running for a position on the board. The notice must contain
 instructions for an eligible candidate to notify the association of
 the candidate's request to be placed on the ballot and the deadline
 to submit the candidate's request. The deadline may not be earlier
 than the 10th day after the date the association provides the notice
 required by this subsection.
 (a-2)  The notice required by Subsection (a-1) must be:
 (1)  mailed to each owner; or
 (2)  provided by:
 (A)  posting the notice in a conspicuous manner
 reasonably designed to provide notice to association members:
 (i)  in a place located on the association's
 common property or, with the property owner's consent, on other
 conspicuously located privately owned property within the
 subdivision; or
 (ii)  on any Internet website maintained by
 the association or other Internet media; and
 (B)  sending the notice by e-mail to each owner
 who has registered an e-mail address with the association.
 (a-3)  An association described by Subsection (a-1) shall
 include on each absentee ballot or other ballot for a board member
 election the name of each eligible candidate from whom the
 association received a request to be placed on the ballot in
 accordance with this section.
 (d)  This section does not apply to the appointment of a
 board member during a development period.  [In this subsection,
 "development period" means a period stated in a declaration during
 which a declarant reserves:
 [(1)     a right to facilitate the development,
 construction, and marketing of the subdivision; and
 [(2)     a right to direct the size, shape, and
 composition of the subdivision.]
 SECTION 16.  Section 209.00594, Property Code, is amended by
 amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsections (b-1) and
 (d) to read as follows:
 (b)  A person other than a person described by Subsection (a)
 may tabulate votes in an association election or vote [but may not
 disclose to any other person how an individual voted].
 (b-1)  A person who tabulates votes under Subsection (b) or
 who performs a recount under Section 209.0057(c) may not disclose
 to any other person how an individual voted.
 (c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or
 any other law, only a person [other than a person] who tabulates
 votes under Subsection (b) or who performs a recount under Section
 209.0057(c)[, including a person described by Subsection (a),] may
 be given access to the ballots cast in the election or vote [only as
 part of a recount process authorized by law].
 (d)  This section may not be construed to affect a person's
 obligation to comply with a court order for the release of ballots
 or other voting records.
 SECTION 17.  Section 209.006, Property Code, is amended to
 read as follows:
 Sec. 209.006.  NOTICE REQUIRED BEFORE ENFORCEMENT ACTION.
 (a)  Before a property owners' association may suspend an owner's
 right to use a common area, file a suit against an owner other than a
 suit to collect a regular or special assessment or foreclose under
 an association's lien, charge an owner for property damage, or levy
 a fine for a violation of the restrictions or bylaws or rules of the
 association, the association or its agent must give written notice
 to the owner by verified [certified] mail[, return receipt
 requested].
 (b)  The notice must:
 (1)  describe the violation or property damage that is
 the basis for the suspension action, charge, or fine and state any
 amount due the association from the owner; [and]
 (2)  except as provided by Subsection (d), inform the
 owner that the owner:
 (A)  is entitled to a reasonable period to cure
 the violation and avoid the fine or suspension [unless the owner was
 given notice and a reasonable opportunity to cure a similar
 violation within the preceding six months];
 (B)  may request a hearing under Section 209.007
 on or before the 30th day after the date [the owner receives] the
 notice was mailed to the owner; and
 (C)  may have special rights or relief related to
 the enforcement action under federal law, including the
 Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. [app.] Section 501
 et seq.), if the owner is serving on active military duty;
 (3)  specify the date by which the owner must cure the
 violation if the violation is of a curable nature and does not pose
 a threat to public health or safety; and
 (4)  be sent by verified mail to the owner at the
 owner's last known address as shown on the association records.
 (c)  The date specified in the notice under Subsection (b)(3)
 must provide a reasonable period to cure the violation if the
 violation is of a curable nature and does not pose a threat to
 public health or safety.
 (d)  Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply to a violation for
 which the owner has been previously given notice under this section
 and the opportunity to exercise any rights available under this
 section in the preceding six months.
 (e)  If the owner cures the violation before the expiration
 of the period for cure described by Subsection (c), a fine may not
 be assessed for the violation.
 (f)  For purposes of this section, a violation is considered
 a threat to public health or safety if the violation could
 materially affect the physical health or safety of an ordinary
 resident.
 (g)  For purposes of this section, a violation is considered
 uncurable if the violation has occurred but is not a continuous
 action or a condition capable of being remedied by affirmative
 action. For purposes of this subsection, the nonrepetition of a
 one-time violation or other violation that is not ongoing is not
 considered an adequate remedy.
 (h)  The following are examples of acts considered uncurable
 for purposes of this section:
 (1)  shooting fireworks;
 (2)  an act constituting a threat to health or safety;
 (3)  a noise violation that is not ongoing;
 (4)  property damage, including the removal or
 alteration of landscape; and
 (5)  holding a garage sale or other event prohibited by
 a dedicatory instrument.
 (i)  The following are examples of acts considered curable
 for purposes of this section:
 (1)  a parking violation;
 (2)  a maintenance violation;
 (3)  the failure to construct improvements or
 modifications in accordance with approved plans and
 specifications; and
 (4)  an ongoing noise violation such as a barking dog.
 SECTION 18.  Section 209.0062(c), Property Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (c)  A property owners' association is [may] not required to
 allow a payment plan for any amount that extends more than 18 months
 from the date of the owner's request for a payment plan.  The
 association is not required to enter into a payment plan with an
 owner who failed to honor the terms of a previous payment plan
 during the two years following the owner's default under the
 previous payment plan. The association is not required to make a
 payment plan available to an owner after the period for cure
 described by Section 209.0064(b)(3) expires. The association is
 not required to allow an owner to enter into a payment plan more
 than once in any 12-month period.
 SECTION 19.  Section 209.0064(b), Property Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (b)  A property owners' association may not hold an owner
 liable for fees of a collection agent retained by the [property
 owners'] association unless the association first provides written
 notice to the owner by certified mail[, return receipt requested,]
 that:
 (1)  specifies each delinquent amount and the total
 amount of the payment required to make the account current;
 (2)  if the association is subject to Section 209.0062
 or the association's dedicatory instruments contain a requirement
 to offer a payment plan, describes the options the owner has to
 avoid having the account turned over to a collection agent,
 including information regarding availability of a payment plan
 through the association; and
 (3)  provides a period of at least 30 days for the owner
 to cure the delinquency before further collection action is taken.
 SECTION 20.  Section 209.009, Property Code, is amended to
 read as follows:
 Sec. 209.009.  FORECLOSURE SALE PROHIBITED IN CERTAIN
 CIRCUMSTANCES.  A property owners' association may not foreclose a
 property owners' association's assessment lien if the debt securing
 the lien consists solely of:
 (1)  fines assessed by the association;
 (2)  attorney's fees incurred by the association solely
 associated with fines assessed by the association; or
 (3)  amounts added to the owner's account as an
 assessment under Section 209.005(i) or 209.0057(b-4).
 SECTION 21.  Section 209.0091, Property Code, is amended to
 read as follows:
 Sec. 209.0091.  PREREQUISITES TO FORECLOSURE:  NOTICE AND
 OPPORTUNITY TO CURE FOR CERTAIN OTHER LIENHOLDERS. (a)  A property
 owners' association may not file an application for an expedited
 court order authorizing foreclosure of the association's
 assessment lien as described by Section 209.0092(a) or a petition
 for judicial foreclosure of the association's assessment lien as
 described by Section 209.0092(d) [foreclose a property owners'
 association assessment lien on real property by giving notice of
 sale under Section 51.002 or commencing a judicial foreclosure
 action] unless the association has:
 (1)  provided written notice of the total amount of the
 delinquency giving rise to the foreclosure to any other holder of a
 lien of record on the property whose lien is inferior or subordinate
 to the association's lien and is evidenced by a deed of trust; and
 (2)  provided the recipient of the notice an
 opportunity to cure the delinquency before the 61st day after the
 date the association mails [recipient receives] the notice
 described in Subdivision (1).
 (b)  Notice under this section must be sent by certified
 mail[, return receipt requested,] to the address for the lienholder
 shown in the deed records relating to the property that is subject
 to the property owners' association assessment lien.
 (c)  Notwithstanding any other law, notice under this
 section may be provided to any holder of a lien of record on the
 property.
 SECTION 22.  Section 209.0092, Property Code, is amended by
 amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read
 as follows:
 (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (c) or (d) and subject
 to Section 209.009, a property owners' association may not
 foreclose a property owners' association assessment lien unless the
 association first obtains a court order in an application for
 expedited foreclosure under the rules adopted by the supreme court
 under Subsection (b).  A property owners' association may use the
 procedure described by this subsection to foreclose any lien
 described by the association's dedicatory instruments. A property
 owners' association whose dedicatory instruments grant a right of
 foreclosure is considered to have any power of sale required by law
 as a condition of using the procedure described by this subsection.
 (d)  A property owners' association authorized to use the
 procedure described by Subsection (a) may in its discretion elect
 not to use that procedure and instead foreclose the association's
 assessment lien under court judgment foreclosing the lien and
 ordering the sale, pursuant to Rules 309 and 646a, Texas Rules of
 Civil Procedure.
 (e)  This section does not affect any right an association
 that is not authorized to use the procedure described by Subsection
 (a) may have to judicially foreclose the association's assessment
 lien as described by Subsection (d).
 SECTION 23.  Section 209.0041(a), Property Code, is
 repealed.
 SECTION 24.  (a)  Section 82.157(a), Property Code, as
 amended by this Act, applies only to a resale certificate issued on
 or after the effective date of this Act. A resale certificate
 issued before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law
 as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, and
 that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
 (b)  The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter 207,
 Property Code, apply only to a request for subdivision information
 made on or after the effective date of this Act and any resale
 certificate delivered in response to that request. A request for
 subdivision information made before the effective date of this Act,
 any resale certificate delivered in response to that request, and
 any request for an update of that resale certificate are governed by
 the law as it existed immediately before that date, and that law is
 continued in effect for that purpose.
 (c)  Sections 209.0041, 209.0056, 209.0057, 209.0058,
 209.00592, 209.00593, and 209.00594(c), Property Code, as amended
 by this Act, apply only to an election or vote held on or after the
 effective date of this Act. An election or vote held before the
 effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed
 immediately before that date, and that law is continued in effect
 for that purpose.
 (d)  Section 209.006, Property Code, as amended by this Act,
 applies only to an enforcement action taken on or after the
 effective date of this Act. An enforcement action taken before the
 effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed
 immediately before that date, and that law is continued in effect
 for that purpose.
 (e)  Section 209.0064, Property Code, as amended by this Act,
 applies only to a collection action taken on or after the effective
 date of this Act. A collection action taken before the effective
 date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed immediately
 before that date, and that law is continued in effect for that
 purpose.
 (f)  Section 209.0091, Property Code, as amended by this Act,
 applies only to an application or petition filed on or after the
 effective date of this Act. An application or petition filed before
 the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed
 immediately before that date, and that law is continued in effect
 for that purpose.
 SECTION 25.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.