Maryland General Assembly Did Not Enact a Bill That Would Have Required Associations To Register With the State

by Raymond Daniel Burke | May 9, 2016

A bill that would have required common ownership communities to register with the State did not come to a vote on the floor of the Maryland General Assembly during 2016 session.  House of Delegates Bill 1061 would have required common ownership communities — including residential condominiums, homeowner associations and cooperatives — to register each year with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.

Proposed Legislation in the Maryland General Assembly Would Require Common Ownership Communities To Register Annually with the State

by Raymond Daniel Burke | Mar 9, 2016

Bill 1061 in the Maryland House of Delegates would require common ownership communities — including residential condominiums, homeowner associations and cooperatives — to register each year with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.  The community would be required to provide (1) the name, address and county in which it is located; (2) the number and type of units; (3) proof of registration with the county if required in that jurisdiction; (4) the name and contact information for each officer or member of the board of directors or other governing body, the property manager, and any attorney; (5) a statement as to fidelity insurance maintained; (6) a statement as to reserve studies and current reserve balances; (7) a statement as to grievance procedures; and (8) any other information that the Department may require.

Montgomery County Requires Association Board Members To Complete An On-Line Education Course

by Raymond Daniel Burke | Feb 3, 2016

As of January 2, 2016, those who serve on the boards of condominiums, homeowner associations, and housing coops in Montgomery County, Maryland must now complete an education course on the responsibilities of serving on a board of directors.  The law charges the Montgomery County Commission on Common Ownership Communities with the responsibility for developing the curriculum.  The Commission has established an on-line course on its website at the following link:  http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/CCOC-Training.

Each condominium, HOA and coop in Montgomery County is required to certify to the Commission that each of its board members has completed the required training, along with providing an annual report that includes the name and address of each board member, the date each member completed the training, the number of vacancies on the board, and the length of time each vacancy existed.

It should be noted that failure to complete the training course will not disqualify a board member from continuing to serve.  However, if a condominium, HOA or coop board member does not complete the mandatory education, the Commission may take legal action to enforce the training requirement.  Also, a Commission dispute resolution panel that is reviewing a dispute between a homeowner and a community association may consider a board member’s failure to complete the training in deciding the dispute.