On October 7, 2014, the Pennsylvania State Senate Urban Affairs Committee voted to amend Senate Bill 1302 and remove all provisions opposed by the Community Association Institute's Legislative Action Committee, as well as add provisions to allow absentee, electronic and internet-based voting for association meetings. This action is a huge victory for community associations in Pennsylvania.
The Bill was first introduced on March 26, 2014 by Pennsylvania State Senator Mike Folmer. However, if the Bill had passed as it was originally drafted, it would have been detrimental and burdensome to community associations throughout the state. Most notably, it would have raised the quorum for association meetings to 50%, which would have made it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for associations to convene meetings and conduct business. In addition, the Bill would have made it more difficult to collect assessments by requiring that assessments, fines and penalties be approved by the membership at an annual meeting. Further, Pennsylvania law requires written notice of meetings be delivered to each unit owner in the association; however, the Bill would have increased this requirement and mandated that two (2) notices of meetings be delivered to each unit owner. This would have been financially burdensome on associations.
The Senate committee also added a provision to allow absentee, electronic and internet-based voting for association meetings.
Stay tuned for more legislative updates in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.
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