This can't happen here..... Can it?
The Florida Senate gave final approval to a bill that imposes criminal penalties on condominium violations such as electoral fraud, theft of funds and conflicts of interests — all significant problems.
Hialeah Republican Senator . René Garca, said " the reforms will help all Florida residents with similar problems.”
García, in a speech from the Senate floor said , fraud and other abuses in Florida condo associations is out of control and declared that some homeowners’ associations had turned into “mini dictatorships” or “totalitarian regimes.”
Investigations into rampant fraud and abuse in Florida condos was exposed in an article published in The Miami herald entitled condo nightmares click here to see the article
The bill, first opposed by lawyers representing condo associations was finally approved with an amendment making it a felony to withold information from condo owners if it's done to cover up a crime.
▪ Associations with 150 or more units will be compelled to publish financial reports on a web page, accessible with passwords. If it’s proven that documents were denied to owners in order to hide fraud, those responsible could face felony charges under a clause that takes effect in July 2018.
▪ Directors will be limited to eight years on the board of homeowners associations. But they will be able to continue in office if they win a super-majority of the votes from owners in subsequent elections.
▪ Directors are forbidden from receiving payments from the association or hiring their relatives. Currently, directors can be paid for services such as cleaning, painting and repairs as long as all other directors are informed of the arrangement.
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