BILL NUMBER: AB 2718 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 766
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 24, 2004
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 24, 2004
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 25, 2004
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 23, 2004
AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 18, 2004
AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 6, 2004
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 28, 2004
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 17, 2004
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 25, 2004
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 12, 2004
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Laird
FEBRUARY 20, 2004
An act to amend Sections 1365, 1365.5, and 1368 of, and to add
Sections 1365.2.5 and 1365.3 to, the Civil Code, relating to common
interest developments.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2718, Laird. Common interest developments.
Existing law, the Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act,
governs common interest developments. These provisions require,
among other things, that the association of a common interest
development prepare and distribute specified financial statements and
other documents to the members of the development. Upon written
request, the association must also provide the owner of a separate
interest in the development with a copy of specified documents
concerning the development. The association is authorized to charge
a fee for this service not to exceed the association's reasonable
cost to prepare and reproduce the requested items.
These provisions also require the board of directors of a common
interest development to cause to be conducted, under certain
circumstances, a visual inspection of accessible areas of specified
major components of the development at least once every 3 years as
part of a study of the reserve account.
This bill would, among other things, revise provisions governing
the preparation and distribution of financial and other documents to
members of the development, require certain community service
organizations, as defined, to prepare and distribute a specified
financial statement, and set forth a specified form regarding
assessment and reserve funding disclosures. The bill would also
provide that an association may charge a reasonable fee for providing
copies of specified documents to the owner of a separate interest,
and that these items may be made available in electronic form, as
specified. The bill would provide that its provisions apply to
reports and disclosures made after July 1, 2005.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 1365 of the Civil Code is amended to read:
1365. Unless the governing documents impose more stringent
standards, the association shall prepare and distribute to all of its
members the following documents:
(a) A pro forma operating budget, which shall include all of the
following:
(1) The estimated revenue and expenses on an accrual basis.
(2) A summary of the association's reserves based upon the most
recent review or study conducted pursuant to Section 1365.5, based
only on assets held in cash or cash equivalents, which shall be
printed in boldface type and include all of the following:
(A) The current estimated replacement cost, estimated remaining
life, and estimated useful life of each major component.
(B) As of the end of the fiscal year for which the study is
prepared:
(i) The current estimate of the amount of cash reserves necessary
to repair, replace, restore, or maintain the major components.
(ii) The current amount of accumulated cash reserves actually set
aside to repair, replace, restore, or maintain major components.
(iii) If applicable, the amount of funds received from either a
compensatory damage award or settlement to an association from any
person or entity for injuries to property, real or personal, arising
out of any construction or design defects, and the expenditure or
disposition of funds, including the amounts expended for the direct
and indirect costs of repair of construction or design defects.
These amounts shall be reported at the end of the fiscal year for
which the study is prepared as separate line items under cash
reserves pursuant to clause (ii). In lieu of complying with the
requirements set forth in this clause, an association that is
obligated to issue a review of their financial statement pursuant to
subdivision (b) may include in the review a statement containing all
of the information required by this clause.
(C) The percentage that the amount determined for purposes of
clause (ii) of subparagraph (B) equals the amount determined for
purposes of clause (i) of subparagraph (B).
(3) A statement as to both of the following:
(A) Whether the board of directors of the association has
determined or anticipates that the levy of one or more special
assessments will be required to repair, replace, or restore any major
component or to provide adequate reserves therefor. If so, the
statement shall also set out the estimated amount, commencement date,
and duration of the assessment.
(B) The mechanism or mechanisms by which the board of directors
will fund reserves to repair or replace major components, including
assessments, borrowing, use of other assets, deferral of selected
replacement or repairs, or alternative mechanisms.
(4) A general statement addressing the procedures used for the
calculation and establishment of those reserves to defray the future
repair, replacement, or additions to those major components that the
association is obligated to maintain. The report shall include, but
need not be limited to, reserve calculations made using the formula
described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 1365.2.5,
and may not assume a rate of return on cash reserves in excess of 2
percent above the rediscount rate published by the Federal Reserve
Bank of San Francisco at the time the calculation was made.
The summary of the association's reserves disclosed pursuant to
paragraph (2) shall not be admissible in evidence to show improper
financial management of an association, provided that other relevant
and competent evidence of the financial condition of the association
is not made inadmissible by this provision.
Notwithstanding a contrary provision in the governing documents, a
copy of the operating budget shall be annually distributed not less
than 30 days nor more than 90 days prior to the beginning of the
association's fiscal year.
(b) A review of the financial statement of the association shall
be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles by a licensee of the California Board of Accountancy for
any fiscal year in which the gross income to the association exceeds
seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000). A copy of the review of the
financial statement shall be distributed within 120 days after the
close of each fiscal year.
(c) In lieu of the distribution of the pro forma operating budget
required by subdivision (a), the board of directors may elect to
distribute a summary of the pro forma operating budget to all of its
members with a written notice that the pro forma operating budget is
available at the business office of the association or at another
suitable location within the boundaries of the development, and that
copies will be provided upon request and at the expense of the
association. If any member requests that a copy of the pro forma
operating budget required by subdivision (a) be mailed to the member,
the association shall provide the copy to the member by first-class
United States mail at the expense of the association and delivered
within five days. The written notice that is distributed to each of
the association members shall be in at least 10-point boldface type
on the front page of the summary of the budget.
(d) A statement describing the association's policies and
practices in enforcing lien rights or other legal remedies for
default in payment of its assessments against its members shall be
annually delivered to the members not less than 30 days nor more than
90 days immediately preceding the beginning of the association's
fiscal year.
(e) (1) A summary of the association's property, general
liability, earthquake, flood, and fidelity insurance policies, which
shall be distributed not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days
preceding the beginning of the association's fiscal year, that
includes all of the following information about each policy:
(A) The name of the insurer.
(B) The type of insurance.
(C) The policy limits of the insurance.
(D) The amount of deductibles, if any.
(2) The association shall, as soon as reasonably practicable,
notify its members by first-class mail if any of the policies
described in paragraph (1) have lapsed, been canceled, and are not
immediately renewed, restored, or replaced, or if there is a
significant change, such as a reduction in coverage or limits or an
increase in the deductible, as to any of those policies. If the
association receives any notice of nonrenewal of a policy described
in paragraph (1), the association shall immediately notify its
members if replacement coverage will not be in effect by the date the
existing coverage will lapse.
(3) To the extent that any of the information required to be
disclosed pursuant to paragraph (1) is specified in the insurance
policy declaration page, the association may meet its obligation to
disclose that information by making copies of that page and
distributing it to all of its members.
(4) The summary distributed pursuant to paragraph (1) shall
contain, in at least 10-point boldface type, the following statement:
"This summary of the association's policies of insurance provides
only certain information, as required by subdivision (e) of Section
1365 of the Civil Code, and should not be considered a substitute for
the complete policy terms and conditions contained in the actual
policies of insurance. Any association member may, upon request and
provision of reasonable notice, review the association's insurance
policies and, upon request and payment of reasonable duplication
charges, obtain copies of those policies. Although the association
maintains the policies of insurance specified in this summary, the
association's policies of insurance may not cover your property,
including personal property or, real property improvements to or
around your dwelling, or personal injuries or other losses that occur
within or around your dwelling. Even if a loss is covered, you may
nevertheless be responsible for paying all or a portion of any
deductible that applies. Association members should consult with
their individual insurance broker or agent for appropriate additional
coverage."
SEC. 2. Section 1365.2.5 is added to the Civil Code, to read:
1365.2.5. (a) The disclosures required by this article in regard
to an association or a property shall be summarized on the following
form:
Assessment and Reserve Funding Disclosure Summary
(1) The current assessment per unit is $_______ per ____.
Note: If assessments vary by the size or type of unit, the
assessment applicable to this unit may be found on page ____
of the attached report.
(2) Additional assessments that have already been scheduled to be
imposed or charged, regardless of the purpose, if they have
been approved by the board and/or members:
______________________________________________________________________
___
: Date assessment is: Amount per unit per : Purpose of the
assessment::
: due: : month (If assessments:
:
: :are variable, see note:
:
: : immediately below): :
:
:-------------------:----------------------:--------------------------
--:
:-------------------:----------------------:--------------------------
--:
:-------------------:----------------------:--------------------------
--:
:-------------------:----------------------:--------------------------
--:
: : Total: :
:
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Note: If assessments vary by the size or type of unit, the
assessment
applicable to this unit may be found on page ____ of the attached
report.
(3) Based upon the most recent reserve study and other information
available to the board of directors, will currently projected
reserve account balances be sufficient at the end of each year
to meet the association's obligation for repair and/or
replacement
of major components during the next 30 years?
Yes _____ No _____
(4) If the answer to #3 is no, what additional assessments or other
contributions to reserves would be necessary to ensure that
sufficient reserve funds will be available each year during the
next 30 years?
____________________________________________________
: Approximate date assessment : Amount per unit :
: will be due: : per month: :
:
:------------------------------:--------------------:
:------------------------------:--------------------:
:------------------------------:--------------------:
:------------------------------:--------------------:
:------------------------------:--------------------:
: : Total: :
:______________________________:____________________:
(5) The following major components, which are included in the
reserve
study, are NOT included in the existing reserve funding:
____________________________________________________________________
:Major component:: Useful remaining : Reason this major component :
: : life in years: : was not included: :
:----------------:-------------------:-----------------------------:
:----------------:-------------------:-----------------------------:
:----------------:-------------------:-----------------------------:
:----------------:-------------------:-----------------------------:
:________________:___________________:_____________________________:
(6) As of the last reserve study or update, the current balance in
the reserve fund is $____. Based on the method of calculation in
paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 1365.2.5, the
required
amount in the reserve fund is $____, and if an alternate, but
generally accepted, method of calculation is also used, the
required
amount is $____. (See attached explanation)
NOTE: The financial representations set forth in this summary
are based on the best estimates of the preparer at that time. The
estimates are subject to change.
(b) For the purposes of preparing a summary pursuant to this
section:
(1) "Estimated remaining useful life" means the time reasonably
calculated to remain before a major component will require
replacement.
(2) "Major component" has the meaning used in Section 1365.5.
Components with an estimated remaining useful life of more than 30
years may be included in a study as a capital asset or disregarded
from the reserve calculation, so long as the decision is revealed in
the reserve study report and reported in the Assessment and Reserve
Funding Disclosure Summary.
(3) The form set out in subdivision (a) shall accompany each pro
forma operating budget or summary thereof that is delivered pursuant
to this article. The form may be supplemented or modified to clarify
the information delivered, so long as the minimum information set
out in subdivision (a) is provided.
(4) For the purpose of the report and summary, the amount of
reserves needed to be accumulated for a component at a given time
shall be computed as the current cost of replacement or repair
multiplied by the number of years the component has been in service
divided by the useful life of the component. This shall not be
construed to require the board to fund reserves in accordance with
this calculation.
SEC. 3. Section 1365.3 is added to the Civil Code, to read:
1365.3. Unless the governing documents impose more stringent
standards, any community service organization as defined in paragraph
(3) of subdivision (c) of Section 1368 whose funding from the
association or its members exceeds 10 percent of the organization's
annual budget shall prepare and distribute to the association a
report that meets the requirements of Section 5012 of the
Corporations Code, and that describes in detail administrative costs
and identifies the payees of those costs in a manner consistent with
the provisions of Section 1365.2. If the community service
organization does not comply with the standards, the report shall
disclose the noncompliance in detail. If a community service
organization is responsible for the maintenance of major components
for which an association would otherwise be responsible, the
community service organization shall supply to the association the
information regarding those components that the association would use
to complete disclosures and reserve reports required under this
article. An association may rely upon information received from a
community service organization, and shall provide access to the
information pursuant to the provisions of Section 1365.2.
SEC. 4. Section 1365.5 of the Civil Code is amended to read:
1365.5. (a) Unless the governing documents impose more stringent
standards, the board of directors of the association shall do all of
the following:
(1) Review a current reconciliation of the association's operating
accounts on at least a quarterly basis.
(2) Review a current reconciliation of the association's reserve
accounts on at least a quarterly basis.
(3) Review, on at least a quarterly basis, the current year's
actual reserve revenues and expenses compared to the current year's
budget.
(4) Review the latest account statements prepared by the financial
institutions where the association has its operating and reserve
accounts.
(5) Review an income and expense statement for the association's
operating and reserve accounts on at least a quarterly basis.
(b) The signatures of at least two persons, who shall be members
of the association's board of directors, or one officer who is not a
member of the board of directors and a member of the board of
directors, shall be required for the withdrawal of moneys from the
association's reserve accounts.
(c) (1) The board of directors shall not expend funds designated
as reserve funds for any purpose other than the repair, restoration,
replacement, or maintenance of, or litigation involving the repair,
restoration, replacement, or maintenance of, major components which
the association is obligated to repair, restore, replace, or maintain
and for which the reserve fund was established.
(2) However, the board may authorize the temporary transfer of
moneys from a reserve fund to the association's general operating
fund to meet short-term cashflow requirements or other expenses, if
the board has provided notice of the intent to consider the transfer
in a notice of meeting, which shall be provided as specified in
Section 1363.05. The notice shall include the reasons the transfer
is needed, some of the options for repayment,and whether a special
assessment may be considered. If the board authorizes the transfer,
the board shall issue a written finding, recorded in the board's
minutes, explaining the reasons that the transfer is needed, and
describing when and how the moneys will be repaid to the reserve
fund. The transferred funds shall be restored to the reserve fund
within one year of the date of the initial transfer, except that the
board may, after giving the same notice required for considering a
transfer, and, upon making a finding supported by documentation that
a temporary delay would be in the best interests of the common
interest development, temporarily delay the restoration. The board
shall exercise prudent fiscal management in maintaining the integrity
of the reserve account, and shall, if necessary, levy a special
assessment to recover the full amount of the expended funds within
the time limits required by this section. This special assessment is
subject to the limitation imposed by Section 1366. The board may,
at its discretion, extend the date the payment on the special
assessment is due. Any extension shall not prevent the board from
pursuing any legal remedy to enforce the collection of an unpaid
special assessment.
(d) When the decision is made to use reserve funds or to
temporarily transfer moneys from the reserve fund to pay for
litigation, the association shall notify the members of the
association of that decision in the next available mailing to all
members pursuant to Section 5016 of the Corporations Code, and of the
availability of an accounting of those expenses. Unless the
governing documents impose more stringent standards, the association
shall make an accounting of expenses related to the litigation on at
least a quarterly basis. The accounting shall be made available for
inspection by members of the association at the association's office.
(e) At least once every three years, the board of directors shall
cause to be conducted a reasonably competent and diligent visual
inspection of the accessible areas of the major components which the
association is obligated to repair, replace, restore, or maintain as
part of a study of the reserve account requirements of the common
interest development, if the current replacement value of the major
components is equal to or greater than one-half of the gross budget
of the association which excludes the association's reserve account
for that period. The board shall review this study, or cause it to be
reviewed, annually and shall consider and implement necessary
adjustments to the board's analysis of the reserve account
requirements as a result of that review.
The study required by this subdivision shall at a minimum include:
(1) Identification of the major components which the association
is obligated to repair, replace, restore, or maintain which, as of
the date of the study, have a remaining useful life of less than 30
years.
(2) Identification of the probable remaining useful life of the
components identified in paragraph (1) as of the date of the study.
(3) An estimate of the cost of repair, replacement, restoration,
or maintenance of the components identified in paragraph (1).
(4) An estimate of the total annual contribution necessary to
defray the cost to repair, replace, restore, or maintain the
components identified in paragraph (1) during and at the end of their
useful life, after subtracting total reserve funds as of the date of
the study.
(f) As used in this section, "reserve accounts" means both of the
following:
(1) Moneys that the association's board of directors has
identified for use to defray the future repair or replacement of, or
additions to, those major components which the association is
obligated to maintain.
(2) The funds received and not yet expended or disposed from
either a compensatory damage award or settlement to an association
from any person or entity for injuries to property, real or personal,
arising from any construction or design defects. These funds shall
be separately itemized from funds described in paragraph (1).
(g) As used in this section, "reserve account requirements" means
the estimated funds which the association's board of directors has
determined are required to be available at a specified point in time
to repair, replace, or restore those major components which the
association is obligated to maintain.
(h) This section does not apply to an association that does not
have a "common area" as defined in Section 1351.
SEC. 5. Section 1368 of the Civil Code is amended to read:
1368. (a) The owner of a separate interest, other than an owner
subject to the requirements of Section 11018.6 of the Business and
Professions Code, shall, as soon as practicable before transfer of
title to the separate interest or execution of a real property sales
contract therefor, as defined in Section 2985, provide the following
to the prospective purchaser:
(1) A copy of the governing documents of the common interest
development, including any operating rules, and including a copy of
the association's articles of incorporation, or, if not incorporated,
a statement in writing from an authorized representative of the
association that the association is not incorporated.
(2) If there is a restriction in the governing documents limiting
the occupancy, residency, or use of a separate interest on the basis
of age in a manner different from that provided in Section 51.3, a
statement that the restriction is only enforceable to the extent
permitted by Section 51.3 and a statement specifying the applicable
provisions of Section 51.3.
(3) A copy of the most recent documents distributed pursuant to
Section 1365.
(4) A true statement in writing obtained from an authorized
representative of the association as to the amount of the association'
s current regular and special assessments and fees, any assessments
levied upon the owner's interest in the common interest development
that are unpaid on the date of the statement, and any monetary fines
or penalties levied upon the owner's interest and unpaid on the date
of the statement. The statement obtained from an authorized
representative shall also include true information on late charges,
interest, and costs of collection which, as of the date of the
statement, are or may be made a lien upon the owner's interest in a
common interest development pursuant to Section 1367 or 1367.1.
(5) A copy or a summary of any notice previously sent to the owner
pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1363 that sets forth any
alleged violation of the governing documents that remains unresolved
at the time of the request. The notice shall not be deemed a waiver
of the association's right to enforce the governing documents against
the owner or the prospective purchaser of the separate interest with
respect to any violation. This paragraph shall not be construed to
require an association to inspect an owner's separate interest.
(6) A copy of the preliminary list of defects provided to each
member of the association pursuant to Section 1375, unless the
association and the builder subsequently enter into a settlement
agreement or otherwise resolve the matter and the association
complies with Section 1375.1. Disclosure of the preliminary list of
defects pursuant to this paragraph does not waive any privilege
attached to the document. The preliminary list of defects shall also
include a statement that a final determination as to whether the
list of defects is accurate and complete has not been made.
(7) A copy of the latest information provided for in Section
1375.1.
(8) Any change in the association's current regular and special
assessments and fees which have been approved by the association's
board of directors, but have not become due and payable as of the
date disclosure is provided pursuant to this subdivision.
(b) Upon written request, an association shall, within 10 days of
the mailing or delivery of the request, provide the owner of a
separate interest with a copy of the requested items specified in
paragraphs (1) to (8), inclusive, of subdivision (a). The items
required to be made available pursuant to this section may be
maintained in electronic form and requesting parties shall have the
option of receiving them by electronic transmission or machine
readable storage media if the association maintains these items in
electronic form. The association may charge a reasonable fee for
this service based upon the association's actual cost to procure,
prepare, and reproduce the requested items.
(c) (1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2), neither an
association nor a community service organization or similar entity
may impose or collect any assessment, penalty, or fee in connection
with a transfer of title or any other interest except for the
following:
(A) An amount not to exceed the association's actual costs to
change its records.
(B) An amount authorized by subdivision (b).
(2) The amendments made to this subdivision by the act adding this
paragraph do not apply to a community service organization or
similar entity that is described in subparagraph (A) or (B):
(A) The community service organization or similar entity satisfies
both of the following requirements:
(i) The community service organization or similar entity was
established prior to February 20, 2003.
(ii) The community service organization or similar entity exists
and operates, in whole or in part, to fund or perform environmental
mitigation or to restore or maintain wetlands or native habitat, as
required by the state or local government as an express written
condition of development.
(B) The community service organization or similar entity satisfies
all of the following requirements:
(i) The community service organization or similar entity
is not an organization or entity described in subparagraph (A).
(ii) The community service organization or similar entity was
established and received a transfer fee prior to January 1, 2004.
(iii) On and after January 1, 2006, the community service
organization or similar entity offers a purchaser the following
payment options for the fee or charge it collects at time of
transfer:
(I) Paying the fee or charge at the time of transfer.
(II) Paying the fee or charge pursuant to an installment payment
plan for a period of not less than seven years. If the purchaser
elects to pay the fee or charge in installment payments, the
community service organization or similar entity may also collect
additional amounts that do not exceed the actual costs for billing
and financing on the amount owed. If the purchaser sells the
separate interest before the end of the installment payment plan
period, he or she shall pay the remaining balance prior to transfer.
(3) For the purposes of this subdivision, a "community service
organization or similar entity" means a nonprofit entity, other than
an association, that is organized to provide services to residents of
the common interest development or to the public in addition to the
residents, to the extent community common areas or facilities are
available to the public. A "community service organization or
similar entity" does not include an entity that has been organized
solely to raise moneys and contribute to other nonprofit
organizations that are qualified as tax exempt under Section 501(c)
(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that provide housing or housing
assistance.
(d) Any person or entity who willfully violates this section is
liable to the purchaser of a separate interest that is subject to
this section for actual damages occasioned thereby and, in addition,
shall pay a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed five hundred
dollars ($500). In an action to enforce this liability, the
prevailing party shall be awarded reasonable attorneys' fees.
(e) Nothing in this section affects the validity of title to real
property transferred in violation of this section.
(f) In addition to the requirements of this section, an owner
transferring title to a separate interest shall comply with
applicable requirements of Sections 1133 and 1134.
(g) For the purposes of this section, a person who acts as a
community association manager is an agent, as defined in Section
2297, of the association.
SEC. 6. The provisions of this act shall apply to reports and
disclosures made after July 1, 2005.