House Engrossed

 

 

 

 

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-second Legislature

First Regular Session

2015

 

 

HOUSE BILL 2084

 

 

 

AN ACT

 

amending sections 10-11622, 33-1242, 33-1256, 33-1803 and 33-1807, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to condominiums and planned communities.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 


Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Section 10-11622, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE10-11622.  Annual report

A.  Each domestic corporation and each foreign corporation authorized to conduct affairs in this state shall deliver to the commission for filing an annual report that sets forth all of the following:

1.  The name of the corporation and the state or country under whose law it is incorporated.

2.  The address of its known place of business and the name and address of its agent in this state.

3.  The address of its principal office.

4.  The names and business addresses of its directors and principal officers.

5.  A brief description of the nature of its activities.

6.  Whether or not it has members.

7.  A certificate of disclosure containing the information set forth in section 10‑3202, subsection D.

8.  A statement that all corporate income tax returns required by title 43 have been filed with the department of revenue.

B.  A unit owners' association that is subject to title 33, chapter 9 or a planned community association that is subject to title 33, chapter 16 shall attach to and submit with the annual report a separate statement containing the name of the designated agent or management company for the association, the address for the association and the telephone number, e-mail address and website if any and fax number if any of the association or its designated agent or management company.  Unit owners' associations and planned community associations shall file an amended statement reflecting changes in designated agent or management company within thirty days of any change.

B.  C.  The information in the annual report and the separate statement that is prescribed by subsection B of this section shall be current as of the date the annual report is and separate statement are executed on behalf of the corporation.

C.  D.  The annual report for all corporations shall be delivered to the commission for filing, and the annual fee shall be paid on or before the date assigned by the commission.  The commission may stagger the annual report filing date for all corporations and adjust the annual fee on a pro rata basis.  The corporation shall deliver the annual report to the commission for filing each subsequent year in the anniversary month on the date assigned by the commission.  If a corporation is unable to file the annual report required by this section on or before the date prescribed by this section, the corporation may file, but only on or before this date, a written request with the commission for an extension of time, not to exceed six months, in which to file the annual report.  The request for an extension of time shall be accompanied by the annual registration fee required by law.  After filing the request for an extension of time and on receipt of the annual registration fee, the commission shall grant the request.

D.  E.  If an annual report does not contain the information requested by this section, the commission shall promptly notify the reporting domestic or foreign corporation in writing and shall return the report to it for correction.  If the report is corrected to contain the information required by this section and delivered to the commission within thirty days after the effective date of notice, it is deemed to be timely filed.

E.  F.  Any corporation that is exempt from the requirement of filing an annual report shall deliver annually a certificate of disclosure containing that contains the information set forth in section 10‑3202, subsection D and that is executed by any two executive officers or directors of the corporation on or before May 31.  If the certificate is not delivered within ninety days after the due date of the annual report or within ninety days after May 31 in the case of any corporation that is exempt from the requirement of filing an annual report, the commission shall initiate administrative dissolution of that corporation or revoke the application for authority of that corporation in accordance with pursuant to chapters 24 through 40 of this title. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2.  Section 33-1242, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE33-1242.  Powers of unit owners' association; notice to unit owner of violation

A.  Subject to the provisions of the declaration, the association may:

1.  Adopt and amend bylaws and rules.

2.  Adopt and amend budgets for revenues, expenditures and reserves and collect assessments for common expenses from unit owners.

3.  Hire and discharge managing agents and other employees, agents and independent contractors.

4.  Institute, defend or intervene in litigation or administrative proceedings in its own name on behalf of itself or two or more unit owners on matters affecting the condominium.

5.  Make contracts and incur liabilities.

6.  Regulate the use, maintenance, repair, replacement and modification of common elements.

7.  Cause additional improvements to be made as a part of the common elements.

8.  Acquire, hold, encumber and convey in its own name any right, title or interest to real or personal property, except that common elements may be conveyed or subjected to a security interest only pursuant to section 33‑1252.

9.  Grant easements, leases, licenses and concessions through or over the common elements.

10.  Impose and receive any payments, fees or charges for the use, rental or operation of the common elements other than limited common elements described in section 33‑1212, paragraphs 2 and 4 and for services provided to unit owners.

11.  Impose charges for late payment of assessments and, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, impose reasonable monetary penalties upon unit owners for violations of the declaration, bylaws and rules of the association.

12.  Impose reasonable charges for the preparation and recordation of amendments to the declaration or statements of unpaid assessments.

13.  Provide for the indemnification of its officers and executive board of directors and maintain directors' and officers' liability insurance.

14.  Assign its right to future income, including the right to receive common expense assessments, but only to the extent the declaration expressly provides.

15.  Be a member of a master association or other entity owning, maintaining or governing in any respect any portion of the common elements or other property benefitting or related to the condominium or the unit owners in any respect.

16.  Exercise any other powers conferred by the declaration or bylaws.

17.  Exercise all other powers that may be exercised in this state by legal entities of the same type as the association.

18.  Exercise any other powers necessary and proper for the governance and operation of the association.

B.  A unit owner who receives a written notice that the condition of the property owned by the unit owner is in violation of a requirement of the condominium documents without regard to whether a monetary penalty is imposed by the notice may provide the association with a written response by sending the response by certified mail within ten business days after the date of the notice.  The response shall be sent to the address contained in the notice or identified in the notice.  recorded notice prescribed by section 33-1256, subsection J.

C.  Within ten business days after receipt of the certified mail containing the response from the unit owner, the association shall respond to the unit owner with a written explanation regarding the notice that shall provide at least the following information unless previously provided in the notice of violation:

1.  The provision of the condominium documents that has allegedly been violated.

2.  The date of the violation or the date the violation was observed.

3.  The first and last name of the person or persons who observed the violation.

4.  The process the unit owner must follow to contest the notice.

D.  Unless the information required in subsection C, paragraph 4 of this section is provided in the notice of violation, the association shall not proceed with any action to enforce the condominium documents, including the collection of attorney fees, before or during the time prescribed by subsection C of this section regarding the exchange of information between the association and the unit owner.  At any time before or after completion of the exchange of information pursuant to this section, the unit owner may petition for a hearing pursuant to section 41-2198.01 if the dispute is within the jurisdiction of the department of fire, building and life safety as prescribed in section 41-2198.01, subsection B. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3.  Section 33-1256, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE33-1256.  Lien for assessments; priority; mechanics' and materialmen's liens; applicability

A.  The association has a lien on a unit for any assessment levied against that unit from the time the assessment becomes due.  The association's lien for assessments, for charges for late payment of those assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments may be foreclosed in the same manner as a mortgage on real estate but may be foreclosed only if the owner has been delinquent in the payment of monies secured by the lien, excluding reasonable collection fees, reasonable attorney fees and charges for late payment of and costs incurred with respect to those assessments, for a period of one year or in the amount of one thousand two hundred dollars or more, whichever occurs first.  Fees, charges, late charges, monetary penalties and interest charged pursuant to section 33‑1242, subsection A, paragraphs 10, 11 and 12, other than charges for late payment of assessments, are not enforceable as assessments under this section.  If an assessment is payable in installments, the full amount of the assessment is a lien from the time the first installment of the assessment becomes due.  The association has a lien for fees, charges, late charges, other than charges for late payment of assessments, monetary penalties or interest charged pursuant to section 33‑1242, subsection A, paragraphs 10, 11 and 12 after the entry of a judgment in a civil suit for those fees, charges, late charges, monetary penalties or interest from a court of competent jurisdiction and the recording of that judgment in the office of the county recorder as otherwise provided by law.  The association's lien for monies other than for assessments, for charges for late payment of those assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments may not be foreclosed and is effective only on conveyance of any interest in the real property.

B.  A lien for assessments, for charges for late payment of those assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments under this section is prior to all other liens, interests and encumbrances on a unit except:

1.  Liens and encumbrances recorded before the recordation of the declaration.

2.  A recorded first mortgage on the unit, a seller's interest in a first contract for sale pursuant to chapter 6, article 3 of this title on the unit recorded prior to the lien arising pursuant to subsection A of this section or a recorded first deed of trust on the unit.

3.  Liens for real estate taxes and other governmental assessments or charges against the unit.

C.  Subsection B of this section does not affect the priority of mechanics' or materialmen's liens or the priority of liens for other assessments made by the association.  The lien under this section is not subject to chapter 8 of this title.

D.  Unless the declaration otherwise provides, if two or more associations have liens for assessments created at any time on the same real estate, those liens have equal priority.

E.  Recording of the declaration constitutes record notice and perfection of the lien for assessments, for charges for late payment of those assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments.  Further recordation of any claim of lien for assessments under this section is not required.

F.  A lien for unpaid assessments is extinguished unless proceedings to enforce the lien are instituted within three years after the full amount of the assessments becomes due.

G.  This section does not prohibit actions to recover sums for which subsection A of this section creates a lien or does not prohibit an association from taking a deed in lieu of foreclosure.

H.  A judgment or decree in any action brought under this section shall include costs and reasonable attorney fees for the prevailing party.

I.  The association on written request shall furnish to a lienholder, escrow agent, unit owner or person designated by a unit owner a statement setting forth the amount of unpaid assessments against the unit.  The statement shall be furnished within ten days after receipt of the request and the statement is binding on the association, the board of directors and every unit owner if the statement is requested by an escrow agency that is licensed pursuant to title 6, chapter 7.  Failure to provide the statement to the escrow agent within the time provided for in this subsection shall extinguish any lien for any unpaid assessment then due.

J.  The association shall record in the office of the county recorder in the county in which the condominium is located a notice stating the name of the association or designated agent or management company for the association, the address for the association and the telephone number of the association or its designated agent or management company.  The notice shall include the name of the condominium community, the date of the recording and the recorded instrument number or book and page for the main document that constitutes the declaration.  If an association's address, designated agent or management company changes, the association shall amend its notice or record a new notice within ninety days after the change.

K.  J.  Notwithstanding any provision in the condominium documents or in any contract between the association and a management company, unless the member directs otherwise, all payments received on a member's account shall be applied first to any unpaid assessments, for unpaid charges for late payment of those assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for unpaid attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments, in that order, with any remaining amounts applied next to other unpaid fees, charges and monetary penalties or interest and late charges on any of those amounts.

L.  K.  This section does not apply to timeshare plans or associations that are subject to chapter 20 of this title. END_STATUTE

Sec. 4.  Section 33-1803, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE33-1803.  Penalties; notice to member of violation

A.  Unless limitations in the community documents would result in a lower limit for the assessment, the association shall not impose a regular assessment that is more than twenty per cent percent greater than the immediately preceding fiscal year's assessment without the approval of the majority of the members of the association.  Unless reserved to the members of the association, the board of directors may impose reasonable charges for the late payment of assessments.  A payment by a member is deemed late if it is unpaid fifteen or more days after its due date, unless the community documents provide for a longer period.  Charges for the late payment of assessments are limited to the greater of fifteen dollars or ten per cent percent of the amount of the unpaid assessment.  Any monies paid by the member for an unpaid assessment shall be applied first to the principal amount unpaid and then to the interest accrued.

B.  After notice and an opportunity to be heard, the board of directors may impose reasonable monetary penalties on members for violations of the declaration, bylaws and rules of the association.  Notwithstanding any provision in the community documents, the board of directors shall not impose a charge for a late payment of a penalty that exceeds the greater of fifteen dollars or ten per cent percent of the amount of the unpaid penalty.  A payment is deemed late if it is unpaid fifteen or more days after its due date, unless the declaration, bylaws or rules of the association provide for a longer period.  Any monies paid by a member for an unpaid penalty shall be applied first to the principal amount unpaid and then to the interest accrued.  Notice pursuant to this subsection shall include information pertaining to the manner in which the penalty shall be enforced.

C.  A member who receives a written notice that the condition of the property owned by the member is in violation of the community documents without regard to whether a monetary penalty is imposed by the notice may provide the association with a written response by sending the response by certified mail within ten business days after the date of the notice.  The response shall be sent to the address contained identified in the notice. or in the recorded notice prescribed by section 33-1807, subsection J.

D.  Within ten business days after receipt of the certified mail containing the response from the member, the association shall respond to the member with a written explanation regarding the notice that shall provide at least the following information unless previously provided in the notice of violation:

1.  The provision of the community documents that has allegedly been violated.

2.  The date of the violation or the date the violation was observed.

3.  The first and last name of the person or persons who observed the violation.

4.  The process the member must follow to contest the notice.

E.  Unless the information required in subsection D, paragraph 4 of this section is provided in the notice of violation, the association shall not proceed with any action to enforce the community documents, including the collection of attorney fees, before or during the time prescribed by subsection D of this section regarding the exchange of information between the association and the member.  At any time before or after completion of the exchange of information pursuant to this section, the member may petition for a hearing pursuant to section 41-2198.01 if the dispute is within the jurisdiction of the department of fire, building and life safety as prescribed in section 41-2198.01, subsection B. END_STATUTE

Sec. 5.  Section 33-1807, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE33-1807.  Lien for assessments; priority; mechanics' and materialmen's liens

A.  The association has a lien on a unit for any assessment levied against that unit from the time the assessment becomes due.  The association's lien for assessments, for charges for late payment of those assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments may be foreclosed in the same manner as a mortgage on real estate but may be foreclosed only if the owner has been delinquent in the payment of monies secured by the lien, excluding reasonable collection fees, reasonable attorney fees and charges for late payment of and costs incurred with respect to those assessments, for a period of one year or in the amount of one thousand two hundred dollars or more, whichever occurs first.  Fees, charges, late charges, monetary penalties and interest charged pursuant to section 33‑1803, other than charges for late payment of assessments are not enforceable as assessments under this section.  If an assessment is payable in installments, the full amount of the assessment is a lien from the time the first installment of the assessment becomes due.  The association has a lien for fees, charges, late charges, other than charges for late payment of assessments, monetary penalties or interest charged pursuant to section 33‑1803 after the entry of a judgment in a civil suit for those fees, charges, late charges, monetary penalties or interest from a court of competent jurisdiction and the recording of that judgment in the office of the county recorder as otherwise provided by law.  The association's lien for monies other than for assessments, for charges for late payment of those assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments may not be foreclosed and is effective only on conveyance of any interest in the real property.

B.  A lien for assessments, for charges for late payment of those assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments under this section is prior to all other liens, interests and encumbrances on a unit except:

1.  Liens and encumbrances recorded before the recordation of the declaration.

2.  A recorded first mortgage on the unit, a seller's interest in a first contract for sale pursuant to chapter 6, article 3 of this title on the unit recorded prior to the lien arising pursuant to subsection A of this section or a recorded first deed of trust on the unit.

3.  Liens for real estate taxes and other governmental assessments or charges against the unit.

C.  Subsection B of this section does not affect the priority of mechanics' or materialmen's liens or the priority of liens for other assessments made by the association.  The lien under this section is not subject to chapter 8 of this title.

D.  Unless the declaration otherwise provides, if two or more associations have liens for assessments created at any time on the same real estate those liens have equal priority.

E.  Recording of the declaration constitutes record notice and perfection of the lien for assessments, for charges for late payment of assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments.  Further recordation of any claim of lien for assessments under this section is not required.

F.  A lien for an unpaid assessment is extinguished unless proceedings to enforce the lien are instituted within three years after the full amount of the assessment becomes due.

G.  This section does not prohibit:

1.  Actions to recover amounts for which subsection A of this section creates a lien.

2.  An association from taking a deed in lieu of foreclosure.

H.  A judgment or decree in any action brought under this section shall include costs and reasonable attorney fees for the prevailing party.

I.  On written request, the association shall furnish to a lienholder, escrow agent, unit owner or person designated by a unit owner a statement setting forth the amount of any unpaid assessment against the unit.  The association shall furnish the statement within ten days after receipt of the request, and the statement is binding on the association, the board of directors and every unit owner if the statement is requested by an escrow agency that is licensed pursuant to title 6, chapter 7.  Failure to provide the statement to the escrow agent within the time provided for in this subsection shall extinguish any lien for any unpaid assessment then due.

J.  The association shall record in the office of the county recorder in the county in which the planned community is located a notice stating the name of the association or designated agent or management company for the association, the address for the association and the telephone number of the association or its designated agent or management company.  The notice shall include the name of the planned community, the date of the recording and the recorded instrument number or book and page for the main document that constitutes the declaration.  If an association's address, designated agent or management company changes, the association shall amend its notice or record a new notice within ninety days after the change.

K.  J.  Notwithstanding any provision in the community documents or in any contract between the association and a management company, unless the member directs otherwise, all payments received on a member's account shall be applied first to any unpaid assessments, for unpaid charges for late payment of those assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for unpaid attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments, in that order, with any remaining amounts applied next to other unpaid fees, charges and monetary penalties or interest and late charges on any of those amounts. END_STATUTE