Bill Text: AZ HB2764 | 2012 | Fiftieth Legislature 2nd Regular | Engrossed


Bill Title: Homeowners' associations; registry; nonprofit corporation

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2012-05-14 - Governor Vetoed [HB2764 Detail]

Download: Arizona-2012-HB2764-Engrossed.html

 

 

 

 

Senate Engrossed House Bill

 

 

 

 

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fiftieth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2012

 

 

HOUSE BILL 2764

 

 

 

AN ACT

 

amending sections 33-1256 and 33-1807, Arizona Revised Statutes; amending title 41, chapter 1, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41‑134; 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 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.  Until January 1, 2014, 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.  Beginning January 1, 2014, the association shall:

1.  Register through the secretary of state pursuant to section 41-134.

2.  Provide the secretary of state with the following information, through the registration entity:

(a)  All of the information previously required to be recorded as prescribed by this subsection.

(b)  The number of units in the condominium.

(c)  The cross streets for the location of the condominium.

(d)  The year that the condominium was established.

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

Sec. 2.  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.  Until January 1, 2014, 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.  Beginning January 1, 2014, the association shall:

1.  Register through the secretary of state pursuant to section 41-134.

2.  Provide the secretary of state with the following information, through the registration entity:

(a)  All of the information previously required to be recorded as prescribed by this subsection.

(b)  The number of units in the planned community.

(c)  The cross streets for the location of the planned community.

(d)  The year that the planned community was established.

K.  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

Sec. 3.  Title 41, chapter 1, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41-134, to read:

START_STATUTE41-134.  Registration of homeowners' associations; fee

A.  Beginning January 1, 2014, each homeowners' association for a condominium that is regulated pursuant to title 33, chapter 9 and each homeowners' association for a planned community that is regulated pursuant to title 33, chapter 16 shall register through the secretary of state by way of the registration entity and shall provide to the secretary of state through the registration entity the information prescribed in section 33‑1256, subsection J if it is a homeowners' association for a condominium or section 33-1807, subsection J if it is a homeowners' association for a planned community.

B.  Beginning March 1, 2014, the secretary of state shall post this information on the secretary of state's website in a form that makes the information available to the public.

C.  Each homeowners' association shall submit to the secretary of state through the registration entity any revised information within ninety days of any change to the prescribed information.

D.  This section does not apply to timeshare plans or associations that are subject to title 33, chapter 20. END_STATUTE

Sec. 4.  Homeowners' association registry; contract provider; secretary of state

A.  The secretary of state shall provide for the establishment of a registry for homeowners' associations for condominiums and planned communities pursuant to sections 33-1256 and 33-1807, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by this act.  The secretary of state shall solicit proposals from nonprofit corporations in this state to provide the registry service under the authority of the office of the secretary of state, and the secretary of state shall provide for space on its website for the registry or shall allow a direct link to the registry.  The proposals may permit the contract provider to charge a fee for the registry service.

B.  The initial contract for a registry provider shall be for a term of three years with an option to renew for a term of five years.

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