Bill Summary for S 491 (2017-2018)

Printer-friendly: Click to view

Summary date: 

Mar 29 2017

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2017-2018 Session
Senate Bill 491 (Public) Filed Wednesday, March 29, 2017
AN ACT TO REQUIRE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS, CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATIONS, AND THEIR MANAGEMENT COMPANIES TO ACQUIRE CRIME AND FIDELITY INSURANCE POLICIES TO PROTECT THE ASSOCIATIONS' MEMBERSHIP FROM LOSS DUE TO THE ILLEGAL CONDUCT OF THE ASSOCIATION, THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AND ITS EMPLOYEES, OR A MANAGEMENT COMPANY, AND TO REQUIRE ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDITS TO BE PERFORMED BY HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS AND CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATIONS.
Intro. by Sanderson.

View: All Summaries for BillTracking:

Bill summary

Amends GS 47C-1-102 to provide that new GS 47C-3-113.1 (Crime and Fidelity Policy Required) applies to all condominiums created in this State on or before October 1, 1986, unless the declaration expressly provides to the contrary.

Enacts new GS 47C-3-113.1 (concerning condominium unit owners' associations) and new GS 47F-3-113.1 (concerning planned community lot owners' associations), each captioned "Crime and fidelity policy required." Requires unit owners' associations and lot owners' associations with annual assessments for common expenses of at least $25,000 or with at least $25,000 in total funds invested or on deposit to maintain a crime and fidelity insurance policy of 125% of the total funds on deposit or invested by the executive board plus 125% of the association's budget as of the last day of the association's last fiscal year, but not greater than $1 million, that insures the association against theft or dishonesty committed by the officers and members of the executive board, members of association committees, and persons employed by the association. Directs the executive board to obtain the policy on behalf of the association. Requires management agents or companies, as defined, hired by the association to be covered by a crime and fidelity insurance policy in the amount of the total annual budgets of all clients of the management agent or company, but not greater than $2 million, and that it cover the manager and the manager's employees, and protect all or a portion of the association funds in the custody of the manager or manager's employees. Requires associations that cannot obtain a policy that complies with this statute to notify unit owners of that fact.

Amends GS 47C-3-118 (condominium associations) and GS 47F-3-118 (planned community associations) to delete the provision authorizing the executive board of an association or lot or unit owners to require a more extensive compilation, review, or audit.

Enacts new GS 47C-3-118.1 (condominium associations) and GS 47F-3-118.1 (planned community associations), each captioned "Financial audits." Directs the executive board to provide for an annual independent financial audit by a licensed certified public accountant, if the association has annual revenues or expenditures or total account balances of $150,000 or more. Requires the audit to be completed no later than one year after the end of the fiscal year of the unit owners' association and be made available upon request to the unit owners within 30 days of its completion.

Amends GS 47F-1-102 to provide that new GS 47F-3-113.1 and new GS 47F-3-118.1 apply to all planned communities created in this state before January 1, 1999, unless the articles of incorporation or the declaration expressly provide to the contrary.

Effective January 1, 2018. New GS 47F-3-113.1 and new GS 47F-3-118.1 apply to fiscal years beginning on or after the effective date of this act.