HB 5433 – Limiting Gifts to Board Members
This bill is overly broad, unnecessary, and likely to create more issues than it resolves. It imposes strict restrictions on the acceptance of gifts by executive board members by prohibiting items valued at more than $50 from unit owners or vendors, failing to account for the practical realities of community association operations. Under this legislation, even innocuous items like holiday cards, baked goods or modest gift baskets from neighbors or vendors could become violations if they exceed the arbitrary cost threshold. This additional regulation is also redundant, as sufficient safeguards against foul play already exists.
HB 5437 – Approval of Budgets and Special Assessments
Provisions in this bill would create unnecessary administrative obstacles, delay critical decisions, compromise resident privacy, and disrupt the efficient operation of common interest communities.
Proposed changes to an association’s budgetary process are flawed, neglecting the reality that many owners rarely attend budget approval meetings. The current process, which allows a budget to be approved unless rejected by a majority of all owners, appropriately balances the association’s need for reliable income with owners’ rights to oppose an overreaching budget.
This could also lead to deferred maintenance, escalating repair costs, and potential safety risks by eliminating the current provision that allows executive boards to levy special assessments without unit owner input, provided the total special assessments in a calendar year do not exceed 15% of the association’s last adopted budget.
For large common interest communities (those established before July 3, 1991, with more than 2,400 residential units), the bill removes the specialized voting thresholds for both budgets and special assessments. This change risks reducing accountability, as proposals could pass with minimal participation, leading to disputes, litigation, and diminished trust between boards and owners.
This bill also introduces new requirements regarding the availability of unit owner contact information, compelling executive boards to provide a list of names and addresses to any requesting unit owner, disregarding serious privacy and security concerns.
Voice your opposition to these harmful bills before they are heard by the Judiciary Committee on Monday, March 16.
Thank you for your advocacy on behalf of Connecticut’s community associations.
CAI Connecticut LAC
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