Florida Senate - 2017                                    SB 1650
       
       
        
       By Senator Torres
       
       
       
       
       
       15-01357-17                                           20171650__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to homeowners’ associations; amending
    3         s. 720.311, F.S.; authorizing certain disputes to be
    4         submitted to mandatory nonbinding arbitration with the
    5         Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and
    6         Mobile Homes; requiring the Department of Business and
    7         Professional Regulation to establish a fee structure
    8         for certain purposes; providing an effective date.
    9          
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Subsection (3) is added to section 720.311,
   13  Florida Statutes, to read:
   14         720.311 Dispute resolution.—
   15         (3)(a) Notwithstanding paragraph (2)(a), an association may
   16  submit any dispute relating to amendments to the association
   17  documents, meetings of the board and committees appointed by the
   18  board, and membership meetings not including election meetings
   19  to mandatory nonbinding arbitration, in lieu of presuit
   20  mediation, with the division. Such proceedings must be conducted
   21  in the manner provided by s. 718.1255 and the procedural rules
   22  adopted by the division.
   23         (b) The department shall establish a fee structure to be
   24  imposed upon an association following the conclusion of a
   25  proceeding conducted under this subsection to adequately cover
   26  any costs incurred by the department for such proceeding.
   27         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.