The Community Association Institute’s California Legislative Action Committee held its 20th Annual Legislative Day at the Capitol on April 28 and 29. Homeowners, community association managers, and business partners that serve community associations convened for a day of education. They met with their legislators the following day, to explain the benefits of CLAC-sponsored bill AB 1360, which would allow community associations the option to use electronic voting, just like all other non-profit corporations in California. Attendees also discussed CLAC’s positions on AB 968, which would simplify the voting process, while maintaining the secret ballot, for very small associations; and SB 391, which would have the unintended consequence of burdening the same financially-challenged homeowners it seeks to help.
CLAC’s efforts have borne fruit already – the Assembly Housing Committee approved AB 1360 without a single “no” vote on May 1, and the bill is on its way to the Assembly floor.
The day was successful in other ways as well. Eighty CAI members met with legislators from Sacramento to San Diego, and with key legislative staffers. CLAC’s advocate, Skip Daum, spoke on pending bills. Attendees also received a report from CAI’s senior vice president for governmental and public affairs, Dawn Bauman, CAE, regarding CAI’s national advocacy efforts. CLAC presented Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski its Legislator of the Year Award for 2012.
Legislative Day generated a lot of energy for CAI and for the concerns of community associations in California.
John R. MacDowell
Fiore Racobs & Powers
John R. MacDowell is managing shareholder of Fiore, Racobs & Powers’ Orange County office and is a delegate to CLAC from the Orange County Regional Chapter of CAI. He serves as one of CLAC’s Legislative Co-Chairs.