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NEW CEU REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSED COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MANAGERS

NEW CEU REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSED COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MANAGERS

NEW CEU REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSED COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MANAGERS

 

Effective August  2019, the Regulatory Council of Community Association Managers changed the requirements for continuing education for license renewal. The number of hours required have been reduced from 20 to 15 hours each license period. The new requirements are:

 

  1. All community association manager licensees must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 15 hours of continuing education per biennial renewal cycle. No license shall be renewed unless the licensee has completed the required continuing education.
  2. Only continuing education courses approved by the Council shall be valid for purposes of licensee renewal.
  3. The required 15 hours of continuing education shall be comprised of courses approved pursuant to Rule 61E14-4.003, F.A.C., in the following areas:

(a) Three-hours of legal update seminars. The legal update seminars shall consist of instruction regarding changes to Chapters 455, 468, Part VIII, 617, 718, 719, 720, and 721, F.S., and other legislation, case law, and regulations impacting community association management. Licensees shall not be awarded continuing education credit for completing the same legal update seminar more than once even if the seminars were taken during different years.

(b) Three-hours of instruction on insurance and financial management topics relating to community association management.

(c) Three-hours of instruction on the operation of the community association’s physical property.

(d) Three-hours of instruction on human resources topics relating to community association management. Human resources topics include, but are not limited to, disaster preparedness, employee relations, and communications skills for effectively dealing with residents and vendors.

Three-hours of additional instruction in any area described in paragraph (3) (b), (c) or (d) of this rule or in  any course or courses directly related to the management or administration of community associations.

 

By KBR Legal  Rembaum Association Roundup

 

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Starting January 1, 2020, officers will start to issue citations….Florida texting law

Starting January 1, 2020, officers will start to issue citations….Florida texting law

Be prepared, Florida friends! While the new  took effect on July 1, 2019, law enforcement has only been issuing warnings. However, starting January 1, 2020, officers will start to issue citations. Check out our blog post for further details about the law.

New Florida Texting Law Effective July 1, 2019

By Ana Cristina Rossi, Esq.

Put your phone down while driving! We all know how dangerous it is to text while driving and the Florida legislature has done something about it. Florida joins 43 other states which allow law enforcement to pull over drivers for texting while driving.

The new law, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 17, 2019, went into effect on July 1, 2019. In explaining his support for the bill, Gov. DeSantis stated that Florida had almost 50,000 motor vehicle accidents in 2016 which were caused by distracted driving and 233 of these accidents resulted in fatalities.

Here Are Answers To Questions People Have About The New Law: Republished with permission from Cohen Law Group

How does this new law change the prior law on texting while driving?

The new law now makes texting while driving a primary offense, meaning that law enforcement can pull you over if they suspect that you are texting on your phone while operating a vehicle. Previously, texting while driving was a secondary offense, meaning that a driver could only be cited for texting while driving if they were pulled over for another offense.

 

What’s the penalty?

For a first offense, the fine is $30 and for a second offense, the fine is $60. You will also be responsible for paying court costs.

A first offense will be treated as a non-moving violation; a second offense will add 3 points on your license.

 

Can you use your phone while you are stopped at a traffic light?

Yes, the new law permits drivers to use their phones in a motor vehicle which is stationary.

 

Can law enforcement confiscate your phone if they see you texting while driving?

No, law enforcement are trained to detect the signs of texting while driving and are not permitted to confiscate or otherwise access your phone without a warrant.

While the law took effect on July 1, 2019, law enforcement will only be issuing warnings until January; after that, officers will start to issue citations.

Ana Cristina Rossi, Esq.

Learn more about Ana Cristina here!

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Community Associations Threatened With Website Litigation Under the ADA

Community Associations Threatened With Website Litigation Under the ADA

  • Posted: Dec 30, 2019
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Community Associations Threatened With Website Litigation Under the ADA

In the last few months, a growing number of community associations across Florida are being threatened with litigation because their websites are allegedly not friendly to visually impaired users.

  • So what does pizza have to do with a community association website?

Frankly, not a darn thing. It appears that the lawyers and firms threatening these specious lawsuits are conveniently conflating the obligations found under Title III of the ADA for places of public accommodation with the different set of obligations found in the Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHA) for housing providers.

Or, these lawyers are simply trying to avoid application of the ADA altogether since most private residential communities are not considered places of public accommodation. The ADA requires that every owner, lessor or operator of a “place of public accommodation” provides equal access to users who meet ADA standards for disability.

These lawsuits are attempting to apply the ADA standards for websites to housing providers impacted by the FHA.

These threatened website lawsuits are uniform in style (mostly forms sent in mass) and generally allege that a “tester” was unable to navigate an association’s website, resulting in a discriminatory impact on those who are visually impaired.

The suits allege that community association websites were not accessible to visually impaired persons thus violating the FHA. Community associations are considered housing providers under the FHA and, as such, must make reasonable accommodations for residents and guests with verifiable disabilities.

This is true in the realm of service and support animal requests and these new website lawsuits attempt to expand that obligation to include visually impaired visitors to an association website. It is curious that these testers did not reach out first and request that the allegedly deficient websites be modified for a visually impaired person to more easily navigate the site. Instead, demands are being summarily sent to community associations statewide who have websites in an attempt to reach a quick settlement.

The demand letters offer a conditional release for payment of “reasonable attorney fees” because the attorney sending the letter claims the firm is entitled to compensation for work completed to investigate, research and determine the community association’s noncompliance.

Of course one cottage industry begets another. In addition to a handful of law firms who believe they can generate some revenue with these tester lawsuits, we now also have a number of companies advising communities that they can make their websites compliant for fees ranging anywhere from $2,000-$5,000 and annual hosting around $300-$1,000 per year.

In actuality, the cost depends on the content and functionality of the website including the number of features that must be optimized for the visually impaired. There are also some solutions that are free depending on the website platform.

Many of the demands and threatened lawsuits appear to lack any merit and seem to be merely an attempt to obtain a quick settlement payment from community associations or their insurers.

Many of the communities who have been threatened have website features that are password-protected, are accessible only to owners, or don’t have the features that are the subject of the complaint, so the allegations appear to be specious.

While we can debate the merits of these tester lawsuits and even seek legislative clarification in the upcoming 2020 Legislative Session, in the interim, associations with websites need to speak with experienced counsel to confirm whether or not their association’s website must have the necessary software for disabled users.

This confirmation is particularly important if your community uses its website to list properties for sale or lease. As for the attorneys who have decided to send out these blanket demands without the benefit of further investigation, let’s hope they have a change of heart when associations push back.

Donna DiMaggio Berger is a board certified specialist in condominium and planned development law, a shareholder at Becker Law and the executive director of the Community Association Leadership Lobby.

 

 

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Accidents do happen even on the Holiday, If You Have Been Injured in a Slip and Fall Accident…..

Accidents do happen even on the Holiday, If You Have Been Injured in a Slip and Fall Accident…..

  • Posted: Dec 17, 2019
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If You Have Been Injured in a Slip and Fall Accident
Follow These 7 Important Steps

Find us on the Members Directory on SFPMA – The Maus Law Firm

1) Seek Medical Attention

This is your first step. Always to seek medical attention to ensure your injuries are documented. Schedule a Fort Lauderdale slip and fall attorney consultation as soon as you are well enough to visit.


2) GET PHOTOS

Facts are important. Document the location of the fall, store employees near, and the condition that caused you to fall.

 

3) DO NOT GIVE A RECORDED STATEMENT – YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO GIVE A STATEMENT.

They’re taking a statement to help their position – NOT to help YOU.
Our Fort Lauderdale slip and fall lawyers advise clients that if the business or insurance company contacts them, refer them to us. The calls will stop.

 

4) REQUEST AN INCIDENT REPORT

Businesses and insurance companies are infamous for the defenses they use when a person gets injured on their property.

 

5) REQUEST IN-STORE VIDEO SURVEILLANCE BE PRESERVED

This should be done in writing, and as soon as possible. Most businesses’ video recorders will tape over whatever is recorded after time.

 

6) GET WITNESS NAMES AND CONTACT INFORMATION

There is strength in numbers.

 

7) DOCUMENT YOUR INJURIES

Don’t wait!

Get the Help You Need from a Top Fort Lauderdale Slip and Fall Attorney
You deserve an experienced lawyer in slip and fall accidents and premises liability cases. Speak to a Fort Lauderdale slip and fall attorney in our office to have your questions answered.
Call 1-855-999-5297 today or visit us at www.mauslawfirm.com

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Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009

Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009

  • Posted: Dec 09, 2019
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Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009

Resurrected and Here to Stay

by KBR Legal/ Jeffrey Rembaum, Esq.

On May 20 2009, just after the peak of the national foreclosure crisis, a federal statute was enacted to help protect a residential tenant who was renting a unit subject to foreclosure from being evicted without being afforded a reasonable amount of time to find alternative housing.

The federal law was known as “Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009”.  It generally provided that a bona fide tenant was authorized to remain in a residential unit that was acquired by a new party through foreclosure for the balance of the unexpired term of the lease, unless the unit was acquired by a party that intended to occupy the unit, in which case the tenant was authorized to remain in the unit for ninety days after receiving a notice to vacate.

For purposes of the federal law, a “bona fide tenant” was a tenant who was not the mortgagor or the parent, spouse, or child of the mortgagor and who was under a lease that was the result of an arms-length transaction where rent was not substantially lower than fair market value.

The federal law assured that residential tenants would have a reasonable amount of time to plan and find alternative housing after the unit they were renting was foreclosed and acquired by a new party. However, it also assisted community associations in finding desirable tenants to rent units they owned through the foreclosure of the association’s assessment lien for a fair market value, which then helped the association recoup unpaid assessments and bad debt otherwise attributable to the unit.

The protections of the federal law were intended to “sunset”, which is a term meaning ”to expire”, on December 31, 2012. However, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) later extended the sunset date to December 31, 2014. Once the federal law finally expired on January 1, 2015, tenants of residential property in Florida no longer had any special protection from eviction by parties acquiring such units by foreclosure.

Then, approximately six month later, the Florida legislature adopted its own version of the law as part of the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Specifically, section 83.561, Florida Statutes, became effective on June 15, 2015, and provides that “if a tenant is occupying a residential premises that is the subject of a foreclosure sale, the purchaser named in the certificate of title is permitted to give a tenant a thirty day notice to vacate and the tenant must comply”. Therefore, as of June 15, 2015, residential tenants had a much shorter timeframe of thirty days’ notice to vacate a unit acquired by foreclosure.

 

Finally, on June 23, 2018, the federal Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act became effective again. It no longer contains any sunset or expiration date; so it is here to stay. Since a federal law will supersede a Florida law when it is more stringent, the provisions of the Federal Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act giving tenants more time to vacate residential property after it is acquired by a new party through foreclosure will apply to transactions in Florida despite the shorter timeframe provided by state statute.

 

Kaye Bender Rembaum, Attorneys at Law

Palm Beach Office
Gardens Professional Center
9121 N. Military Trail,
Suite 200
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Phone: (561) 241-4462
Fax: (561) 223-3957
Broward Office
1200 Park Central Blvd. S.
Pompano Beach, FL 33064
Phone: (954) 928-0680
Fax: (954) 772-0319
Tampa Office
1211 North Westshore Blvd
suite 409
Tampa, Fl 33607
Phone: 813-375-0731

 

 

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Know the Rules of Restroom Renovations

Know the Rules of Restroom Renovations

  • Posted: Dec 09, 2019
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Know the Rules of Restroom Renovations

by Steven C Fraser, Esq. Fraser Lawyers

An area that gets a lot of foot traffic in any building, and one which everyone eventually will see and use, the restroom is a critical component of all commercial and industrial buildings. Typically thought of as only a functional space, the restroom has been transformed both by increased regulatory requirements for businesses (e.g., OSHA, ADA compliance, etc.) and by a shift to create more comfortable, inviting spaces for occupants.

These shifts put unique pressures on managers of aging buildings that may have fallen behind the curve on restroom design, aesthetics and function.

 

An area that gets a lot of foot traffic in any building, and one which everyone eventually will see and use, the restroom is a critical component of all commercial and industrial buildings. Typically thought of as only a functional space, the restroom has been transformed both by increased regulatory requirements for businesses (e.g., OSHA, ADA compliance, etc.) and by a shift to create more comfortable, inviting spaces for occupants.

These shifts put unique pressures on managers of aging buildings that may have fallen behind the curve on restroom design, aesthetics and function.

 

Norman Chapman facilities supervisor at Petigru Commercial Properties in Columbia, South Carolina., manages about 22 different properties, most of which were built anywhere from 25-30 years ago. He says that most of the buildings’ restrooms are located within tenants’ suites, which means the tenants are responsible for the upkeep and cleaning of those rooms. “We also have some common bathrooms,” says Chapman, “all of which are updated and modern.”

For example, most of Petigru’s properties feature restrooms that have wood frame cabinetry, decorative table legs, granite countertops, aged-bronze fixtures, high-end lighting and bold color schemes. Situated in a region that has a rich history.

Knowing that workers are more satisfied when it’s clear their employers care about them, Chapman says Petigru puts extra effort into keeping its restrooms fresh and updated, regardless of the building’s age. “Bathrooms are as important as the common hallways in a multi-tenant building, so we really try to keep up with the times and have them look nice,” says Chapman, “all in the name of attracting tenants that want a comfortable, functional space for their employees.”

 

OSHA’s Restroom Requirements for Businesses

When adding new facilities or renovating existing restrooms in an older building, there are some important regulatory requirements to keep in mind. In regulating the availability of and workers’ access to restroom facilities, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has specific rules that must be followed. OSHA’s documentation is extremely detailed and complex, but at a basic level the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) highlights these requirements:

  • Toilet facilities must be available at every worksite.
  • Companies with 15 or fewer employees are required to offer only one unisex bathroom and toilet with a locking door.
  • For larger companies, the requirements are:
  • Two toilets for 16 to 35 employees
  • Three toilets for 36 to 55 employees
  • Four toilets for 56 to 80 employees
  • Five toilets for 81 to 110 employees
  • Six toilets for 111 to 150 employees and
  • One additional toilet for every 40 employees over 150.
  • Employers must provide gender-segregated facilities for coed workforces over 15 employees, with bathrooms designated as being for male or female use (unless they can be occupied by no more than one person and can be locked from the inside).
  • Each toilet must be in a separate compartment, with a door, and must be separated from the next by partitions sufficiently high to ensure privacy.
  • Hand-washing facilities must be provided and maintained in a sanitary condition. All restrooms must have running water, soap and either hand towels or air-dryers.

 

ADA Compliance Counts

An important consideration for all businesses and public spaces today, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has strict rules in place concerning the construction and renovation of restroom facilities. If you’re running an older building where the restroom facilities haven’t been recently updated, then you may need to revisit your restrooms to make sure they are up to code.

The complete ADA guidelines are available here. According to Buildings, the basic ADA guidelines that facilities managers should keep in mind for single-user restrooms are:

  • There must be 30” X 48” access to the sink (in other words, the door can’t swing into this rectangle).
  • The measurement starts from the point where users have 9” vertical clearance for their feet and 27” vertical clearance for their knees.
  • The center line of the toilet must be between 16” to 18” from the side wall.
  • To allow a wheelchair to turn, there must be a clear circle of at least 60 inches around the side wall and 56 inches from the rear wall.
  • The toilet seat height must be 17-19 inches.

 

According to Chapman, it’s important to factor both OHSA and ADA requirements into a restroom renovation in an older building, with the latter posing some of the bigger challenges for a upgrading an existing space. “You need at least one ADA stall (depending on how many tenants are on a floor of the building) in every bathroom, and that can take up some extra room,” he explains. This sometimes requires re-thinking how space is used, and whether or not the restroom redesign will require borrowing space from other private areas of the building. In a case like that, the restroom renovation project will require planning and timing around lease agreements as well.

 

Improving Comfort Levels

All older buildings will eventually have to go through some type of restroom renovation project. Whether the purpose is modernization, comfort, functionality, compliance or a combination of all four, this is a facility area that requires ongoing attention and commitment.

Not only do restroom renovations help keep occupants comfortable, but they can also enhance property value, improve employee morale, and help establish your company as one that cares about its employees, customers, and business partners.

The information provided on this page does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only.

 

STEVEN C. FRASER, P.A

(877) 862-7188

221 W Hallandale Beach Blvd
Hallandale Beach, Florida 33009
(877) 862-7188
sfraser@fraserlawfl.com

 

 

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — New laws take effect Oct. 1 in Florida, impacting state residents. A total of 27 new laws go in to effect.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — New laws take effect Oct. 1 in Florida, impacting state residents. A total of 27 new laws go in to effect.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — New laws take effect Oct. 1 in Florida, impacting state residents.

  • 27 new state laws in Florida
  • New laws take effect Oct. 1 
  • Texting while driving ban, hazing and protection of police dogs and horses

A total of 27 new laws go in to effect.

However, the biggest is a provision of a law that already went into effect: holding a phone or other device while driving.

State lawmakers passed a law that made texting while driving a primary offense in Florida. That law went into effect in July. But starting Tuesday, a provision of the law goes into effect that requires drivers to be “hands-free” in certain areas. If you are spotted holding a phone, whether that be talking on it, flipping through emails, playing Pokemon Go or anything else, police can pull you over and cite you if you are driving in a school or work zone.

We talked to drivers in the Bay area who said they support the new law.

“I think it’s smart because the school zone by my house on MacDill, every single time I’m going through there when the lights are on people are just blowing by me, not paying attention,” said John Meyer. “I don’t think these people on their phones are even going to see the crossing guards. It’s a problem and I’m glad they’re doing something about it.”

“I think we need to protect our children first and foremost. It would be horrible to lose a child over a cell phone and I truly believe they need to implement this law,” said Elisandra Garcia.

Up next, especially for college students, a new hazing law comes into effect.

Senate Bill 1080 will target people who plan acts of hazing or recruit others to help – if there is a permanent injury during the hazing, that will now be a third degree felony. Reporting a hazing incident will get you immunity under the new law.

Police dogs and horses are getting some added protection in a new law taking effect tomorrow. Anyone killing or severely injuring a police horse or dog will now face a potential of 15 years in prison. That is a 10 year increase over the current law.

 

Among the laws going into effect:

  • TEXTING WHILE DRIVING. Lawmakers passed a bill (HB 107) that strengthened the state’s ban on texting while driving by making it a “primary” offense, allowing police to pull over motorists for texting behind the wheel. Most of the measure took effect July 1. But starting Tuesday, it will require motorists to go hands-free on wireless devices in school and work zones. The law directs law-enforcement officers to provide verbal or written warnings until the end of the year for motorists who don’t put down cell phones in those areas. Tickets will start to be issued Jan. 1, punishable as a moving violation with three points assessed against the driver’s license.
  • HAZING. A new law (SB 1080) was crafted after Andrew Coffey, a Florida State University fraternity pledge from Lighthouse Point, died in 2017 after drinking a bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon that had been taped to his hand. The law targets people who plan acts of hazing or solicit others to engage in hazing and makes it a third-degree felony if the hazing results in a permanent injury. The bill also provides immunity to people who call 911 or campus security to report the need for medical assistance during hazing incidents.
  • POLICE DOGS AND HORSES. The measure (SB 96) makes it a second-degree felony, up from a third-degree felony, for people who kill or cause great bodily harm to police, fire or search-and-rescue dogs or police horses. The change boosts the amount of potential prison time from five years to 15 years. Supporters said the bill stems, at least in part, from the deaths of Fang, a member of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office canine unit shot and killed by a teenager fleeing after carjacking two women at a gas station, and a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office police dog named Cigo that was killed in the line of duty.
  • CHILD-LIKE SEX DOLLS. The law (SB 160), in part, makes it a first-degree misdemeanor to sell, give away or show child-like sex dolls. The charge increases to a third-degree felony on subsequent violations. A committee staff analysis said the importation to the U.S. of sex dolls that resemble children has become increasingly prevalent. “Such dolls are manufactured in China, Hong Kong, or Japan and are shipped to the U.S. labeled as clothing mannequins or models in order to avoid detection,” the analysis said.
  • VETERANS’ COURTS. The law (SB 910) removes a requirement that military veterans be honorably discharged to be eligible for participation in veterans’ courts. It also expands overall eligibility to current or former U.S. defense contractors and military members of allied countries. Veterans’ courts are designed to provide treatment interventions to military veterans and active-duty service members who are charged with criminal offenses and suffer from military-related injuries, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury or a substance-abuse disorder.

 

 

You can read the other laws going into effect Tuesday below. to get more details on them, go to the Florida House website.

  • CS/HB 9: Community Redevelopment Agencies:
    Requiring ethics training for community redevelopment agency commissioners; requiring a community redevelopment agency to follow certain procurement procedures; requiring a community redevelopment agency to publish certain digital boundary maps on its website; providing termination dates for certain community redevelopment agencies, etc.

 

  • CS/SB 262 Child Welfare:
    Providing for the name of a child’s guardian ad litem or attorney ad litem to be entered on court orders in dependency proceedings; requiring cooperation between certain parties and the court to achieve permanency for a child as soon as possible; requiring the court during an adjudicatory hearing to advise parents in plain language of certain requirements to achieve permanency with their child, etc.

 

  • CS/CS/HB 725 Commercial Motor Vehicles:
    Exempting persons who operate a commercial motor vehicle solely in intrastate commerce which does not transport hazardous materials in amounts that require placarding from certain requirements related to electronic logging devices and hours of service supporting documents until a specified date; extending an exemption from specified commercial motor vehicle requirements for a commercial vehicle having a certain gross vehicle weight rating and gross combined weight rating, under certain circumstances; revising length and load extension limitations for stinger-steered automobile transporters, etc.

 

  • CS/CS/HB 827 Engineering:
    Prohibiting specified services to the department for a project that is wholly or partially funded by the department and administered by a local governmental entity from being performed by the same entity; revising licensure certification requirements to include active engineering experience and a minimum age; revising the timeframes in which a fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor using a private provider to provide building code inspection services must notify the local building official, etc.

 

  • CS/HB 1057 Motor Vehicles:
    Revises provisions relating to motor vehicle lamps, lights, & warning signals; provides requirements & penalties; revises requirements for release statements & pickup notices for damaged or dismantled motor vehicles; authorizes entity that processes certain transactions or certificates for derelict or salvage motor vehicles to be authorized electronic filing system agent; authorizes DHSMV to adopt rules.

 

  • CS/HB 1247 Construction Bonds:
    Requires notice of nonpayment to be under oath; specifies that claimant or lienor who serves fraudulent notice of nonpayment forfeits his or her rights under bond; provides that service of fraudulent notice of nonpayment is complete defense to claimant’s or lienor’s claim against bond; provides that provision relating to attorney fees applies to certain suits brought by contractors.

 

  • HB 1323 City of Tampa, Hillsborough County:
    Revises investment policy provisions to conform with general law.

 

  • HB 1373 Hillsborough County Civil Service Act:
    Repeals special act relating to the establishment of a fair, neutral, & impartial system for administering employee discipline; requires that agency or authority previously covered under act must provide fair, neutral, & impartial system for administering employee discipline of suspension, involuntary demotion, or dismissal & appeals of such discipline.

 

  • HB 7001 OGSR/State University DSO Research Funding:
    Removes scheduled repeal of exemption relating to exemption from public meeting requirements for portions of certain state university DSO meetings at which proposal seeking research funding or plan for initiating or supporting research is discussed.

 

  • HB 7003 OGSR/Alzheimer’s Disease Research Grant Advisory Board:
    Removes scheduled repeal of exemption from public records & meeting requirements for applications provided to Alzheimer’s Disease Research Grant Advisory Board within DOH & review of such applications.

 

  • HB 7009 OGSR/Identification and Location Information/Department of Health:
    Removes scheduled repeal of exemption from public record requirements for certain personal identifying & location information of specified personnel of DOH, & spouses & children thereof.

 

  • HB 7011 OGSR/Division of Emergency Management: 
  • Removes scheduled repeal of exemption from public meeting requirements for information provided to DEM for purpose of being provided assistance with emergency planning.

 

  • SB 7018 OGSR/Public Research Facility/Animal Research:
    Amending a provision which provides an exemption from public records requirements for the personal identifying information of a person employed by, under contract with, or volunteering for a public research facility that conducts or is engaged in activities related to animal research; removing the scheduled repeal of the exemption, etc.

 

  • HB 7025 OGSR/Treatment-based Drug Court Programs: 
  • Removes scheduled repeal of exemption from public records requirements for certain information relating to screenings for participation in treatment-based drug court programs, behavioral health evaluations, & subsequent treatment status reports.

 

  • HB 7033 OGSR/Family Trust Companies:
    Removes scheduled repeal of exemption relating to certain information held by OFR relating to family trust companies.

 

  • SB 7034 OGSR/Automated License Plate Recognition System:
    Amending a specified provision which provides a public records exemption for certain images and data obtained through the use of an automated license plate recognition system and for personal identifying information of an individual in data generated from such images; removing the scheduled repeal of the exemption, etc.

 

  • SB 7036 OGSR/Payment of Toll on Toll Facilities/Identifying Information:
    Amending a specified provision which provides an exemption from public records requirements for personal identifying information held by the Department of Transportation, a county, a municipality, or an expressway authority for certain purposes; deleting the scheduled repeal of the exemption, etc.

 

  • HB 7047  OGSR/Security Breach Information:
    Removes scheduled repeal of exemption from public record requirements for certain information received by Department of Legal Affairs relating to security breaches.
  • HB 7049 OGSR/Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act:
    Removes scheduled repeal of exemption from public record requirements for certain information held by Office of Financial Regulation pursuant to investigation or examination under Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act.
  • HB 7059  OGSR/Concealed Carry License/DACS:
    Removes scheduled repeal of exemption from public records requirements for certain personal identifying information held by tax collector when individual applies for license to carry concealed weapon or firearm.
  • HB 7091 OGSR/Hurricane and Flood Loss Model Trade Secrets:
    Removes scheduled repeal of exemption relating to certain information related to trade secrets used to design an insurance hurricane or flood loss model.
  • HB 7097 OGSR/Informal Enforcement Actions and Trade Secrets/OFR:
    Removes scheduled repeal of exemptions from public records requirements for certain informal enforcement actions engaged in & trade secrets held by OFR.
  • CS/HB 7125 Administration of Justice:
    Providing for reallocation of unencumbered funds returned to the Crime Stoppers Trust Fund; increasing threshold amounts for certain theft offenses; revising criminal penalties for the third or subsequent offense of driving while license suspended, revoked, canceled, or disqualified; requiring the Department of Children and Families to provide rehabilitation to criminal offenders designated as sexually violent predators; establishing eligibility criteria for expunction of a criminal history record by a person found to have acted in lawful self-defense; creating the Task Force on the Criminal Punishment Code adjunct to the Department of Legal Affairs, etc.

 

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Tampa Office Is Now Open & Attorney Shawn Brown Joins KBR

Tampa Office Is Now Open & Attorney Shawn Brown Joins KBR

  • Posted: Jun 05, 2019
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Tampa Office Is Now Open  & Attorney Shawn Brown Joins KBR

The award-winning service you have to come to expect from Kaye Bender Rembaum now reaches the Tampa area with the opening of our third office location. Shawn Brown, Esq. joins the firm and is named managing attorney for our Tampa location.
Mr. Brown is Board Certified in Condominium and Planned Development Law and is an active member of its Committee, where he serves as Chair of the Safe Harbor Subcommittee. He is also a member of the legislative review group, and is tasked with reviewing and providing comments and edits to the legislation affecting community associations each legislative session. Mr. Brown also served with the Auxiliary Committee, reviewing and editing various chapters in the 4th Edition of the Florida Condominium and Community Association Law, published by the Florida Bar. Mr. Brown also sits on the Real Property Litigation Committee, where he chairs the Judicial Litigation Support and Education Subcommittee, and the Problem Studies Committee of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar. In addition, Brown was recently appointed by the President of The Florida Bar to the Condominium and Planned Development Law Certification Committee where he will now review and approve applications of attorneys seeking to become board certified in Condominium and Planned Development Law.
Mr. Brown’s focus has been exclusively on the practice of all aspects of community association law, representing condominium and homeowner associations and handling issues ranging from collection of assessments and foreclosures to covenant enforcement and litigation. He is routinely invited to provide both association boards of directors and community association managers with regular legislative and case law updates.
We are very excited about our new Tampa location and having Mr. Brown join Kaye Bender Rembaum’s award-winning team.
Our new office is located at 1211 N. Westshore Boulevard in Tampa, and can be reached at 813-375-0731.

COME HELP US CELEBRATE

RSVP: Mary@KBRLegal.com

 

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Kaye Bender Rembaum, with offices in Pompano Beach and Palm Beach Gardens, has opened an office in Tampa and named Shawn Brown, Esq. as Managing Attorney.

Kaye Bender Rembaum, with offices in Pompano Beach and Palm Beach Gardens, has opened an office in Tampa and named Shawn Brown, Esq. as Managing Attorney.

  • Posted: May 10, 2019
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Community Association Law Firm Kaye Bender Rembaum

Opens Third Office in Florida

Shawn Brown, Esq. joins Firm as Managing Attorney of new Tampa office

 

SOUTH FLORIDA – Leading Florida association law firm Kaye Bender Rembaum, with offices in Pompano Beach and Palm Beach Gardens, has opened an office in Tampa and named Shawn Brown, Esq. as Managing Attorney.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for us to expand our footprint on the west coast,” said Robert Kaye, Esq., managing Firm member of Kaye Bender Rembaum. “Shawn shares our commitment for delivering exceptional service to our clients. His knowledge and experience will be an asset as we continue to build our presence in the Tampa market.”

Prior to joining Kaye Bender Rembaum, Brown was a partner in the law firm of Frazier & Brown and the law firm of Redding & Brown, both in Tampa.

Board Certified in Condominium and Planned Development Law by The Florida Bar, Brown is an active member of the Condominium and Planned Development Committee where he serves as chair of the Safe Harbor Subcommittee, is a member of the legislative review group and is tasked with reviewing and providing comments and edits to the legislation affecting community associations each legislative session. He also served as a member of the Auxiliary Committee, reviewing and editing different chapters in the 4th Edition of the Florida Condominium and Community Association Law published by The Florida Bar. Brown also sits on the Real Property Litigation Committee, where he is chair of the Judicial Litigation Support and Education Subcommittee, and the Problem Studies Committee of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar.

“I am thrilled to join such a well-respected Firm with a proven track record of success in community association law,” said Brown. “I look forward to this opportunity and

growing our presence here with existing and new clients.”

Brown’s focus has been exclusively on the practice of all aspects of community association law and regularly practicing before the trial and appellate levels of state and federal courts, including arguing before the Florida Supreme Court and administrative agencies such as the Florida Division of Condominiums. He has extensive experience in all aspects of community association law and real estate law, representing condominium and homeowner associations and handling issues ranging from collection of assessments and foreclosures to covenant enforcement and litigation. He is routinely invited to provide both association boards of directors and community association managers with regular legislative and case law updates.

Brown also represents individuals in real estate transactions and litigation, devoting his practice to working with clients on a broad range of legal issues that community associations, property owners and buyers and sellers of real estate face on a regular basis.

A graduate of Stetson University and Stetson University College of Law, Brown was a recipient of the U.S. Senator Max Cleland scholarship and served as an intern to United States Senator Connie Mack in his Washington D.C. office while attending American University. He is a resident of Tampa.

The new Kaye Bender Rembaum office is located at 1211 N. Westshore Boulevard in Tampa.

Kaye Bender Rembaum is a full-service commercial law firm concentrating on the representation of more than 1,000 community associations throughout Florida. With offices in Broward, Hillsborough and Palm Beach counties, the Firm was recently presented with the 2019 Readers’ Choice Award for Legal Services by the Florida Community Association Journal, an award they’ve received annually since 2014. For more information, visit www.KBRLegal.com, call 954-928-0680 and follow the Firm on www.facebook.com/KayeBenderRembaum.

Members of SFPMA.Com – State of Florida Property Management Association  Pompano Beach Office,  Palm Beach Office,

EmmaJean Livingston | Pierson Grant PR

6451 North Federal Highway, Suite 1200 | Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
T: 954.776.1999, ext. 242 | E: elivingston@piersongrant.com

 

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Again it was asked; Why our our Community need a Website? and How will it Help us?

Again it was asked; Why our our Community need a Website? and How will it Help us?

  • Posted: May 04, 2019
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Website Benefits

This question was asked of us from an association that had under 150 owner units, We informed them of some benefits that will help them with communication going forward for all owners.

  • Post meeting minutes securely online for all residents & Board review

    Every resident & Board member will always be at every meeting when you post the minutes online in a secure HOA website. Time, convenience, and information are the keys to a happy and informed neighborhood. With a Board only area as well as a place for general meeting minutes, you’ll always get the right information to the right person, group, or committee in a way that’s secure and convenient for everyone.

  • Eliminate their newsletter or Mailing, start using email bulletins

    The price of postage stamps has risen every year for over a decade, and the price of envelopes and mailers is always an unwelcoming addition to budgets of any size. Throw in the cost of gas to drive around the neighborhood placing it in boxes, or using snail mail to get out sometimes time sensitive information and before you know it, you’ve spent money, lost time, and everyone still isn’t informed. Email bulletins are quick, simple, and cost free to send 24 hours a day to residents who need to be in the know. Easily create and Email a monthly newsletter with a beautiful design, or send out individual announcements through your website.

 

 

  • Spend less time in Board/Committee meetings using Task manager

    Enjoy 24 hour access to a feature that allows Board/Committee members to vote on specific tasks, add notes or questions, and approve or deny processes online…at their convenience. How many times are communities held up on projects and important decisions because someone missed a meeting or is not in the loop? An AtHomeNet website can even facilitate live Board Only Chats and virtual meetings if need be; but the Task Manager feature can be a HOA Board’s best friend.

  • Handle financial needs with full TOPS Accounting Integration

    View, update, and handle resident accounts with the only authorized, fully supported, software integration with the nations leading Accounting software firm, TOPS. AtHomeNet websites are the only professional websites for HOAs that offer this two way integration. A major time and money saver.

  • Avoid merchant fees with FREE online dues payment

    Dodge the unwelcomed hassle that comes with paying a seemingly endless array of “processing fees” charged by any number of companies to handle your residents’ dues payments. Setting up online payments for your community is FREE, and an unprecedented convenience that once your residents have, they won’t want to live without.

  • Increase rules compliance and ARC forms management & processing

    Limited access to information can cause confusion, infractions, and dissention among residents. These situations not only are troubling for the resident, but also for the Board members who have to spend hours on the phone, or time on personal visits and sometimes costly legal battles. ARC violations are mostly caused by procedural issues or lack of resident information. Handle ARC committee request, post rules and forms, and resolve questions before they become issues using your website.

  • Get the word out immediately about activities & events

    Email bulletins, Announcements, & Events Calendar are three features that come standard with your website. As soon as a resident logs in, they can view “What’s New” since the last time they logged in. Keeping your residents in the loop no longer takes the hours of time going door to door, posting fliers, making phone calls. Send out new information to thousands of residents in minutes through your website’s dynamic informative features set.

 

 

  • Allow residents to reserve amenities 24 hours a day online

    The ability to pick a facility such as a tennis court, a clubhouse, or the golf course…see instantly what times are available, and then sign out a time, or send a request for approval to reserve a time, can be a massive time saver and convenience for every community. The Reservations feature can be tailored to list the available hours for a specific resource. This exciting feature streamlines an amenity reservations process that normally could take forever to coordinate successfully; handling it in minutes, 24 hours a day in a secure online environment.

  • Handle documents purchasing and downloads securely anytime

    Residents can access needed business, real estate, and other documents through your website and get a hold of them quickly and without the hassle of going through a 3rd party. Security is never a concern, as your website has a public and private side, so only those who you grant access to, get access to certain areas, information, and privileges.

  • Track, approve, deny, debate Board tasks through the website

    Your Board only area has a lot of great functionality. Your Board members can enjoy using the Task Manager to handle specific tasks on their schedule. Live Chat can bring to the forefront issues that need to be resolved or debated instantly in a secure venue, or facilitate virtual Board meetings. Board Only Message Board can facilitate communication and debate amongst the Board in a forum where everyone can follow an issue and everyone’s input from start to finish. A Board the communicates freely and easily, is a Board that gets things done!

  • Generate Revenue selling classified ads and banner ads

    You set the prices, you determine the website area, you collect the revenue. Local businesses and private advertisers are always looking for more exposure and to reach new customers. Your community website is a daily gathering place for hundreds to thousands of internal and external visitors and with unlimited page creation, your website can be as profitable as you want it to be.

  • Eliminate expensive costs of printing community directories

    A trip to Kinkos Fedex or for a college student at term paper time is a necessity! A trip to Kinkos or Fedex for an HOA is an unnecessary and costly inconvenience. Once your resident directory is printed, if someone leaves, someone moves in, or anyone changes their number, the directory has to be updated with possibly even more printing costs. Online resident directories let your residents share as much or as little about themselves and their contact information as they please…and updating them takes seconds of your valuable time.

  • Replace printed fliers via 24 hr a day online announcements

    If you only counted parties, socials, holiday events, and meetings, you would still spend hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars and hours of time designing eye catching fliers to post on overcrowded bulletin boards, or resident’s doors or mailboxes. Between the wind, the trashcan, and the guy who pulls it down and takes it home so he doesn’t forget, sadly many of these fliers will never be greeted by the eyes they are intended to catch. Online Announcements are yet another quick and easy solution that gets immediate results, doesn’t cost a nickel, and is totally immune to wind, rain, and snatchers.

  • Save money by listing homes for sale & other sale items FREE

    Professional listings in real estate magazines can cost hundreds of dollars, some even charging outrageous fees in a per home basis. Otherwise your homes for sale and other items such as garage sales, babysitting services, etc. are free to get lost in a sea of craigslist ads that get thousands more every day. Your Homes for Sale and Classifieds areas are dedicated to showcasing your communities’ best to those in the community, and those outside the community. Most importantly, it’s another great feature that is standard in your website and won’t cost your Association a penny regardless of how much information is listed.

  • Coordinate volunteer efforts without wasting $$$ on promotion

    Most non-profit organizations spend valuable dollars that could go to their cause just on promotion, advertising, and volunteer coordination. Your Association need not be a victim of this. Easily disseminate information, coordinate live chats securely in the website, and get the word out about event times, donations, and other charitable acts from the convenience of your laptop.

  • Post CCRS, HOA Rules, & other docs for secure 24 hr review

    Residents, Board Members, and Committee members can review all of your community’s important documents whenever they need to. Set security levels so you can decide exactly who can see what, so unwanted eyes on your sensitive documents will never be an issue. Another major time and hassle saver.

 

 

  • Instantly gauge community feelings on critical issues with Surveys

    Not sure if everyone is on board with the new procedure to replace gate cards? Perhaps you want to know if there is a holiday party at the clubhouse this year, will there even be enough residents still here to justify the costs? Using the “Surveys” feature to create and send a survey you can customize to ask exactly what you want is the best way to find out how everyone feels about any given topic or issue. Residents can only vote once, and they can answer via multiple choice or free form?.it’s totally up to you. Create a survey in minutes, and let your website do the work to tally the results so you can make the best decisions.

  • Send email bulletins & announcements on time sensitive issues

    Email Bulletins are a quick way to alert everyone in the community about an issue without having to hold any special meetings or send out an individual email to hundreds of residents. We provide new designs and themes you can choose from every month for free, which allows us to offer an outstanding catalogue of pre-designed email bulletins for your unlimited use. You can also design your own in no time at all. Using Announcements and Email bulletins in tandem means that your residents will never be in the dark about important community issues.

  • Track, approve, deny, debate Board tasks through the website

    Your Board only area has a lot of great functionality. Your Board members can enjoy using the Task Manager to handle specific tasks on their schedule. Live Chat can bring to the forefront issues that need to be resolved or debated instantly in a secure venue, or facilitate virtual Board meetings. Board Only Message Board can facilitate communication and debate amongst the Board in a forum where everyone can follow an issue and everyone’s input from start to finish. A Board the communicates freely and easily, is a Board that gets things done!

  • Cut down on calls, emails, and letters with online FAQ section

    Residents are going to have questions, lots of questions…but you community does not have the time or resources available to place a live operator on a toll free hotline 24 hours a day. Many communities share a lot of the same issues, resources, and operating procedures; so it becomes quickly obvious that questions like ‘Where can I find a copy of the CCRs” or “What is the procedure for requesting Architectural changes on my property” will be asked repeatedly. The FAQ section can be as long or as short as you want it, and updating it can be done in a matter of minutes. The more you cut down on time spent answering the same questions from different people, the more time you can spend handling other important community business.

 

 

  • Post cost free vendor job bids in your website at your leisure

    When jobs need to be completed in your community, compile them all in one easy to find 24 hour accessible online location; making it easy for those willing and able to do the work to find you, and avoiding paying for ads on various websites, newspapers, and employment services.

If you are searching for a website design company search our directory, we have the top companies to help your condo and hoa. 

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