2026 -- S 3094 | |
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LC006103 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 | |
____________ | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO PROPERTY -- HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION LAW | |
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Introduced By: Senator David P. Tikoian | |
Date Introduced: March 13, 2026 | |
Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government | |
(by request) | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Title 34 of the General Laws entitled "PROPERTY" is hereby amended by |
2 | adding thereto the following chapter: |
3 | CHAPTER 36.2 |
4 | RHODE ISLANDS HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION LAW |
5 | 34-36.2-1. Short title. |
6 | This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Homeowner's |
7 | Association Act" |
8 | 34-36.2-2. Legislative findings-purpose-applicability. |
9 | (a) The general assembly finds that: |
10 | (1) Residential communities governed by homeowners’ associations exercise substantial |
11 | authority affecting property rights and financial obligations of homeowners; |
12 | (2) Uniform statutory standards are necessary to promote transparency, fairness, and |
13 | accountability in association governance; |
14 | (3) Clear procedures governing meetings, financial management, elections, and dispute |
15 | resolution reduce conflict and litigation. |
16 | (4) Alternative dispute resolution provides an efficient and cost-effective means of |
17 | resolving disputes within common-interest communities. |
18 | (b) The purpose of this chapter is to: |
19 | (1) Establish minimum governance standards for homeowners’ associations operating |
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1 | within this state; and |
2 | (2) Protect the rights of association members while preserving the operational ability of |
3 | associations to perform their functions. |
4 | (c) This chapter applies to homeowners’ associations consisting of ten (10) or more |
5 | separately owned parcels unless otherwise provided by law. |
6 | 34-36.2-3. Definitions. |
7 | As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below: |
8 | (1) “Annual budget dues” means the recurring assessments levied pursuant to the |
9 | association’s adopted annual budget. |
10 | (2) “Assessment” means a share of the funds required for payment of common expenses, |
11 | annual budget dues, or any assessment for expenses in excess of or different from annual budget |
12 | dues and other operational expenses, including special assessments assessed against members from |
13 | time to time. |
14 | (3) “Association” or “homeowners’ association” means a Rhode Island corporation |
15 | responsible for the operation of a residential community or mobile home subdivision in which |
16 | membership is mandatory as a condition of parcel ownership and which is authorized to impose |
17 | assessments that may become a lien if unpaid. |
18 | (4) “Board” or “board of directors” means the representative body responsible for |
19 | administration of the association. |
20 | (5) “Common area” means all real property within a community owned or leased by an |
21 | association or dedicated for use or maintenance by the association or its members, regardless of |
22 | whether title has been conveyed to the association. |
23 | (6) “Common elements” means portions of association property excluding residential |
24 | dwellings of which a member has title. |
25 | (7) “Declaration” or “declaration of covenants” means a recorded written instrument |
26 | creating covenants running with the land and subjecting the land comprising the community to the |
27 | jurisdiction and control of an association. |
28 | (8) “Developer” means a person or entity that creates the community served by the |
29 | association or succeeds to the rights and liabilities of the creator, as evidenced in writing. |
30 | (9) “Governing documents” means the recorded declaration of covenants and all duly |
31 | adopted amendments, supplements, exhibits, articles of incorporation, bylaws, and rules and |
32 | regulations of the association. |
33 | (10) “Limited common element” means a portion of the common elements allocated by |
34 | declaration or by operation for the exclusive use of one or more but fewer than all parcels or units. |
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1 | (11) “Member” means a parcel owner or association representative obligated under the |
2 | governing documents to pay assessments or association fees. |
3 | (12) “Parcel” means a platted or unplotted lot, tract, unit, or other subdivision of real |
4 | property within a community that is capable of separate conveyance and subject to mandatory |
5 | association membership. |
6 | (13) “Presuit mediation” means a dispute resolution process conducted by a neutral third- |
7 | party mediator prior to filing civil litigation under this chapter. |
8 | (14) “Special assessment” means any assessment levied for expenses differing from annual |
9 | dues, including capital improvement or replacement expenses. |
10 | (15) “Unit” means a physical portion of association property designated for separate |
11 | ownership or occupancy. |
12 | (16) “Voting interest” means the voting rights distributed to members pursuant to the |
13 | governing documents. |
14 | 34-36.2-4. Amendment of governing documents. |
15 | (a) Governing documents may be amended only as provided by this chapter. |
16 | (b) Unless a greater vote is required, amendments shall require approval of: |
17 | (1) Members holding more than fifty percent (50%) of voting interests; and |
18 | (2) Not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the board; or |
19 | (3) Members in excess of sixty-six and two thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting interest |
20 | in the association. |
21 | (c) No bylaw or declaration shall be revised or amended by reference to its title or number |
22 | only and proposals to amend existing bylaws or declarations shall contain the full text of the bylaws |
23 | or declaration to be amended; new words shall be inserted in the text underlined, and words to be |
24 | deleted shall be lined through with hyphens. However, if the proposed change is so extensive, it is |
25 | not necessary to use underlining and hyphens as indicators of words added or deleted, but, instead |
26 | a notation shall be inserted immediately preceding the proposed amendment in substantially the |
27 | following language: "Substantial rewording of bylaw or declaration. See bylaw or declaration for |
28 | present text" |
29 | (d) Nonmaterial errors of omission in the bylaws and declaration process will not invalidate |
30 | an otherwise properly promulgated amendment. |
31 | (e) Every amendment to the declaration must be recorded in every municipality in which |
32 | any portion of the association is located and is effective only upon recordation. An amendment |
33 | shall be indexed in the grantee's index in the name of the homeowner's association and of the |
34 | grantor's index in the name of the parties executing the amendment. |
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1 | (g) Amendments to the declaration required by this chapter to be recorded by the |
2 | association shall be prepared, executed, recorded, and certified on behalf of the association by any |
3 | officer of the association designated for that purpose or, in the absence of designation, by the |
4 | president of the association. |
5 | 34-36.2-5. Association powers and duties-board governance. |
6 | (a) Directors and officers owe a fiduciary duty to members. |
7 | (b) Meetings of the board shall be open to members except for executive sessions involving |
8 | litigation, personnel matters, or attorney-client privileged communications. |
9 | (c) The board of directors shall retain a copy of the homeowner’s association law, and any |
10 | amendments to the chapter promulgated each year. |
11 | (d) Notice of board meetings shall be provided at least fourteen (14) days in advance unless |
12 | emergency circumstances exist. Members of the board of administration may use email as a means |
13 | of communication but may not cast a vote on an association matter via email. A meeting of the |
14 | board of directors of an association occurs whenever a quorum of the board gathers to conduct |
15 | association business. Meetings of the board must be open to all members, except for meetings |
16 | between the board and its attorney with respect to proposed or pending litigation where the contents |
17 | of the discussion would otherwise be governed by the attorney-client privilege. |
18 | (e) Members have the right to attend all meetings of the board. The right to attend such |
19 | meetings includes the right to speak at such meetings with reference to all designated agenda items. |
20 | The association may adopt written reasonable rules expanding the right of members to speak and |
21 | governing the frequency, duration, and other manner of member statements, which rules must be |
22 | consistent with this section and may include a sign-up sheet or other form of registration for |
23 | members wishing to speak. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, meetings between the |
24 | board or a committee and the association's attorney to discuss proposed or pending litigation or |
25 | meetings of the board held for the purpose of discussing personnel matters are not required to be |
26 | open to the members other than directors. |
27 | (f) The bylaws shall provide the following for giving notice to parcel owners and members |
28 | of all board meetings: |
29 | (1) Notices of all board meetings must specifically identify agenda items for the meetings |
30 | and must be posted in a conspicuous place in the community at least forty-eight (48) hours in |
31 | advance of a meeting, except in an emergency. In the alternative, if notice is not posted in a |
32 | conspicuous place in the community, notice of each board meeting must be mailed or delivered to |
33 | each member at least seven (7) days before the meeting, except in an emergency. Notwithstanding |
34 | this general notice requirement, for communities with more than one hundred (100) members, the |
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1 | association bylaws may provide for a reasonable alternative to posting or mailing of notice for each |
2 | board meeting, including publication of notice, provision of a schedule of board meetings, or the |
3 | conspicuous posting. In addition to any of the authorized means of providing notice of a meeting |
4 | of the board, the association may, by rule, adopt a procedure for conspicuously posting the meeting |
5 | notice and the agenda on the association's website or an application that can be downloaded on a |
6 | mobile device for at least the minimum period of time for which a notice of a meeting is also |
7 | required to be physically posted on the association property. Any rule adopted must, in addition to |
8 | other matters, include a requirement that the association send an electronic notice to members |
9 | whose email addresses are included in the association's official records in the same manner as is |
10 | required for a notice of a meeting of the members. A member must consent in writing to receiving |
11 | notice by electronic transmission. |
12 | (2) An assessment may not be levied at a board meeting unless the notice of the meeting |
13 | includes a statement that assessments will be considered and the nature of the assessments. Written |
14 | notice of any meeting at which special assessments will be considered or at which amendments to |
15 | rules regarding parcel use will be considered must be mailed, delivered, or electronically |
16 | transmitted to the members and parcel owners and posted conspicuously on the property or |
17 | broadcast on closed-circuit cable television not less than fourteen (14) days before the meeting. |
18 | (3) Directors may not vote by proxy or by secret ballot at board meetings, except that secret |
19 | ballots may be used in the election of officers. |
20 | (g) If twenty percent (20%) of the total voting interests petition the board to address an |
21 | item of business, the board shall at its next regular board meeting or at a special meeting of the |
22 | board, but not later than sixty (60) days after the receipt of the petition, take the petitioned item up |
23 | on an agenda. The board shall give all members notice of the meeting at which the petitioned item |
24 | shall be addressed in accordance with the fourteen (14) day notice requirement pursuant to |
25 | subsection (f)(2) of this section. Each member shall have the right to speak for at least three (3) |
26 | minutes on each matter placed on the agenda by petition; provided that, the member signs the sign- |
27 | up sheet, if one is provided, or submits a written request to speak prior to the meeting. Other than |
28 | addressing the petitioned item at the meeting, the board is not obligated to take any other action |
29 | requested by the petition. |
30 | 34-36.2-6. Members’ meetings. |
31 | (a) Annual meeting. The annual member's meeting shall be held on the date, at the place |
32 | located upon the association property and at the time determined by the board of directors from |
33 | time to time; provided that, there shall be an annual meeting every calendar year and to the extent |
34 | possible, no later than thirteen (13) months after the last preceding annual meeting. The purpose of |
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1 | the meeting shall be, except as provided herein to the contrary, to elect board of directors and to |
2 | transact any other business authorized to be transacted by the members, or as stated in the notice |
3 | of the meeting sent to association members in advance thereof. |
4 | (1) Board of directors organization meeting. Immediately following the annual meeting of |
5 | the election of officers, the new board shall have an organizational meeting to elect officers. |
6 | (b) Special meetings. Special members meetings shall be held at such places as provided |
7 | herein for annual meetings and may be called by the president or by majority of the board of |
8 | directors of the association, and must be called by the president or secretary upon receipt of a |
9 | written request form from a majority of the members of the association or upon receipt of a written |
10 | application of ten percent (10%) of the voting interests to the board or such other percentage as |
11 | may be required. The business conducted at a special meeting shall be limited to that stated in the |
12 | notice of the meeting. Special meetings may also be called by association members in the manner |
13 | provided. |
14 | 34-36.2-7. Member owner complaints. |
15 | In the event that a unit owner shall file with the board of directors a written complaint |
16 | delivered by the United States first class mail, return receipt requested, the board shall, within thirty |
17 | (30) days of receipt of complaint, respond in writing to the member owner filing such complaint. |
18 | Such response shall either: |
19 | (1) set forth a substantive response to the complaint; or |
20 | (2) notify the member owner that a legal opinion has been requested. ln the event the board |
21 | of directors shall request a legal opinion, the board of directors shall, within sixty (60) days after |
22 | its receipt of the complaint, provide in writing a substantive response to the member owner. |
23 | 34-36.2-8. Minutes. |
24 | (a) Minutes of all meetings of the members of an association and of the board of directors |
25 | of an association must be maintained in written form or in another form that can be converted into |
26 | written form within a reasonable time. A vote or abstention from voting on each matter voted upon |
27 | for each director present at a board meeting must be recorded in the minutes. |
28 | (b) Official records. The association shall maintain the following items, when applicable, |
29 | for at least seven (7) years, unless the governing documents of the association require a longer |
30 | period of time, which constitute the official records of the association: |
31 | (1) Copies of any plans, specifications, permits, and warranties related to improvements |
32 | constructed on the common areas or other property that the association is obligated to maintain, |
33 | repair, or replace. |
34 | (2) A copy of the bylaws of the association and of each amendment to the bylaws. |
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1 | (3) A copy of the articles of incorporation of the association and of each amendment |
2 | thereto. |
3 | (4) A copy of the declaration of covenants and a copy of each amendment thereto. |
4 | (5) A copy of the current rules of the homeowners' association. |
5 | (6) The minutes of all meetings of the board of directors and of the members. |
6 | (7) All of the association’s insurance policies or a copy thereof. |
7 | (8) A current copy of all contracts to which the association is a party including, without |
8 | limitation, any management agreement, lease, or other contract under which the association has |
9 | any obligation or responsibility. Bids received by the association for work to be performed are |
10 | considered official records and must be kept for a period of one year. |
11 | (9) The financial and accounting records of the association, kept according to good |
12 | accounting practices. The financial and accounting records must include all tax returns, financial |
13 | statements, and financial reports of the association. |
14 | (10) Ballots, sign-in sheets, voting proxies, and all other papers and electronic records |
15 | relating to voting by parcel owners, which must be maintained for at least 1 year after the date of |
16 | the election, vote, or meeting including the following: |
17 | (i) The articles of incorporation of association and each amendment thereto; |
18 | (ii) The recorded bylaws of the association and each amendment thereto; |
19 | (iii) The declaration of covenants and a copy of each amendment thereto; |
20 | (iv) The current rules of the association; and |
21 | (v) The annual budget and any proposed budget to be considered at the annual meeting. |
22 | (c) Inspection and copying of records. Unless otherwise provided by law or the governing |
23 | documents of the association, the official records must be maintained within this state for at least |
24 | seven (7) years and be made available to a member for inspection or photocopying. |
25 | 34-36.2-9. Assessments. |
26 | (a) Annual budget. The association shall prepare an annual budget or annual dues that sets |
27 | out the annual operating expenses. The budget must reflect the estimated revenues and expenses |
28 | for that year and the estimated surplus or deficit as of the end of the current year. |
29 | (b) Reserves. The association shall have the power to adopt a budget that include reserves |
30 | for capital expenditures and deferred maintenance. Additionally, the association may create a |
31 | reserve account for a shortfall of the annual budget amount to cover year end invoice payments and |
32 | other payments such as payroll. |
33 | (1) Funds collected for each capital expenditure improvement or replacement shall |
34 | establish a separate reserve account. |
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1 | (2) An association is deemed to have provided for reserve accounts upon the affirmative |
2 | approval of a majority of the total voting interests of the association. Such approval may be obtained |
3 | by vote of the members at a duly called meeting of the membership or by the written consent of a |
4 | majority of the total voting interests of the association. The approval action of the membership |
5 | must state that reserve accounts shall be provided for in the budget and must designate the |
6 | components for which the reserve accounts are to be established. Upon approval by the |
7 | membership, the board of directors shall include the required reserve accounts in the budget in the |
8 | next fiscal year following the approval and each year thereafter. Once established as provided in |
9 | this subsection, the reserve accounts must be funded or maintained or have their funding waived in |
10 | the manner provided in section (b)(4) of this section. |
11 | (3) The amount to be reserved in any account established shall be computed by means of a |
12 | formula that is based upon estimated remaining useful life and estimated replacement cost or |
13 | deferred maintenance expense of each reserve item. The association may adjust replacement |
14 | reserve assessments annually to take into account any changes in estimates of cost or useful life of |
15 | a reserve item. |
16 | (4) After one or more reserve accounts are established, the membership of the association, |
17 | upon a majority vote at a meeting at which a quorum is present, may provide for no reserves or less |
18 | reserves than required by this section. If a meeting of the parcel owners has been called to determine |
19 | whether to waive or reduce the funding of reserves and such result is not achieved or a quorum is |
20 | not present, the reserves as included in the budget go into effect, pursuant to this subsection to |
21 | waive or reduce reserves is applicable only to one budget year. |
22 | (c) Special assessments. |
23 | (1) Whenever in the judgment of the board of directors, the common elements, or any part |
24 | thereof, shall require capital additions, alterations or improvements (as distinguished from |
25 | maintenance, repairs and replacements) costing in excess of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) in |
26 | the aggregate in any calendar year, the association may proceed with such additions, alterations or |
27 | improvements only if the making of such additions, alterations or improvements shall have been |
28 | approved by a majority of the voting interest of the members represented at a meeting at which a |
29 | quorum is attained. Any such additions, alterations or improvements to such common elements, or |
30 | any part thereof, costing of the aggregate fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) or less in a calendar |
31 | year may be made by the board of directors without approval of the members. |
32 | 34-36.2-10. Recall of directors. |
33 | (a) Notwithstanding of any provision to the contrary contained in the governing documents, |
34 | any member of the board of directors may be recalled and removed from office with or without |
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1 | cause by a majority of the total voting interests. |
2 | (b) If a vacancy occurs on the board as a result of a recall and less than a majority of the |
3 | board of directors are removed, the vacancy may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of |
4 | the remaining directors, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this subsection |
5 | or in the association documents. If vacancies occur on the board as a result of a recall and a majority |
6 | or more of the board directors are removed, the vacancies shall be filled by members voting in |
7 | favor of the recall; if removal is at a meeting, any vacancies shall be filled by the members at the |
8 | meeting. If the recall occurred by agreement in writing or by written ballot, members may vote for |
9 | replacement directors in the same instrument in accordance with procedural rules adopted by the |
10 | division, which rules need not be consistent with this subsection. |
11 | 34-36.2-11. Compensation prohibited. |
12 | A director, officer, or committee member of the association may not receive any salary or |
13 | compensation from the association for the performance of duties as a director, officer, or committee |
14 | member and may not in any other way benefit financially from service to the association. |
15 | 34-36.2-12. Notice of meetings. |
16 | The bylaws shall provide for giving notice to members of all member meetings, and if they |
17 | do not do so shall be deemed to provide the following: The association shall give all parcel owners |
18 | and members actual notice of all membership meetings, which shall be mailed, delivered, or |
19 | electronically transmitted to the members not less than fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting. |
20 | Evidence of compliance with this fourteen (14) day notice shall be made by an affidavit executed |
21 | by the person providing the notice and filed upon execution among the official records of the |
22 | association. In addition to mailing, delivering, or electronically transmitting the notice of any |
23 | meeting, the association may, by reasonable rule, adopt a procedure for conspicuously posting and |
24 | repeatedly broadcasting the notice and the agenda on a closed-circuit cable television system |
25 | serving the association. When broadcast notice is provided, the notice and agenda must be |
26 | broadcast in a manner and for a sufficient continuous length of time so as to allow an average reader |
27 | to observe the notice and read and comprehend the entire content of the notice and the agenda. |
28 | 34-36.2-13. Right to speak. |
29 | Members and parcel owners have the right to attend all membership meetings and to speak |
30 | at any meeting with reference to all items opened for discussion or included on the agenda. |
31 | Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the governing documents or any rules adopted by |
32 | the board or by the membership, a member and a parcel owner have the right to speak for at least |
33 | three (3) minutes on any item. The association may adopt written reasonable rules governing the |
34 | frequency, duration, and other manner of member and parcel owner statements, which rules must |
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1 | be consistent with this subsection. |
2 | 34-36.2-14. Proxy voting. |
3 | The members have the right, unless otherwise provided in this section or in the governing |
4 | documents, to vote in person or by proxy. To be valid, a proxy must be dated, must state the date, |
5 | time, and place of the meeting for which it was given, and must be signed by the authorized person |
6 | who executed the proxy. A proxy is effective only for the specific meeting for which it was |
7 | originally given, as the meeting may lawfully be adjourned and reconvened from time to time, and |
8 | automatically expires ninety (90) days after the date of the meeting for which it was originally |
9 | given. A proxy is revocable at any time at the pleasure of the person who executes it. If the proxy |
10 | form expressly so provides, any proxy holder may appoint, in writing, a substitute to act in his or |
11 | her place. |
12 | 34-36.2-15. Elections and board vacancies. |
13 | (a) Elections of directors must be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in |
14 | the governing documents of the association. Except as provided below: |
15 | (1) All members of the association are eligible to serve on the board of directors, and a |
16 | member may nominate himself or herself as a candidate for the board at a meeting where the |
17 | election is to be held; provided however, that if the election process allows candidates to be |
18 | nominated in advance of the meeting, the association is not required to allow nominations at the |
19 | meeting. An election is not required unless more candidates are nominated than vacancies exist. If |
20 | an election is not required because there are either an equal number or fewer qualified candidates |
21 | than vacancies exist, and if nominations from the floor are not required pursuant to this section or |
22 | the bylaws, write-in nominations are not permitted and such qualified candidates shall commence |
23 | service on the board of directors, regardless of whether a quorum is attained at the annual meeting. |
24 | Except as otherwise provided in the governing documents, boards of directors must be elected by |
25 | a plurality of the votes cast by eligible voters. |
26 | (2) If the governing documents permit voting by secret ballot by members who are not in |
27 | attendance at a meeting of the members for the election of directors, such ballots must be placed in |
28 | an inner envelope with no identifying markings and mailed or delivered to the association in an |
29 | outer envelope bearing identifying information reflecting the name of the member, the lot, parcel, |
30 | or unit for which the vote is being cast, and the signature of the member casting that ballot. If the |
31 | eligibility of the member to vote is confirmed and no other ballot has been submitted for that lot or |
32 | parcel, the inner envelope shall be removed from the outer envelope bearing the identification |
33 | information, placed with the ballots which were personally cast, and opened when the ballots are |
34 | counted. Any vote by ballot received after the closing of the balloting shall not be considered. Any |
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1 | challenge to the election process must be commenced within sixty (60) days after the election |
2 | results are announced. |
3 | 34-36.2-16. Alternative dispute resolution-mediation-nonbinding arbitration. |
4 | (a) The filing of any petition for arbitration or the serving of a demand for presuit mediation |
5 | as provided for in this section shall toll the applicable statute of limitations. |
6 | (b) Disputes between an association and a parcel owner regarding use of or changes to the |
7 | parcel or the common areas and other covenant enforcement disputes, disputes regarding |
8 | amendments to the association documents, disputes regarding meetings of the board and |
9 | committees appointed by the board, membership meetings not including election meetings, and |
10 | access to the official records of the association shall be the subject of a demand for presuit |
11 | mediation served by an aggrieved party before the dispute is filed in court. Presuit mediation |
12 | proceedings must be conducted in accordance with the applicable Rhode Island rules of civil |
13 | procedure, and these proceedings are privileged and confidential to the same extent as court- |
14 | ordered mediation. Disputes subject to presuit mediation under this section shall not include the |
15 | collection of any assessment, fine, or other financial obligation, including attorneys' fees and costs, |
16 | claimed to be due or any action to enforce a prior mediation settlement agreement between the |
17 | parties. Furthermore, in any dispute subject to presuit mediation under this section where |
18 | emergency relief is required, a motion for temporary injunctive relief may be filed with the court |
19 | without first complying with the presuit mediation requirements of this section. After any issues |
20 | regarding emergency or temporary relief are resolved, the court may either refer the parties to a |
21 | mediation program administered by the courts or require mediation under this section. An arbitrator |
22 | or judge may not consider any information or evidence arising from the presuit mediation |
23 | proceeding except in a proceeding to impose sanctions for failure to attend a presuit mediation |
24 | session or to enforce a mediated settlement agreement. Persons who are not parties to the dispute |
25 | may not attend the presuit mediation conference without the consent of all parties, except for |
26 | counsel for the parties and a corporate representative designated by the association. When |
27 | mediation is attended by a quorum of the board, such mediation is not a board meeting for purposes |
28 | of notice and participation. An aggrieved party shall serve on the responding party a written demand |
29 | to participate in presuit mediation in substantially the following form: |
30 | “Offer to participate in presuit mediation |
31 | The alleged aggrieved party, hereby demands that, as the responding party, engage in |
32 | mandatory presuit mediation in connection with the following disputes, which by statute are of a |
33 | type that are subject to presuit mediation: |
34 | (List specific nature of the dispute or disputes to be mediated and the authority supporting |
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1 | a finding of a violation as to each dispute.) |
2 | This demand to resolve the dispute through presuit mediation is required before a lawsuit |
3 | can be filed concerning the dispute. Pursuant to the statute, the parties are required to engage in |
4 | presuit mediation with a neutral third-party mediator in order to attempt to resolve this dispute |
5 | without court action, and the aggrieved party demands that you likewise agree to this process. If |
6 | you fail to participate in the mediation process, suit may be brought against you without further |
7 | warning. |
8 | The process of mediation involves a supervised negotiation process in which a trained, |
9 | neutral third-party mediator meets with both parties and assists them in exploring possible |
10 | opportunities for resolving part or all of the dispute. By agreeing to participate in presuit mediation, |
11 | you are not bound in any way to change your position. Furthermore, the mediator has no authority |
12 | to make any decisions in this matter or to determine who is right or wrong and merely acts as a |
13 | facilitator to ensure that each party understands the position of the other party and that all options |
14 | for reasonable settlement are fully explored. |
15 | If an agreement is reached, it shall be reduced to writing and becomes a binding and |
16 | enforceable commitment of the parties. A resolution of one or more disputes in this fashion avoids |
17 | the need to litigate these issues in court. The failure to reach an agreement, or the failure of a party |
18 | to participate in the process, results in the mediator declaring an impasse in the mediation, after |
19 | which the aggrieved party may proceed to court on all outstanding, unsettled disputes. |
20 | The aggrieved party has selected and hereby lists five (5) certified mediators who we |
21 | believe to be neutral and qualified to mediate the dispute. You have the right to select any one of |
22 | these mediators. The fact that one party may be familiar with one or more of the listed mediators |
23 | does not mean that the mediator cannot act as a neutral and impartial facilitator. Any mediator who |
24 | cannot act in this capacity is required ethically to decline to accept engagement. The mediators that |
25 | we suggest, and their current hourly rates, are as follows: |
26 | (List the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and hourly rates of the mediators. Other |
27 | pertinent information about the background of the mediators may be included as an attachment.) |
28 | You may contact the offices of these mediators to confirm that the listed mediators will be |
29 | neutral and will not show any favoritism toward either party. The Rhode Island supreme court can |
30 | provide you a list of certified mediators. |
31 | Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the parties share the costs of presuit mediation |
32 | equally, including the fee charged by the mediator. |
33 | 34-36.2-17. Compliance. |
34 | Compliance with the provisions of this chapter shall be enforced one year after passage of |
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1 | the act. |
2 | 34-36.2-18. Severability clause. |
3 | If any provisions of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is held |
4 | invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter which can be |
5 | given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this |
6 | chapter are severable. |
7 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO PROPERTY -- HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION LAW | |
*** | |
1 | This act would create the homeowners association law to provide operational procedures |
2 | for residential communities subject to the management of a homeowner association. |
3 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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