Senate Bill No. 100–Committee on Commerce and Labor

 

CHAPTER..........

 

AN ACT relating to property; making various changes relating to common-interest communities; creating and prescribing the powers and duties of the Commission for Common-Interest Communities; revising provisions relating to the powers and duties of the Ombudsman for Owners in Common-Interest Communities and the Real Estate Division of the Department of Business and Industry; revising provisions governing the regulation of persons who manage common-interest communities; authorizing the Commission to adjudicate certain violations relating to common-interest communities and to impose fines and take other action with regard to such violations; providing that a unit’s owner has the right to display the flag of the United States under certain circumstances; enacting and revising provisions governing the conduct and activities of unit-owners’ associations, the members of executive boards and declarants; enacting provisions relating to the transient commercial use of a unit; authorizing the use of delegates or representatives to exercise voting rights in certain common-interest communities; authorizing an association to impose construction penalties under certain circumstances and to place and foreclose a lien on a unit for failure to pay such penalties; revising provisions relating to the imposition of fines; making various changes relating to meetings, quorums, voting and the election and removal of members of the executive board; authorizing certain common-interest communities to expend money received as a credit against the residential construction tax for certain purposes; revising provisions relating to the foreclosure of certain liens; making various changes relating to the books, records, reports, studies and other papers of an association; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

    Section 1. Chapter 116 of NRS is hereby amended by adding

 thereto the provisions set forth as sections 2 to 48, inclusive, of this

 act.

    Sec. 2.  “Certificate” means a certificate for the management

 of a common-interest community issued by the Division.

    Sec. 3.  “Commission” means the Commission for Common

-Interest Communities created by section 13 of this act.


    Sec. 4.  “Community manager” means a person who provides

for or otherwise engages in the management of a common-interest

 community.

    Sec. 5.  “Complaint” means a complaint filed by the

 Administrator pursuant to section 31 of this act.

    Sec. 6.  “Division” means the Real Estate Division of the

 Department of Business and Industry.

    Sec. 7.  “Hearing panel” means a hearing panel appointed by

 the Commission pursuant to section 19 of this act.

    Sec. 8.  “Management of a common-interest community”

 means the physical, administrative or financial maintenance and

 management of a common-interest community, or the supervision

 of those activities, for a fee, commission or other valuable

 consideration.

    Sec. 9.  “Ombudsman” means the Ombudsman for Owners in

 Common-Interest Communities.

    Sec. 10.  “Party to the complaint” means the Division and the

 respondent.

    Sec. 11.  “Permit” means a permit to engage in property

 management issued pursuant to the provisions of chapter 645 of

 NRS.

    Sec. 12.  “Respondent” means a person against whom:

    1.  An affidavit has been filed pursuant to section 30 of this

 act.

    2.  A complaint has been filed pursuant to section 31 of this

 act.

    Sec. 13.  1.  The Commission for Common-Interest

 Communities is hereby created.

    2.  The Commission consists of five members appointed by the

 Governor. The Governor shall appoint to the Commission:

    (a) One member who is a unit’s owner residing in this state

 and who has served as a member of an executive board in this

 state;

    (b) One member who is in the business of developing common

-interest communities in this state;

    (c) One member who holds a permit or certificate;

    (d) One member who is a certified public accountant licensed

 to practice in this state pursuant to the provisions of chapter 628

 of NRS; and

    (e) One member who is an attorney licensed to practice in this

 state.

    3.  Each member of the Commission must be a resident of this

 state. At least three members of the Commission must be residents

 of a county whose population is 400,000 or more.

    4.  Each member of the Commission must have resided in a

 common-interest community or have been actively engaged in a


business or profession related to common-interest communities for

not less than 3 years immediately preceding the date of his

 appointment.

    5.  After the initial terms, each member of the Commission

 serves a term of 3 years. Each member may serve not more than

 two consecutive full terms. If a vacancy occurs during a

 member’s term, the Governor shall appoint a person qualified

 under this section to replace the member for the remainder of the

 unexpired term.

    6.  While engaged in the business of the Commission, each

 member is entitled to receive:

    (a) A salary of not more than $80 per day, as established by the

 Commission; and

    (b) The per diem allowance and travel expenses provided for

 state officers and employees generally.

    Sec. 14.  1.  The Division shall provide or arrange to have

 provided to each member of the Commission courses of

 instruction concerning rules of procedure and substantive law

 appropriate for members of the Commission.

    2.  Each member of the Commission must attend the courses

 of instruction not later than 6 months after the date that the

 member is first appointed to the Commission.

    Sec. 15.  1.  At the first meeting of each fiscal year, the

 Commission shall elect from its members a Chairman, a Vice

 Chairman and a Secretary.

    2.  The Commission shall meet at least once each calendar

 quarter and at other times on the call of the Chairman or a

 majority of its members.

    3.  A majority of the members of the Commission constitutes a

 quorum for the transaction of all business.

    Sec. 16.  1.  The provisions of this chapter shall be

 administered by the Division, subject to the administrative

 supervision of the Commission.

    2.  The Commission and the Division may do all things

 necessary and convenient to carry out the provisions of this

 chapter, including, without limitation, prescribing such forms and

 adopting such procedures as are necessary to carry out the

 provisions of this chapter.

    3.  The Commission or the Administrator, with the approval of

 the Commission, may adopt such regulations as are necessary to

 carry out the provisions of this chapter.

    4.  The Commission may by regulation delegate any authority

 conferred upon it by the provisions of this chapter to the

 Administrator to be exercised pursuant to the regulations adopted

 by the Commission.


    5.  When regulations are proposed by the Administrator, in

addition to other notices required by law, the Administrator shall

 provide copies of the proposed regulations to the Commission not

 later than 30 days before the next meeting of the Commission.

 The Commission shall approve, amend or disapprove any

 proposed regulations at that meeting.

    6.  All regulations adopted by the Commission, or adopted by

 the Administrator with the approval of the Commission, must be

 published by the Division and offered for sale at a reasonable fee.

    7.  The Division may publish or supply a reference manual or

 study guide for community managers and may offer it for sale at

 a reasonable fee.

    Sec. 17.  Any notice or other information that is required to

 be served upon the Commission pursuant to the provisions of this

 chapter may be delivered to the principal office of the Division.

    Sec. 18.  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section and

 within the limits of legislative appropriations, the Division may

 employ experts, attorneys, investigators, consultants and other

 personnel as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this

 chapter.

    2.  The Attorney General shall act as the attorney for the

 Division in all actions and proceedings brought against or by the

 Division pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

    3.  The Attorney General shall render to the Commission and

 the Division opinions upon all questions of law relating to the

 construction or interpretation of this chapter, or arising in

the administration thereof, that may be submitted to him by the

 Commission or the Division.

    Sec. 19.  1.  The Commission may appoint one or more

 hearing panels. Each hearing panel must consist of one or more

 independent hearing officers.

    2.  The Commission may by regulation delegate to one or

 more hearing panels the power of the Commission to conduct

 hearings and other proceedings, determine violations, impose

 fines and penalties and take other disciplinary action authorized

 by the provisions of this chapter.

    3.  While acting under the authority of the Commission, a

 hearing panel and its members are entitled to all privileges and

 immunities and are subject to all duties and requirements of the

 Commission and its members.

    4.  A final order of a hearing panel:

    (a) May be appealed to the Commission if, not later than 20

 days after the date that the final order is issued by the hearing

 panel, any party aggrieved by the final order files a written notice

 of appeal with the Commission.


    (b) Must be reviewed and approved by the Commission if, not

later than 40 days after the date that the final order is issued by

 the hearing panel, the Division, upon the direction of the

 Chairman of the Commission, provides written notice to all

 parties of the intention of the Commission to review the final

 order.

    Sec. 20.  The Commission or a hearing panel may conduct a

 hearing by means of an audio or video teleconference to one or

 more locations if the audio or video technology used at the

 hearing provides the persons present at each location with the

 ability to hear and communicate with the persons present at each

 other location.

    Sec. 21.  The Commission and its members, each hearing

 panel and its members, the Administrator, the Ombudsman, the

 Division, and the experts, attorneys, investigators, consultants and

 other personnel of the Commission and the Division are immune

 from any civil liability for any decision or action taken in good

 faith and without malicious intent in carrying out the provisions

 of this chapter.

    Sec. 22.  1.  The Commission shall conduct such hearings

 and other proceedings as are required by the provisions of this

 chapter.

    2.  The Commission shall collect and maintain or cause to be

 collected and maintained accurate information relating to:

    (a) The number and kind of common-interest communities in

 this state;

    (b) The effect of the provisions of this chapter and any

 regulations adopted pursuant thereto on the development and

 construction of common-interest communities, the residential

 lending market for units within common-interest communities

 and the operation and management of common-interest

 communities;

    (c) Violations of the provisions of this chapter and any

 regulations adopted pursuant thereto;

    (d) The accessibility and use of, and the costs related to, the

 arbitration and mediation procedures set forth in NRS 38.300 to

 38.360, inclusive, and the decisions rendered and awards made

 pursuant to those arbitration and mediation procedures;

    (e) The number of foreclosures which were completed on units

 within common-interest communities and which were based on

 liens for the failure of the unit’s owner to pay any assessments

 levied against the unit or any fines imposed against the unit’s

 owner;

    (f) The study of the reserves required by NRS 116.31152; and

    (g) Other issues that the Commission determines are of

 concern to units’ owners, associations, community managers,

 developers and other persons affected by common-interest

 communities.


    3.  The Commission shall develop and promote:

    (a) Educational guidelines for conducting the elections of the

 members of an executive board, the meetings of an executive

 board and the meetings of the units’ owners of an association;

 and

    (b) Educational guidelines for the enforcement of the

 governing documents of an association through liens, penalties

 and fines.

    4.  The Commission shall recommend and approve for

 accreditation programs of education and research relating to

 common-interest communities, including, without limitation:

    (a) The management of common-interest communities;

    (b) The sale and resale of units within common-interest

 communities;

    (c) Alternative methods that may be used to resolve disputes

 relating to common-interest communities; and

    (d) The enforcement, including by foreclosure, of liens on

 units within common-interest communities for the failure of the

 unit’s owner to pay any assessments levied against the unit or any

 fines imposed against the unit’s owner.

    Sec. 23.  The Commission may:

    1.  By regulation, establish standards for subsidizing

 proceedings for mediation and arbitration conducted pursuant to

 NRS 38.300 to 38.360, inclusive, to ensure that such proceedings

 are not lengthy and are affordable and readily accessible to all

 parties;

    2.  By regulation, establish standards for subsidizing

 educational programs for the benefit of units’ owners, members

 of executive boards and officers of associations;

    3.  Accept any gifts, grants or donations; and

    4.  Enter into agreements with other entities that are required

 or authorized to carry out similar duties in this state or in other

 jurisdictions and cooperate with such entities to develop uniform

 procedures for carrying out the provisions of this chapter and for

 accumulating information needed to carry out those provisions.

    Sec. 24.  1.  The Commission shall by regulation provide for

 the issuance by the Division of certificates to community

 managers. The regulations:

    (a) Must establish the qualifications for the issuance of such a

 certificate, including, without limitation, the education and

 experience required to obtain such a certificate.

    (b) May require applicants to pass an examination in order to

 obtain a certificate. If the regulations require such an

 examination, the Commission shall by regulation establish fees to

 pay the costs of the examination, including any costs which are

 necessary for the administration of the examination.


    (c) May require an investigation of an applicant’s background.

If the regulations require such an investigation, the Commission

 shall by regulation establish fees to pay the costs of the

 investigation.

    (d) Must establish the grounds for initiating disciplinary action

 against a person to whom a certificate has been issued, including,

 without limitation, the grounds for placing conditions, limitations

 or restrictions on a certificate and for the suspension or

 revocation of a certificate.

    (e) Must establish rules of practice and procedure for

 conducting disciplinary hearings.

    2.  The Division may collect a fee for the issuance of a

 certificate in an amount not to exceed the administrative costs of

 issuing the certificate.

    Sec. 25.  1.  An applicant for a certificate shall submit to the

 Division:

    (a) The social security number of the applicant; and

    (b) The statement prescribed by the Welfare Division of the

 Department of Human Resources pursuant to NRS 425.520. The

 statement must be completed and signed by the applicant.

    2.  The Division shall include the statement required pursuant

 to subsection 1 in:

    (a) The application or any other forms that must be submitted

 for the issuance of the certificate; or

    (b) A separate form prescribed by the Division.

    3.  A certificate may not be issued if the applicant:

    (a) Fails to submit the statement required pursuant to

 subsection 1; or

    (b) Indicates on the statement submitted pursuant to

 subsection 1 that he is subject to a court order for the support of a

 child and is not in compliance with the order or a plan approved

 by the district attorney or other public agency enforcing the order

 for the repayment of the amount owed pursuant to the order.

    4.  If an applicant indicates on the statement submitted

 pursuant to subsection 1 that he is subject to a court order for the

 support of a child and is not in compliance with the order or a

 plan approved by the district attorney or other public agency

 enforcing the order for the repayment of the amount owed

 pursuant to the order, the Division shall advise the applicant to

 contact the district attorney or other public agency enforcing the

 order to determine the actions that the applicant may take to

 satisfy the arrearage.

    Sec. 26.  1.  If the Division receives a copy of a court order

 issued pursuant to NRS 425.540 that provides for the suspension

 of all professional, occupational and recreational licenses,

 certificates and permits issued to the holder of a certificate, the


Division shall deem the certificate to be suspended at the end of

the 30th day after the date the court order was issued unless the

 Division receives a letter issued to the holder of the certificate by

 the district attorney or other public agency pursuant to NRS

 425.550 stating that the holder of the certificate has complied with

 a subpoena or warrant or has satisfied the arrearage pursuant to

 NRS 425.560.

    2.  The Division shall reinstate a certificate that has been

 suspended by a district court pursuant to NRS 425.540 if the

 Division receives a letter issued by the district attorney or other

 public agency pursuant to NRS 425.550 to the holder of the

 certificate that he has complied with the subpoena or warrant or

 has satisfied the arrearage pursuant to NRS 425.560.

    Sec. 27.  As used in sections 27 to 37, inclusive, of this act,

 unless the context otherwise requires, “violation” means a

 violation of any provision of this chapter, any regulation adopted

 pursuant thereto or any order of the Commission or a hearing

 panel.

    Sec. 28.  1.  In carrying out the provisions of sections 27 to

 37, inclusive, of this act, the Division and the Ombudsman have

 jurisdiction to investigate and the Commission and each hearing

 panel has jurisdiction to take appropriate action against any

 person who commits a violation, including, without limitation:

    (a) Any association and any officer, employee or agent of an

 association.

    (b) Any member of an executive board.

    (c) Any community manager who holds a permit or certificate

 and any other community manager.

    (d) Any declarant or affiliate of a declarant.

    (e) Any unit’s owner.

    (f) Any tenant of a unit’s owner if the tenant has entered into

 an agreement with the unit’s owner to abide by the governing

 documents of the association and the provisions of this chapter

 and any regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

    2.  The jurisdiction set forth in subsection 1 applies to any

 officer, employee or agent of an association or any member of an

 executive board who commits a violation and who:

    (a) Currently holds his office, employment, agency or position

 or who held his office, employment, agency or position at the

 commencement of proceedings against him.

    (b) Resigns his office, employment, agency or position:

        (1) After the commencement of proceedings against him; or

        (2) Within 1 year after the violation is discovered or

 reasonably should have been discovered.

    Sec. 29.  1.  The rights, remedies and penalties provided by

 sections 27 to 37, inclusive, of this act are cumulative and do not


abrogate and are in addition to any other rights, remedies and

penalties that may exist at law or in equity.

    2.  If the Commission, a hearing panel or another agency or

 officer elects to take a particular action or pursue a particular

 remedy or penalty authorized by sections 27 to 37, inclusive, of

 this act or another specific statute, that election is not exclusive

 and does not preclude the Commission, the hearing panel or

 another agency or officer from taking any other actions or

 pursuing any other remedies or penalties authorized by sections

 27 to 37, inclusive, of this act or another specific statute.

    3.  In carrying out the provisions of sections 27 to 37,

 inclusive, of this act, the Commission or a hearing panel shall not

 intervene in any internal activities of an association except to the

 extent necessary to prevent or remedy a violation.

    Sec. 30.  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, a

 person who is aggrieved by an alleged violation may, not later

 than 1 year after the person discovers or reasonably should have

 discovered the alleged violation, file with the Division a written

 affidavit that sets forth the facts constituting the alleged violation.

 The affidavit may allege any actual damages suffered by the

 aggrieved person as a result of the alleged violation.

    2.  An aggrieved person may not file such an affidavit unless

 the aggrieved person has, on at least two separate occasions,

 provided the respondent by certified mail, return receipt

 requested, with written notices of the alleged violation set forth in

 the affidavit. The notices must:

    (a) Be mailed to the respondent’s last known address.

    (b) Be mailed at least 15 days apart.

    (c) Specify, in reasonable detail, the alleged violation, any

 actual damages suffered by the aggrieved person as a result of the

 alleged violation, and any corrective action proposed by the

 aggrieved person.

    3.  A written affidavit filed with the Division pursuant to this

 section must be:

    (a) On a form prescribed by the Division.

    (b) Be accompanied by evidence that:

        (1) The respondent has been given a reasonable

 opportunity after receiving the written notices to correct the

 alleged violation; and

        (2) Reasonable efforts to resolve the alleged violation have

 failed.

    4.  The Commission or a hearing panel may impose an

 administrative fine of not more than $1,000 against any person

 who knowingly files a false or fraudulent affidavit with the

 Division.


    Sec. 31.  1.  Upon receipt of an affidavit that complies with

the provisions of section 30 of this act, the Division shall refer the

 affidavit to the Ombudsman.

    2.  The Ombudsman shall give such guidance to the parties as

 the Ombudsman deems necessary to assist the parties to resolve

 the alleged violation.

    3.  If the parties are unable to resolve the alleged violation

 with the assistance of the Ombudsman, the Ombudsman shall

 provide to the Division a report concerning the alleged violation

 and any information collected by the Ombudsman during his

 efforts to assist the parties to resolve the alleged violation.

    4.  Upon receipt of the report from the Ombudsman, the

 Division shall conduct an investigation to determine whether

 good cause exists to proceed with a hearing on the alleged

 violation.

    5.  If, after investigating the alleged violation, the Division

 determines that the allegations in the affidavit are not frivolous,

 false or fraudulent and that good cause exists to proceed with a

 hearing on the alleged violation, the Administrator shall file a

 formal complaint with the Commission and schedule a hearing on

 the complaint before the Commission or a hearing panel.

    Sec. 32.  1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, if

 the Administrator files a formal complaint with the Commission,

 the Commission or a hearing panel shall hold a hearing on the

 complaint not later than 90 days after the date that the complaint

 is filed.

    2.  The Commission or the hearing panel may continue the

 hearing upon its own motion or upon the written request of a

 party to the complaint, for good cause shown, including, without

 limitation, the existence of proceedings for mediation or

 arbitration or a civil action involving the facts that constitute the

 basis of the complaint.

    3.  The Division shall give the respondent written notice of the

 date, time and place of the hearing on the complaint at least 30

 days before the date of the hearing. The notice must be:

    (a) Delivered personally to the respondent or mailed to the

 respondent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to his last

 known address.

    (b) Accompanied by:

        (1) A copy of the complaint; and

        (2) Copies of all communications, reports, affidavits and

 depositions in the possession of the Division that are relevant to

 the complaint.

    4.  At any hearing on the complaint, the Division may not

 present evidence that was obtained after the notice was given to

 the respondent pursuant to this section, unless the Division proves

 to the satisfaction of the Commission or the hearing panel that:


    (a) The evidence was not available, after diligent investigation

by the Division, before such notice was given to the respondent;

 and

    (b) The evidence was given or communicated to the respondent

 immediately after it was obtained by the Division.

    5.  The respondent must file an answer not later than 30 days

 after the date that notice of the complaint is delivered or mailed

 by the Division. The answer must:

    (a) Contain an admission or a denial of the allegations

 contained in the complaint and any defenses upon which the

 respondent will rely; and

    (b) Be delivered personally to the Division or mailed to the

 Division by certified mail, return receipt requested.

    6.  If the respondent does not file an answer within the time

 required by subsection 5, the Division may, after giving the

 respondent written notice of the default, request the Commission

 or the hearing panel to enter a finding of default against the

 respondent. The notice of the default must be delivered personally

 to the respondent or mailed to the respondent by certified mail,

 return receipt requested, to his last known address.

    Sec. 33.  Any party to the complaint may be represented by an

 attorney at any hearing on the complaint.

    Sec. 34.  1.  After conducting its hearings on the complaint,

 the Commission or the hearing panel shall render a final decision

 on the merits of the complaint not later than 20 days after the date

 of the final hearing.

    2.  The Commission or the hearing panel shall notify all

 parties to the complaint of its decision in writing by certified mail,

 return receipt requested, not later than 60 days after the date of

 the final hearing. The written decision must include findings of

 fact and conclusions of law.

    Sec. 35.  1.  If the Commission or the hearing panel, after

 notice and hearing, finds that the respondent has committed a

 violation, the Commission or the hearing panel may take any or

 all of the following actions:

    (a) Issue an order directing the respondent to cease and desist

 from continuing to engage in the unlawful conduct that resulted

 in the violation.

    (b) Issue an order directing the respondent to take affirmative

 action to correct any conditions resulting from the violation.

    (c) Impose an administrative fine of not more than $1,000 for

 each violation.

    2.  If the respondent is a member of an executive board or an

 officer of an association, the Commission or the hearing panel

 may order the respondent removed from his office or position if


the Commission or the hearing panel, after notice and hearing,

finds that:

    (a) The respondent has knowingly and willfully committed a

 violation; and

    (b) The removal is in the best interest of the association.

    3.  If the respondent violates any order issued by the

 Commission or the hearing panel pursuant to this section, the

 Commission or the hearing panel, after notice and hearing, may

 impose an administrative fine of not more than $1,000 for each

 violation.

    4.  If the Commission or the hearing panel takes any

 disciplinary action pursuant to this section, the Commission or

 the hearing panel may order the respondent to pay the costs of the

 proceedings incurred by the Division, including, without

 limitation, the cost of the investigation and reasonable attorney’s

 fees.

    5.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, unless

 the respondent has knowingly and willfully committed a violation,

 if the respondent is a member of an executive board or an officer

 of an association:

    (a) The association is liable for all fines and costs imposed

 against the respondent pursuant to this section; and

    (b) The respondent may not be held personally liable for those

 fines and costs.

    Sec. 36.  If the Commission or a hearing panel, after notice

 and hearing, finds that the executive board of an association or

 any person acting on behalf of the association has committed a

 violation, the Commission or the hearing panel may take any or

 all of the following actions:

    1.  Order an audit of the association.

    2.  Require the executive board to hire a community manager

 who holds a permit or certificate.

    Sec. 37.  1.  If the Commission or the Division has

 reasonable cause to believe, based on evidence satisfactory to it,

 that any person has committed a violation or will continue to

 commit violations, the Commission or the Division may bring an

 action in the district court for the county in which the person

 resides or, if the person does not reside in this state, in any court

 of competent jurisdiction in this state, to enjoin that person from

 continuing to commit the violations or from doing any act in

 furtherance of the violations.

    2.  The action must be brought in the name of the State of

 Nevada.

    3.  The court may issue the injunction without:

    (a) Proof of actual damages sustained by any person.

    (b) The filing of any bond.


    Sec. 38.  1.  Notwithstanding any provision of the governing

documents to the contrary, and except as otherwise provided in

 this section, a unit’s owner is entitled to display the flag of the

 United States, in a manner that is consistent with the Federal

 Flag Code, from or on:

    (a) A flagpole or staff which is located on exterior property

 within the boundaries of his unit or which is attached to an

 exterior limited common element that forms a part of the

 boundaries of his unit.

    (b) A window, ledge, sill, railing, patio, terrace or balcony of

 his unit or an exterior limited common element that forms a part

 of the boundaries of his unit, whether or not the flag is displayed

 from a flagpole or staff.

    2.  An association may adopt rules that:

    (a) Prohibit the display of the flag of the United States in a

 manner that is inconsistent with the Federal Flag Code.

    (b) Prohibit the display of the flag of the United States if the

 flag exceeds 4 feet in its vertical dimension or 6 feet in its

 horizontal dimension. For the purposes of this paragraph, the

 horizontal dimension of the flag is the dimension that is parallel

 with the horizontal stripes of the flag, regardless of the position in

 which the flay is displayed.

    (c) Establish a maximum number of flags of the United States

 that may be displayed from, on or around the exterior of a unit.

 The maximum number may be one.

    (d) Prohibit the display of the flag of the United States from a

 flagpole or staff that exceeds 25 feet in height.

    (e) Prohibit the display of the flag of the United States in a

 manner that poses a real and substantial danger to health or

 safety.

    3.  As used in this section:

    (a) “Federal Flag Code” means the rules and customs

 pertaining to the display and use of the flag of the United States

 which are codified in 4 U.S.C. §§ 5 to 10, inclusive, as altered,

 modified or repealed by the President of the United States

 pursuant to 4 U.S.C. § 10, and any additional rules pertaining to

 the display and use of the flag of the United States which are

 prescribed by the President pursuant to 4 U.S.C. § 10.

    (b) “Flag of the United States” does not include a depiction or

 emblem of the flag of the United States that is made of balloons,

 flora, lights, paint, paving materials, roofing, siding or any other

 similar building, decorative or landscaping component or

 material.

    Sec. 39.  1.  If an executive board receives a written

 complaint from a unit’s owner alleging that the executive board

 has violated any provision of this chapter or any provision of the


governing documents of the association, the executive board shall,

if action is required by the executive board, place the subject of the

 complaint on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled meeting

 of the executive board.

    2.  Not later than 10 business days after the date that the

 association receives such a complaint, the executive board or an

 authorized representative of the association shall acknowledge the

 receipt of the complaint and notify the unit’s owner that, if action

 is required by the executive board, the subject of the complaint

 will be placed on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled

 meeting of the executive board.

    Sec. 40.  A member of an executive board, an officer of an

 association or a community manager shall not solicit or accept

 any form of compensation, gratuity or other remuneration that:

    1.  Would improperly influence or would appear to a

 reasonable person to improperly influence the decisions made by

 those persons; or

    2.  Would result or would appear to a reasonable person to

 result in a conflict of interest for those persons.

    Sec. 41.  An executive board, a member of an executive board

 or an officer, employee or agent of an association shall not take,

 or direct or encourage another person to take, any retaliatory

 action against a unit’s owner because the unit’s owner has:

    1.  Complained in good faith about any alleged violation of

 any provision of this chapter or the governing documents of the

 association; or

    2.  Requested in good faith to review the books, records or

 other papers of the association.

    Sec. 42.  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, a

 member of an executive board or an officer of an association

 shall not:

    (a) On or after October 1, 2003, enter into a contract or renew

 a contract with the association to provide goods or services to the

 association; or

    (b) Otherwise accept any commission, personal profit or

 compensation of any kind from the association for providing

 goods or services to the association.

    2.  The provisions of this section do not prohibit a declarant,

 an affiliate of a declarant or an officer, employee or agent of a

 declarant or an affiliate of a declarant from:

    (a) Receiving any commission, personal profit or

 compensation from the association, the declarant or an affiliate

 of the declarant for any goods or services furnished to the

 association;

    (b) Entering into contracts with the association, the declarant

 or affiliate of the declarant; or


    (c) Serving as a member of the executive board or as an officer

of the association.

    Sec. 43.  1.  If a common-interest community is developed in

 separate phases and any declarant or successor declarant is

 constructing any common elements that will be added to the

 association’s common elements after the date on which the units’

 owners other than the declarant may elect a majority of the

 members of the executive board, the declarant or successor

 declarant who is constructing such additional common elements

 is responsible for:

    (a) Paying all expenses related to the additional common

 elements which are incurred before the conveyance of the

 additional common elements to the association; and

    (b) Except as otherwise provided in NRS 116.31038, delivering

 to the association that declarant’s share of the amount specified

 in the study of the reserves completed pursuant to subsection 2.

    2.  Before conveying the additional common elements to the

 association, the declarant or successor declarant who constructed

 the additional common elements shall deliver to the association a

 study of the reserves for the additional common elements which

 satisfies the requirements of NRS 116.31152.

    3.  As used in this section, “successor declarant” includes,

 without limitation, any successor declarant who does not control

 the association established by the initial declarant.

    Sec. 44.  1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, in

 a county whose population is 400,000 or more, a person who

 owns, or directly or indirectly has an interest in, one or more

 units within a planned community that are restricted to residential

 use by the declaration, may use that unit or one of those units for

 a transient commercial use only if:

    (a) The governing documents of the association and any

 master association do not prohibit such use;

    (b) The executive board of the association and any master

 association approve the transient commercial use of the unit,

 except that such approval is not required if the planned

 community and one or more hotels are subject to the governing

 documents of a master association and those governing

 documents do not prohibit such use; and

    (c) The unit is properly zoned for the transient commercial use

 and any license required by the local government for the transient

 commercial use is obtained.

    2.  In a county whose population is 400,000 or more, a

 declarant who owns, or directly or indirectly has an interest in,

 one or more units within a planned community under the

 governing documents of the association that are restricted to

 residential use by the declaration, may use that unit or those units


for a transient commercial use during the period that the

declarant is offering units for sale within the planned community

 if such use complies with the requirements set forth in

 paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection 1.

    3.  The association and any master association may establish

 requirements for the transient commercial use of a unit pursuant

 to the provisions of this section, including, without limitation, the

 payment of additional fees that are related to any increase in

 services or other costs associated with the transient commercial

 use of the unit.

    4.  As used in this section:

    (a) “Remuneration” means any compensation, money, rent or

 other valuable consideration given in return for the occupancy,

 possession or use of a unit.

    (b) “Transient commercial use” means the use of a unit, for

 remuneration, as a hostel, hotel, inn, motel, resort, vacation

 rental or other form of transient lodging if the term of the

 occupancy, possession or use of the unit is for less than 30

 consecutive calendar days.

    Sec. 45.  The executive board of a master association of any

 common-interest community that was created before January 1,

 1975, and is located in a county whose population is 400,000 or

 more may record an amendment to the declaration pursuant to

 which the master association reallocates the costs of

 administering the common elements of the master association

 among the units of the common-interest community uniformly

 and based upon the actual costs associated with each unit.

    Sec. 46.  1.  If the declaration so provides, in a common

-interest community that consists of at least 1,000 units, the voting

 rights of the units’ owners in the association for that common

-interest community may be exercised by delegates or

 representatives.

    2.  In addition to a common-interest community identified in

 subsection 1, if the declaration so provides, in a common-interest

 community created before October 1, 1999, the voting rights of

 the units’ owners in the association for that common-interest

 community may be exercised by delegates or representatives.

    3.  For the purposes of subsection 1, each unit that a

 declarant has reserved the right to create pursuant to NRS

 116.2105 and for which developmental rights exist must be

 counted in determining the number of units in a common-interest

 community.

    4.  Notwithstanding any provision in the declaration, the

 election of any delegate or representative must be conducted by

 secret written ballot.


    5.  When an election of a delegate or representative is

conducted by secret written ballot:

    (a) The secretary or other officer of the association specified in

 the bylaws of the association shall cause a secret written ballot

 and a return envelope to be sent, prepaid by United States mail, to

 the mailing address of each unit within the common-interest

 community or to any other mailing address designated in writing

 by the unit’s owner.

    (b) Each unit’s owner must be provided with at least 15 days

 after the date the secret written ballot is mailed to the unit’s

 owner to return the secret written ballot to the association.

    (c) Only the secret written ballots that are returned to the

 association in the manner prescribed on the ballot may be

 counted to determine the outcome of the election.

    (d) The secret written ballots must be opened and counted at a

 meeting called for the purpose of electing delegates or

 representatives. A quorum is not required to be present when the

 secret written ballots are opened and counted at the meeting.

    (e) A candidate for delegate or representative may not possess,

 be given access to or participate in the opening or counting of the

 secret written ballots that are returned to the association in the

 manner prescribed on the ballot before those secret written ballots

 have been opened and counted at a meeting called for that

 purpose.

    Sec. 47.  1.  A unit’s owner shall adhere to a schedule

 required by the association for:

    (a) The completion of the design of a unit or the design of an

 improvement to a unit;

    (b) The commencement of the construction of a unit or the

 construction of an improvement to a unit;

    (c) The completion of the construction of a unit or the

 construction of an improvement to the unit; or

    (d) The issuance of a permit which is necessary for the

 occupancy of a unit or for the use of an improvement to a unit.

    2.  The association may impose and enforce a construction

 penalty against a unit’s owner who fails to adhere to a schedule

 as required pursuant to subsection 1 if:

    (a) The maximum amount of the construction penalty and the

 schedule are set forth in:

        (1) The declaration;

        (2) Another document related to the common-interest

 community that is recorded before the date on which the unit’s

 owner acquired title to the unit; or

        (3) A contract between the unit’s owner and the

 association; and


    (b) The unit’s owner receives notice of the alleged violation

which informs him that he has a right to a hearing on the alleged

 violation.

    3.  For the purposes of this chapter, a construction penalty is

 not a fine.

    Sec. 47.5.  In conducting any meetings, a rural agricultural

 residential common-interest community must comply with the

 provisions set forth in chapter 241 of NRS concerning open

 meetings which are generally applicable to public bodies.

    Sec. 48.  If a matter governed by this chapter is also governed

 by chapter 78 of NRS, NRS 81.010 to 81.160, inclusive, or chapter

 82 of NRS and there is a conflict between the provisions of this

 chapter and the provisions of chapter 78 of NRS, NRS 81.010 to

 81.160, inclusive, or chapter 82 of NRS, the provisions of this

 chapter prevail.

    Sec. 49.  NRS 116.1103 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    116.1103  [In] As used in this chapter and in the declaration

 and bylaws [(NRS 116.3106), unless specifically provided

 otherwise or] of an association, unless the context otherwise

 requires, [and in this chapter,] the words and terms defined in NRS

 116.110305 to 116.110393, inclusive, and sections 2 to 12,

 inclusive, of this act have the meanings ascribed to them in those

 sections.

    Sec. 50.  NRS 116.110305 is hereby amended to read as

 follows:

    116.110305  “Administrator” means the Real Estate

 Administrator . [of the Real Estate Division of the Department of

 Business and Industry.]

    Sec. 51.  NRS 116.11145 is hereby amended to read as

 follows:

    116.11145  1.  To carry out the purposes of this chapter, the

 [Real Estate] Commission, or any member thereof [,] acting on

 behalf of the Commission or acting on behalf of a hearing panel,

 may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the

 production of books, records and other papers.

    2.  If any person fails to comply with a subpoena issued by the

 Commission or any member thereof pursuant to this section within

 [10] 20 days after [its issuance,] the date of service of the

 subpoena, the Commission may petition the district court for an

 order of the court compelling compliance with the subpoena.

    3.  Upon such a petition, the court shall enter an order directing

 the person subpoenaed to appear before the court at a time and

 place to be fixed by the court in its order, the time to be not more

 than [10] 20 days after the date of service of the order, and show

 cause why he has not complied with the subpoena. A certified copy

 must be served upon the person subpoenaed.


    4.  If it appears to the court that the subpoena was regularly

issued by the Commission [,] or any member thereof pursuant to

 this section, the court shall enter an order compelling compliance

 with the subpoena, and upon failure to obey the order the person

 shall be dealt with as for contempt of court.

    Sec. 52.  NRS 116.1116 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    116.1116  1.  The Office of the Ombudsman for Owners in

 Common-Interest Communities is hereby created within the [Real

 Estate Division of the Department of Business and Industry.]

 Division.

    2.  The Administrator shall appoint the Ombudsman . [for

 Owners in Common-Interest Communities.] The Ombudsman [for

 Owners in Common-Interest Communities] is in the unclassified

 service of the State.

    3.  The Ombudsman [for Owners in Common-Interest

 Communities] must be qualified by training and experience to

 perform the duties and functions of his office.

    4.  [The Ombudsman for Owners in Common-Interest

 Communities] In addition to any other duties set forth in this

 chapter, the Ombudsman shall:

    (a) Assist in processing claims submitted to mediation or

 arbitration pursuant to NRS 38.300 to 38.360, inclusive;

    (b) Assist owners in common-interest communities to

 understand their rights and responsibilities as set forth in this

 chapter and the governing documents of their associations,

 including, without limitation, publishing materials related to those

 rights and responsibilities;

    (c) Assist [persons appointed or elected to serve on] members of

 executive boards and officers of associations to carry out their

 duties; [and]

    (d) When appropriate, investigate disputes involving the

 provisions of this chapter or the governing documents of an

 association and assist in resolving such disputes; and

    (e) Compile and maintain a registration of each association

 organized within the State which includes, without limitation [:] ,

 the following information:

        (1) The name, address and telephone number of the

 association;

        (2) The name of [the person engaged in property

 management] each community manager for the common-interest

 community [or] and the name of [the] any other person who

 [manages] is authorized to manage the property at the site of the

 common-interest community;

        (3) The names, mailing addresses and telephone numbers of

 the members of the executive board of the association;

        (4) The name of the declarant;


        (5) The number of units in the common-interest community;

[and]

        (6) The total annual assessment made by the association[.] ;

        (7) The number of foreclosures which were completed on

 units within the common-interest community and which were

 based on liens for the failure of the unit’s owner to pay any

 assessments levied against the unit or any fines imposed against

 the unit’s owner; and

        (8) Whether the study of the reserves of the association has

 been conducted pursuant to NRS 116.31152 and, if so, the date on

 which it was completed.

    Sec. 53.  NRS 116.1117 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    116.1117  1.  There is hereby created the Account for [the

 Ombudsman for Owners in] Common-Interest Communities in

the State General Fund. The Account must be administered by the

 Administrator.

    2.  [The] Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, all

 money received by the Commission, a hearing panel or the

 Division pursuant to this chapter, including, without limitation,

 the fees collected pursuant to NRS 116.31155 , must be [credited

 to] deposited into the Account.

    3.  If the Commission imposes a fine or penalty, the

 Commission shall deposit the money collected from the imposition

 of the fine or penalty with the State Treasurer for credit to the

 State General Fund. If the money is so deposited, the Commission

 may present a claim to the State Board of Examiners for

 recommendation to the Interim Finance Committee if money is

 required to pay attorney’s fees or the costs of an investigation, or

 both.

    4.  The interest and income earned on the money in the

 Account, after deducting any applicable charges, must be credited

 to the Account.

    [4.] 5. The money in the Account must be used solely to defray

 [the] :

    (a) The costs and expenses of [administering] the Commission

 and the Office of the Ombudsman [for Owners in Common

-Interest Communities and for the payment of fees for a mediator or

 an arbitrator] ; and

    (b) If authorized by the Commission or any regulations

 adopted by the Commission, the costs and expenses of subsidizing

 proceedings for mediation and arbitration conducted pursuant to

 NRS [38.330.] 38.300 to 38.360, inclusive.

    Sec. 54.  NRS 116.1201 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    116.1201  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section and

 NRS 116.1203, this chapter applies to all common-interest

 communities created within this state.


    2.  This chapter does not apply to:

    (a) Associations created for the limited purpose of maintaining:

        (1) The landscape of the common elements of a common

-interest community;

        (2) Facilities for flood control; or

        (3) [A] Except as otherwise provided in section 47.5 of this

 act, a rural agricultural residential common-interest community.

    (b) A planned community in which all units are restricted

 exclusively to nonresidential use unless the declaration provides

 that [the] this chapter does apply to that planned community. This

 chapter applies to a planned community containing both units that

 are restricted exclusively to nonresidential use and other units that

 are not so restricted[,] only if the declaration so provides or if the

 real estate comprising the units that may be used for residential

 purposes would be a planned community in the absence of the units

 that may not be used for residential purposes.

    (c) Common-interest communities or units located outside of

 this state, but the provisions of NRS 116.4102 to 116.4108,

 inclusive, apply to all contracts for the disposition thereof signed in

 this state by any party unless exempt under subsection 2 of

NRS 116.4101.

    (d) A common-interest community that was created before

 January 1, 1992, is located in a county whose population is less

 than 50,000, and has less than 50 percent of the units within the

 community put to residential use, unless a majority of the units’

 owners otherwise elect in writing.

    (e) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, time shares

 governed by the provisions of chapter 119A of NRS.

    3.  The provisions of this chapter do not:

    (a) Prohibit a common-interest community created before

 January 1, 1992, from providing for separate classes of voting for

 the units’ owners of the association;

    (b) Require a common-interest community created before

 January 1, 1992, to comply with the provisions of NRS 116.2101 to

 116.2122, inclusive;

    (c) Invalidate any assessments that were imposed on or before

 October 1, 1999, by a common-interest community created before

 January 1, 1992; or

    (d) Prohibit a common-interest community created before

 January 1, 1992, or a common-interest community described in

 section 46 of this act from providing for a representative form of

 government.

    4.  The provisions of chapters 117 and 278A of NRS do not

 apply to common-interest communities.

    5.  [For the purposes of this section, the Administrator] The

 Commission shall establish, by regulation, the criteria for


determining whether an association [is created for the limited

purpose of maintaining the landscape of the common elements of a

 common-interest community, maintaining facilities for flood

 control or maintaining a rural agricultural residential] or a

 common-interest community [.] satisfies the requirements for an

 exemption from any provision of this chapter.

    Sec. 55.  NRS 116.1203 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    116.1203  1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, if

 a planned community contains no more than 12 units and is not

 subject to any developmental rights, it is subject only to NRS

 116.1105, 116.1106 and 116.1107 unless the declaration provides

 that this entire chapter is applicable.

    2.  Except for NRS 116.3104, 116.31043, 116.31046 and

 116.31138, the provisions of NRS 116.3101 to 116.3119, inclusive,

 and section 47 of this act and the definitions set forth in NRS

 116.110305 to 116.110393, inclusive, and sections 2 to 12,

 inclusive, of this act, to the extent that such definitions are

 necessary in construing any of those [sections,] provisions, apply to

 a residential planned community containing more than six units.

    Sec. 56.  NRS 116.1206 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    116.1206  1.  Any provision contained in a declaration, bylaw

 or other governing document of a common-interest community

 [created before January 1, 1992, that does not conform to] that

 violates the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed to conform

 with those provisions by operation of law, and any such declaration,

 bylaw or other governing document is not required to be amended

 to conform to those provisions.

    2.  In the case of amendments to the declaration, bylaws or plats

 and plans of any common-interest community created before

 January 1, 1992:

    (a) If the result accomplished by the amendment was permitted

 by law before January 1, 1992, the amendment may be made either

 in accordance with that law, in which case that law applies to that

 amendment, or it may be made under this chapter; and

    (b) If the result accomplished by the amendment is permitted by

 this chapter, and was not permitted by law before January 1, 1992,

 the amendment may be made under this chapter.

    3.  An amendment to the declaration, bylaws or plats and plans

 authorized by this section to be made under this chapter must be

 adopted in conformity with the applicable provisions of chapter 117

 or 278A of NRS and with the procedures and requirements

 specified by those instruments. If an amendment grants to any

 person any rights, powers or privileges permitted by this chapter, all

 correlative obligations, liabilities and restrictions in this chapter

 also apply to that person.

 


    Sec. 57.  NRS 116.2103 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    116.2103  1.  [All provisions of the declaration and bylaws are

 severable.] The inclusion in a governing document of an

 association of a provision that violates any provision of this

 chapter does not render any other provisions of the governing

 document invalid or otherwise unenforceable if the other

 provisions can be given effect in accordance with their original

 intent and the provisions of this chapter.

    2.  The rule against perpetuities and NRS 111.103 to 111.1039,

 inclusive, do not apply to defeat any provision of the declaration,

 bylaws, rules or regulations adopted pursuant to NRS 116.3102.

    3.  In the event of a conflict between the provisions of the

 declaration and the bylaws, the declaration prevails except to the

 extent the declaration is inconsistent with this chapter.

    4.  Title to a unit and common elements is not rendered

 unmarketable or otherwise affected by reason of an insubstantial

 failure of the declaration to comply with this chapter. Whether a

 substantial failure impairs marketability is not affected by this

 chapter.

    Sec. 58.  NRS 116.2111 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    116.2111  [Subject]

    1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section and subject to

 the provisions of the declaration and other provisions of law, a

 unit’s owner:

    [1.] (a) May make any improvements or alterations to his unit

 that do not impair the structural integrity or mechanical systems or

 lessen the support of any portion of the common-interest

 community;

    [2.] (b) May not change the appearance of the common

 elements, or the exterior appearance of a unit or any other portion

 of the common-interest community, without permission of the

 association; and

    [3.] (c) After acquiring an adjoining unit or an adjoining part of

 an adjoining unit, may remove or alter any intervening partition or

 create apertures therein, even if the partition in whole or in part is a

 common element, if those acts do not impair the structural integrity

 or mechanical systems or lessen the support of any portion of the

 common-interest community. Removal of partitions or creation of

 apertures under this [subsection] paragraph is not an alteration of

 boundaries.

    2.  An association may not:

    (a) Unreasonably restrict, prohibit or otherwise impede the

 lawful rights of a unit’s owner to have reasonable access to his

 unit.

    (b) Unreasonably restrict, prohibit or withhold approval for a

 unit’s owner to add to a unit:


        (1) Improvements such as ramps, railings or elevators that

are necessary to improve access to the unit for any occupant of the

 unit who has a disability;

        (2) Additional locks to improve the security of the unit; or

        (3) Shutters to improve the security of the unit or to aid in

 reducing the costs of energy for the unit.

    (c) With regard to approving or disapproving any improvement

 or alteration made to a unit, act in violation of any state or federal

 law.

    3.  Any improvement or alteration made pursuant to

 subsection 2 that is visible from any other portion of the common

-interest community must be installed, constructed or added in

 accordance with the procedures set forth in the governing

 documents of the association and must be selected or designed to

 the maximum extent practicable to be compatible with the style of

 the common-interest community.

    Sec. 59.  NRS 116.212 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    116.212  1.  If the declaration provides that any of the powers

 described in NRS 116.3102 are to be exercised by or may be

 delegated to a profit or nonprofit corporation that exercises those or

 other powers on behalf of one or more common-interest

 communities or for the benefit of the units’ owners of one or more

 common-interest communities, or on behalf of a common-interest

 community and a time-share plan created pursuant to chapter 119A

 of NRS, all provisions of this chapter applicable to unit-owners’

 associations apply to any such corporation, except as modified by

 this section.

    2.  Unless it is acting in the capacity of an association described

 in NRS 116.3101, a master association may exercise the powers set

 forth in paragraph (b) of subsection 1 of NRS 116.3102 only to the

 extent expressly permitted in:

    (a) The declarations of common-interest communities which are

 part of the master association or expressly described in the

 delegations of power from those common-interest communities to

 the master association; or

    (b) The declaration of the common-interest community which is

 a part of the master association and the time-share instrument

 creating the time-share plan governed by the master association.

    3.  If the declaration of any common-interest community

 provides that the executive board may delegate certain powers to a

 master association, the members of the executive board have no

 liability for the acts or omissions of the master association with

 respect to those powers following delegation.

    4.  The rights and responsibilities of units’ owners with respect

 to the unit-owners’ association set forth in NRS 116.3103 [to

 116.31038, inclusive,] , 116.31032, 116.31034, 116.31036,


116.3108, 116.31085, 116.3109, 116.311 and 116.3112 and section

46 of this act apply in the conduct of the affairs of a master

 association only to persons who elect the board of a master

 association, whether or not those persons are otherwise units’

 owners within the meaning of this chapter.

    5.  Even if a master association is also an association described

 in NRS 116.3101, the certificate of incorporation or other

 instrument creating the master association and the declaration of

 each common-interest community, the powers of which are

 assigned by the declaration or delegated to the master association,

 may provide that the executive board of the master association must

 be elected after the period of the declarant’s control in any of the

 following ways:

    (a) All units’ owners of all common-interest communities

 subject to the master association may elect all members of the

 master association’s executive board.

    (b) All members of the executive boards of all common-interest

 communities subject to the master association may elect all

 members of the master association’s executive board.

    (c) All units’ owners of each common-interest community

 subject to the master association may elect specified members of

 the master association’s executive board.

    (d) All members of the executive board of each common-interest

 community subject to the master association may elect specified

 members of the master association’s executive board.

    Sec. 60.  NRS 116.3102 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    116.3102  1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2,

 and subject to the provisions of the declaration, the association

 may:

    (a) Adopt and amend bylaws, rules and regulations;

    (b) Adopt and amend budgets for revenues, expenditures and

 reserves and collect assessments for common expenses from units’

 owners;

    (c) Hire and discharge managing agents and other employees,

 agents and independent contractors;

    (d) Institute, defend or intervene in litigation or administrative

 proceedings in its own name on behalf of itself or two or more

 units’ owners on matters affecting the common-interest community;

    (e) Make contracts and incur liabilities;

    (f) Regulate the use, maintenance, repair, replacement and

 modification of common elements;

    (g) Cause additional improvements to be made as a part of the

 common elements;

    (h) Acquire, hold, encumber and convey in its own name any

 right, title or interest to real estate or personal property, but:


        (1) Common elements in a condominium or planned

community may be conveyed or subjected to a security interest only

 pursuant to NRS 116.3112; and

        (2) Part of a cooperative may be conveyed, or all or part of a

 cooperative may be subjected to a security interest, only pursuant to

 NRS 116.3112;

    (i) Grant easements, leases, licenses and concessions through or

 over the common elements;

    (j) Impose and receive any payments, fees or charges for the use,

 rental or operation of the common elements, other than limited

 common elements described in subsections 2 and 4 of NRS

 116.2102, and for services provided to units’ owners;

    (k) Impose charges for late payment of assessments , impose

 construction penalties when authorized pursuant to section 47 of

 this act and, except as otherwise provided in NRS 116.31031, after

 notice and an opportunity to be heard, levy reasonable fines for

 violations of the [declaration, bylaws, rules and regulations]

 governing documents of the association;

    (l) Impose reasonable charges for the preparation and

 recordation of amendments to the declaration, the information

 required by NRS 116.4109 or statements of unpaid assessments;

    (m) Provide for the indemnification of its officers and executive

 board and maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance;

    (n) Assign its right to future income, including the right to

 receive assessments for common expenses, but only to the extent

 the declaration expressly so provides;

    (o) Exercise any other powers conferred by the declaration or

 bylaws;

    (p) Exercise all other powers that may be exercised in this state

 by legal entities of the same type as the association;

    (q) Direct the removal of vehicles improperly parked on

 property owned or leased by the association, pursuant to NRS

 487.038; and

    (r) Exercise any other powers necessary and proper for the

 governance and operation of the association.

    2.  The declaration may not impose limitations on the power of

 the association to deal with the declarant which are more restrictive

 than the limitations imposed on the power of the association to deal

 with other persons.

    Sec. 61.  NRS 116.31031 is hereby amended to read as

 follows:

    116.31031  1.  If a unit’s owner [,] or a tenant or guest of a

 unit’s owner [, does not comply with a] violates any provision of

 the governing documents of an association, the executive board of

 the association may, if the governing documents so provide:


    (a) Prohibit, for a reasonable time, the unit’s owner [,] or the

tenant or guest of the unit’s owner [,] from:

        (1) Voting on matters related to the common-interest

 community.

        (2) Using the common elements. The provisions of this

 subparagraph do not prohibit the unit’s owner [,] or the tenant or

 guest of the unit’s owner [,] from using any vehicular or pedestrian

 ingress or egress to go to or from the unit, including any area used

 for parking.

    (b) [Require] Impose a fine against the unit’s owner [,] or the

 tenant or guest of the unit’s owner [, to pay a fine] for each [failure

 to comply that does not threaten the health and welfare of the

 common-interest community.] violation, except that a fine may not

 be imposed for a violation that is the subject of a construction

 penalty pursuant to section 47 of this act. The fine must be

 commensurate with the severity of the violation, but must not

 exceed $100 for each violation or a total amount of $500,

 whichever is less. The limitations on the amount of the fine do not

 apply to any interest, charges or costs that may be collected by the

 association pursuant to this section if the fine becomes past due.

    2.  If a fine is imposed pursuant to subsection 1 and the

 violation is not cured within 14 days , or [a] within any longer

 period [as] that may be established by the executive board, the

 violation shall be deemed a continuing violation. Thereafter, the

 executive board may impose an additional fine for the violation for

 each 7-day period or portion thereof that the violation is not cured.

 Any additional fine may be imposed without notice and an

 opportunity to be heard.

    3.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, the imposition

 of a fine pursuant to this section must comply with the requirements

 of subsection 6 of NRS 116.31065.

    4.  Any past due fine:

    (a) Bears interest at the rate established by the association, not

 to exceed the legal rate per annum.

    (b) May include any costs of collecting the past due fine at a

 rate established by the association. If the past due fine is for a

 violation that does not threaten the health, safety or welfare of the

 residents of the common-interest community, the rate established

 by the association for the costs of collecting the past due fine:

        (1) May not exceed $20, if the outstanding balance is less

 than $200.

        (2) May not exceed $50, if the outstanding balance is $200

 or more, but is less than $500.

        (3) May not exceed $100, if the outstanding balance is $500

 or more, but is less than $1,000.


        (4) May not exceed $250, if the outstanding balance is

$1,000 or more, but is less than $5,000.

        (5) May not exceed $500, if the outstanding balance is

 $5,000 or more.

    (c) May include any costs incurred by the association during a

 civil action to enforce the payment of the past due fine.

    5.  As used in this section:

    (a) “Costs of collecting” includes, without limitation, any

 collection fee, filing fee, recording fee, referral fee, fee for

 postage or delivery, and any other fee or cost that an association

 may reasonably charge to the unit’s owner for the collection of a

 past due fine. The term does not include any costs incurred by an

 association during a civil action to enforce the payment of a past

 due fine.

    (b) “Outstanding balance” means the amount of a past due

 fine that remains unpaid before any interest, charges for late

 payment or costs of collecting the past due fine are added.

    Sec. 62.  NRS 116.31034 is hereby amended to read as

 follows:

    116.31034  1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5 of

 NRS 116.212, not later than the termination of any period of

 declarant’s control, the units’ owners shall elect an executive board

 of at least three members, at least a majority of whom must be

 units’ owners. The executive board shall elect the officers [.] of the

 association. The members [and officers] of the executive board and

 the officers of the association shall take office upon election.

    2.  The term of office of a member of the executive board may

 not exceed 2 years [. A] , except for members who are appointed

 by the declarant. Unless the governing documents provide

 otherwise, there is no limitation on the number of terms that a

 person may serve as a member of the executive board . [may be

 elected to succeed himself.]

    3.  The governing documents of the association must [set forth

 the month during which elections for the members of the executive

 board must be held after the termination of any period of the

 declarant’s control.

    3.] provide for terms of office that are staggered in such a

 manner that, to the extent possible, an equal number of members

 of the executive board are elected at each election. The provisions

 of this subsection do not apply to:

    (a) Members of the executive board who are appointed by the

 declarant; and

    (b) Members of the executive board who serve a term of 1 year

 or less.

    4.  Not less than 30 days before the preparation of a ballot for

 the election of members of the executive board, the secretary or


other officer specified in the bylaws of the association shall cause

notice to be given to each unit’s owner of his eligibility to serve as a

 member of the executive board. Each unit’s owner who is qualified

 to serve as a member of the executive board may have his name

 placed on the ballot along with the names of the nominees selected

 by the members of the executive board or a nominating committee

 established by the association.

    [4.] 5.  Each person whose name is placed on the ballot as a

 candidate for a member of the executive board must make a good

 faith effort to disclose any financial, business, professional or

 personal relationship or interest that would result or would

 appear to a reasonable person to result in a potential conflict of

 interest for the candidate if the candidate were to be elected to

 serve as a member of the executive board. The candidate must

 make the disclosure, in writing, to each member of the association

 in the manner established in the bylaws of the association.

    6.  Unless a person is appointed by the declarant:

    (a) A person may not be a member of the executive board of an

 association or an officer of that association if the person, his

 spouse or his parent or child, by blood, marriage or adoption,

 performs the duties of a community manager for that association.

    (b) A person may not be a member of the executive board of a

 master association or an officer of that master association if the

 person, his spouse or his parent or child, by blood, marriage or

 adoption, performs the duties of a community manager for:

        (1) That master association; or

        (2) Any association that is subject to the governing

 documents of that master association.

    7.  An officer, employee, agent or director of a corporate owner

 of a unit, a trustee or designated beneficiary of a trust that owns a

 unit, a partner of a partnership that owns a unit, a member or

 manager of a limited-liability company that owns a unit, and a

 fiduciary of an estate that owns a unit may be an officer of the

 association or a member of the executive board. In all events where

 the person serving or offering to serve as an officer of the

 association or a member of the executive board is not the record

 owner, he shall file proof in the records of the association that:

    (a) He is associated with the corporate owner, trust, partnership ,

 limited-liability company or estate as required by this subsection;

 and

    (b) Identifies the unit or units owned by the corporate owner,

 trust, partnership , limited-liability company or estate.

    [5.] 8. The election of any member of the executive board must

 be conducted by secret written ballot [. The] unless the declaration

 of the association provides that voting rights may be exercised by

 delegates or representatives as set forth in section 46 of this act. If


the election of any member of the executive board is conducted by

secret written ballot:

    (a) The secretary or other officer specified in the bylaws of the

 association shall cause a secret ballot and a return envelope to be

 sent , prepaid by United States mail , to the mailing address of each

 unit within the common-interest community or to any other mailing

 address designated in writing by the unit’s owner . [, a secret ballot

 and a return envelope.

    6.] (b) Each unit’s owner must be provided with at least 15

 days after the date the secret written ballot is mailed to the unit’s

 owner to return the secret written ballot to the association.

    (c) A quorum is not required for the election of any member of

 the executive board.

    (d) Only the secret written ballots that are returned to the

 association may be counted to determine the outcome of the

 election.

    (e) The secret written ballots must be opened and counted at a

 meeting of the association. A quorum is not required to be present

 when the secret written ballots are opened and counted at the

 meeting.

    (f) The incumbent members of the executive board and each

 person whose name is placed on the ballot as a candidate for a

 member of the executive board may not possess, be given access

 to or participate in the opening or counting of the secret written

 ballots that are returned to the association before those secret

 written ballots have been opened and counted at a meeting of the

 association.

    10. Each member of the executive board shall, within [30] 90

 days after his appointment or election, certify in writing to the

 association, on a form prescribed by the Administrator, that he has

 read and understands the governing documents of the association

 and the provisions of this chapter to the best of his ability. The

 Administrator may require the association to submit a copy of the

 certification of each member of the executive board of that

 association at the time the association registers with the

 Ombudsman pursuant to NRS 116.31158.

    Sec. 63.  NRS 116.31036 is hereby amended to read as

 follows:

    116.31036  1.  Notwithstanding any provision of the

 declaration or bylaws to the contrary, the units’ owners, by a two

-thirds vote of all persons [present and] entitled to vote at any

 meeting of the units’ owners at which a quorum is present, may

 remove any member of the executive board with or without cause,

 other than a member appointed by the declarant.

    2.  The removal of any member of the executive board must be

 conducted by secret written ballot unless the declaration of the


association provides that voting rights may be exercised by

delegates or representatives as set forth in section 46 of this act. If

 the removal of a member of the executive board is conducted by

 secret written ballot:

    (a) The secretary or other officer specified in the bylaws of the

 association shall cause a secret ballot and a return envelope to be

 sent, prepaid by United States mail, to the mailing address of each

 unit within the common-interest community or to any other

 mailing address designated in writing by the unit’s owner.

    (b) Each unit’s owner must be provided with at least 15 days

 after the date the secret written ballot is mailed to the unit’s

 owner to return the secret written ballot to the association.

    (c) Only the secret written ballots that are returned to the

 association may be counted to determine the outcome.

    (d) The secret written ballots must be opened and counted at a

 meeting of the association. A quorum is not required to be present

 when the secret written ballots are opened and counted at the

 meeting.

    (e) The incumbent members of the executive board, including,

 without limitation, the member who is subject to the removal, may

 not possess, be given access to or participate in the opening or

 counting of the secret written ballots that are returned to the

 association before those secret written ballots have been opened

 and counted at a meeting of the association.

    3.  If a member of an executive board is named as a respondent

 or sued for liability for actions undertaken in his role as a member

 of the board, the association shall indemnify him for his losses or

 claims, and undertake all costs of defense, unless it is proven that

 he acted with willful or wanton misfeasance or with gross

 negligence. After such proof , the association is no longer liable for

 the cost of defense, and may recover costs already expended from

 the member of the executive board who so acted. Members of the

 executive board are not personally liable to the victims of crimes

 occurring on the property. Punitive damages may not be recovered

 against the association, but may be recovered from persons whose

 activity gave rise to the damages.

    4.  The provisions of this section do not prohibit the

 Commission from taking any disciplinary action against a

 member of an executive board pursuant to sections 27 to 37,

 inclusive, of this act.

    Sec. 64.  NRS 116.3106 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    116.3106  1.  The bylaws of the association must provide:

    (a) The number of members of the executive board and the titles

 of the officers of the association;


    (b) For election by the executive board of a president, treasurer,

secretary and any other officers of the association the bylaws

 specify;

    (c) The qualifications, powers and duties, terms of office and

 manner of electing and removing officers of the association and

 members of the executive board and filling vacancies;

    (d) Which [,] powers, if any, [of its powers] that the executive

 board or the officers of the association may delegate to other

 persons or to a [managing agent;] community manager;

    (e) Which of its officers may prepare, execute, certify and

 record amendments to the declaration on behalf of the association;

    (f) Procedural rules for conducting meetings of the association;

 [and]

    (g) A method for amending the bylaws[.] ; and

    (h) Procedural rules for conducting elections.

    2.  Except as otherwise provided in the declaration, the bylaws

 may provide for any other matters the association deems necessary

 and appropriate.

    3.  The bylaws must be written in plain English.

    Sec. 65.  NRS 116.3108 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    116.3108  1.  A meeting of the units’ owners of an association

 must be held at least once each year. If the governing documents of

 a common‑interest community do not designate an annual meeting

 date of the units’ owners, a meeting of the units’ owners must be

 held 1 year after the date of the last meeting of the units’ owners. If

 the units’ owners have not held a meeting for 1 year, a meeting of

 the units’ owners must be held on the following March 1. Special

 meetings of the units’ owners of an association may be called by

 the president, a majority of the executive board or by units’ owners

 having 10 percent, or any lower percentage specified in the bylaws,

 of the votes in the association.

    2.  Not less than 10 nor more than 60 days in advance of any

 meeting of the units’ owners of an association, the secretary or

 other officer specified in the bylaws shall cause notice of the

 meeting to be hand‑delivered, sent prepaid by United States mail to

 the mailing address of each unit or to any other mailing address

 designated in writing by the unit’s owner or, if the association

 offers to send notice by electronic mail, sent by electronic mail at

 the request of the unit’s owner to an electronic mail address

 designated in writing by the unit’s owner. The notice of the meeting

 must state the time and place of the meeting and include a copy of

 the agenda for the meeting. The notice must include notification of

 the right of a unit’s owner to:

    (a) Have a copy of the minutes or a summary of the minutes of

 the meeting [distributed to him] provided to the unit’s owner upon

 request and, if required by the executive board, upon payment to

 the


association of the cost of [making the distribution.] providing the

copy to the unit’s owner.

    (b) Speak to the association or executive board, unless the

 executive board is meeting in executive session.

    3.  The agenda for a meeting of the units’ owners must consist

 of:

    (a) A clear and complete statement of the topics scheduled to be

 considered during the meeting, including, without limitation, any

 proposed amendment to the declaration or bylaws, any fees or

 assessments to be imposed or increased by the association, any

 budgetary changes and any proposal to remove an officer of the

 association or member of the executive board.

    (b) A list describing the items on which action may be taken and

 clearly denoting that action may be taken on those items. In an

 emergency, the units’ owners may take action on an item which is

 not listed on the agenda as an item on which action may be taken.

    (c) A period devoted to comments by units’ owners and

 discussion of those comments. Except in emergencies, no action

 may be taken upon a matter raised under this item of the agenda

 until the matter itself has been specifically included on an agenda as

 an item upon which action may be taken pursuant to paragraph (b).

    4.  If the association adopts a policy imposing [a fine on a unit’s

 owner for the violation of the declaration, bylaws or other rules

 established by] fines for any violations of the governing

 documents of the association, the secretary or other officer

 specified in the bylaws shall prepare and cause to be hand‑delivered

 or sent prepaid by United States mail to the mailing address of each

 unit or to any other mailing address designated in writing by the

 unit’s owner, a schedule of the fines that may be imposed for those

 violations.

    5.  The secretary or other officer specified in the bylaws shall

 cause minutes to be recorded or otherwise taken at each meeting

 of the units’ owners. Not more than 30 days after [any meeting of

 the units’ owners,] each such meeting, the secretary or other officer

 specified in the bylaws shall cause the minutes or a summary of the

 minutes of the meeting to be made available to the units’ owners. A

 copy of the minutes or a summary of the minutes must be provided

 to any unit’s owner [who pays] upon request and, if required by

 the executive board, upon payment to the association of the cost of

 providing the copy to [him.] the unit’s owner.

    6.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7, the minutes

 of each meeting of the units’ owners must include:

    (a) The date, time and place of the meeting;

    (b) The substance of all matters proposed, discussed or decided

 at the meeting; and

    (c) The substance of remarks made by any unit’s owner at the

 meeting if he requests that the minutes reflect his remarks or, if

 he


has prepared written remarks, a copy of his prepared remarks if he

submits a copy for inclusion.

    7.  The executive board may establish reasonable limitations

 on materials, remarks or other information to be included in the

 minutes of a meeting of the units’ owners.

    8.  The association shall maintain the minutes of each

 meeting of the units’ owners until the common-interest

 community is terminated.

    9.  A unit’s owner may record on audiotape or any other

 means of sound reproduction a meeting of the units’ owners if the

 unit’s owner, before recording the meeting, provides notice of his

 intent to record the meeting to the other units’ owners who are in

 attendance at the meeting.

    10.  As used in this section, “emergency” means any occurrence

 or combination of occurrences that:

    (a) Could not have been reasonably foreseen;

    (b) Affects the health, welfare and safety of the units’ owners of

 the association;

    (c) Requires the immediate attention of, and possible action by,

 the executive board; and

    (d) Makes it impracticable to comply with the provisions of

 subsection 2 or 3.

    Sec. 66.  NRS 116.31083 is hereby amended to read as

 follows:

    116.31083  1.  A meeting of the executive board of an

 association must be held at least once every 90 days.

    2.  Except in an emergency or unless the bylaws of an

 association require a longer period of notice, the secretary or other

 officer specified in the bylaws of the association shall, not less than

 10 days before the date of a meeting of the executive board, cause

 notice of the meeting to be given to the units’ owners. Such notice

 must be:

    (a) Sent prepaid by United States mail to the mailing address of

 each unit within the common-interest community or to any other

 mailing address designated in writing by the unit’s owner;

    (b) If the association offers to send notice by electronic mail,

 sent by electronic mail at the request of the unit’s owner to an

 electronic mail address designated in writing by the unit’s owner; or

    (c) Published in a newsletter or other similar publication that is

 circulated to each unit’s owner.

    3.  In an emergency, the secretary or other officer specified in

 the bylaws of the association shall, if practicable, cause notice of

 the meeting to be sent prepaid by United States mail to the mailing

 address of each unit within the common-interest community. If

 delivery of the notice in this manner is impracticable, the notice

 must be hand-delivered to each unit within the common-interest


community or posted in a prominent place or places within the

common elements of the association.

    4.  The notice of a meeting of the executive board of an

 association must state the time and place of the meeting and include

 a copy of the agenda for the meeting or the date on which and the

 locations where copies of the agenda may be conveniently obtained

 by the units’ owners of the association. The notice must include

 notification of the right of a unit’s owner to:

    (a) Have a copy of the minutes or a summary of the minutes of

 the meeting [distributed to him] provided to the unit’s owner upon

 request and, if required by the executive board, upon payment to

 the association of the cost of [making the distribution.] providing

 the copy to the unit’s owner.

    (b) Speak to the association or executive board, unless the

 executive board is meeting in executive session.

    5.  The agenda of the meeting of the executive board of an

 association must comply with the provisions of subsection 3 of

 NRS 116.3108. The period required to be devoted to comments by

 units’ owners and discussion of those comments must be scheduled

 for the beginning of each meeting. In an emergency, the executive

 board may take action on an item which is not listed on the agenda

 as an item on which action may be taken.

    6.  At least once every 90 days, unless the declaration or bylaws

 of the association impose more stringent standards, the executive

 board shall review at one of its meetings:

    (a) A current reconciliation of the operating account of the

 association;

    (b) A current reconciliation of the reserve account of the

 association;

    (c) The actual revenues and expenses for the reserve account,

 compared to the budget for that account for the current year;

    (d) The latest account statements prepared by the financial

 institutions in which the accounts of the association are maintained;

    (e) An income and expense statement, prepared on at least a

 quarterly basis, for the operating and reserve accounts of the

 association; and

    (f) The current status of any civil action or claim submitted to

 arbitration or mediation in which the association is a party.

    7.  The secretary or other officer specified in the bylaws shall

 cause minutes [of a] to be recorded or otherwise taken at each

 meeting of the executive board . [of an association must be] Not

 more than 30 days after each such meeting, the secretary or other

 officer specified in the bylaws shall cause the minutes or a

 summary of the minutes of the meeting to be made available to the

 units’ owners . [in accordance with the provisions of subsection 5

 of NRS 116.3108.] A copy of the minutes or a summary of the


minutes must be provided to any unit’s owner upon request and, if

required by the executive board, upon payment to the association

 of the cost of providing the copy to the unit’s owner.

    8.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 9 and NRS

 116.31085, the minutes of each meeting of the executive board

 must include:

    (a) The date, time and place of the meeting;

    (b) Those members of the executive board who were present

 and those members who were absent at the meeting;

    (c) The substance of all matters proposed, discussed or decided

 at the meeting;

    (d) A record of each member’s vote on any matter decided by

 vote at the meeting; and

    (e) The substance of remarks made by any unit’s owner who

 addresses the executive board at the meeting if he requests that

 the minutes reflect his remarks or, if he has prepared written

 remarks, a copy of his prepared remarks if he submits a copy for

 inclusion.

    9.  The executive board may establish reasonable limitations

 on materials, remarks or other information to be included in the

 minutes of its meetings.

    10.  The association shall maintain the minutes of each

 meeting of the executive board until the common-interest

 community is terminated.

    11.  A unit’s owner may record on audiotape or any other

 means of sound reproduction a meeting of the executive board,

 unless the executive board is meeting in executive session, if the

 unit’s owner, before recording the meeting, provides notice of his

 intent to record the meeting to the members of the executive board

 and the other units’ owners who are in attendance at the meeting.

    12.  As used in this section, “emergency” means any occurrence

 or combination of occurrences that:

    (a) Could not have been reasonably foreseen;

    (b) Affects the health, welfare and safety of the units’ owners of

 the association;

    (c) Requires the immediate attention of, and possible action by,

 the executive board; and

    (d) Makes it impracticable to comply with the provisions of

 subsection 2 or 5.

    Sec. 67.  NRS 116.31085 is hereby amended to read as

 follows:

    116.31085  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, a

 unit’s owner may attend any meeting of the units’ owners of the

 association or of the executive board and speak at any such

 meeting. The executive board may establish reasonable limitations

 on the time a unit’s owner may speak at such a meeting.


    2.  An executive board may not meet in executive session to

enter into, renew, modify, terminate or take any other action

 regarding a contract, unless it is a contract between the

 association and an attorney.

    3.  An executive board may meet in executive session only to:

    (a) Consult with the attorney for the association on matters

 relating to proposed or pending litigation if the contents of the

 discussion would otherwise be governed by the privilege set forth

 in NRS 49.035 to 49.115, inclusive [;] , or to enter into, renew,

 modify, terminate or take any other action regarding a contract

 between the association and the attorney.

    (b) Discuss [matters relating to personnel; or

    (c) Discuss] the character, alleged misconduct, professional

 competence, or physical or mental health of a community

 manager or an employee of the association.

    (c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, discuss a

 violation of the governing documents , [alleged to have been

 committed by a unit’s owner,] including, without limitation, the

 failure to pay an assessment . [, except as otherwise provided in

 subsection 3.

    3.] (d) Discuss the alleged failure of a unit’s owner to adhere

 to a schedule required pursuant to section 47 of this act if the

 alleged failure may subject the unit’s owner to a construction

 penalty.

    4.  An executive board shall meet in executive session to hold a

 hearing on an alleged violation of the governing documents unless

 the [unit’s owner who allegedly committed] person who may be

 sanctioned for the alleged violation requests in writing that the

 hearing be conducted by the executive board at an open meeting.

 The [unit’s owner who is alleged to have committed] person who

 may be sanctioned for the alleged violation [may] is entitled to

 attend the hearing and testify concerning the alleged violation, but

 the person may be excluded by the executive board from any other

 portion of the hearing, including, without limitation, the

 deliberations of the executive board.

    [4.] 5. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, any

 matter discussed by the executive board when it meets in executive

 session must be generally noted in the minutes of the meeting of the

 executive board. The executive board shall maintain minutes of any

 decision made pursuant to subsection [3] 4 concerning an alleged

 violation and, upon request, provide a copy of the decision to the

 [unit’s owner who was the subject of the hearing] person who was

 subject to being sanctioned at the hearing or to his designated

 representative.


    [5.] 6. Except as otherwise provided in subsection [3,] 4, a

unit’s owner is not entitled to attend or speak at a meeting of the

 executive board held in executive session.

    Sec. 68.  NRS 116.3109 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    116.3109  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section and

 [unless the bylaws] NRS 116.31034, and except when the

 governing documents provide otherwise, a quorum is present

 throughout any meeting of the association if [persons entitled to

 cast 20 percent of the votes that may be cast for election of the

 executive board] the number of members of the association who

 are present in person or by proxy at the beginning of the meeting [.]

 equals or exceeds 20 percent of the total number of voting

 members of the association.

    2.  If the governing documents of an association contain a

 quorum requirement for a meeting of the association that is

 greater than the 20 percent required by subsection 1 and, after

 proper notice has been given for a meeting, the members of the

 association who are present in person or by proxy at the meeting

 are unable to hold the meeting because a quorum is not present at

 the beginning of the meeting, the members who are present in

 person at the meeting may adjourn the meeting to a time that is

 not less than 48 hours or more than 30 days from the date of the

 meeting. At the subsequent meeting:

    (a) A quorum shall be deemed to be present if the number of

 members of the association who are present in person or by proxy

 at the beginning of the subsequent meeting equals or exceeds 20

 percent of the total number of voting members of the association;

 and

    (b) If such a quorum is deemed to be present but the actual

 number of members who are present in person or by proxy at the

 beginning of the subsequent meeting is less than the number of

 members who are required for a quorum under the governing

 documents, the members who are present in person or by proxy at

 the subsequent meeting may take action only on those matters

 that were included as items on the agenda of the original

meeting.

The provisions of this subsection do not change the actual number

 of votes that are required under the governing documents for

 taking action on any particular matter.

    3.  Unless the [bylaws] governing documents specify a larger

 percentage, a quorum is deemed present throughout any meeting of

 the executive board if persons entitled to cast 50 percent of the

 votes on that board are present at the beginning of the meeting.

    [3.  For the purposes of determining whether a quorum is

 present for the election of any member of the executive board, only


the secret written ballots that are returned to the association may be

counted.]

    Sec. 69.  NRS 116.311 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    116.311  1.  If only one of several owners of a unit is present

 at a meeting of the association, that owner is entitled to cast all the

 votes allocated to that unit. If more than one of the owners are

 present, the votes allocated to that unit may be cast only in

 accordance with the agreement of a majority in interest of the

 owners, unless the declaration expressly provides otherwise. There

 is majority agreement if any one of the owners cast the votes

 allocated to that unit without protest made promptly to the person

 presiding over the meeting by any of the other owners of the unit.

    2.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, votes allocated

 to a unit may be cast pursuant to a proxy executed by a unit’s

 owner. A unit’s owner may give a proxy only to a member of his

 immediate family, a tenant of the unit’s owner who resides in the

 common-interest community , [or] another unit’s owner who

 resides in the common-interest community[.] , or to a delegate or

 representative when authorized pursuant to section 46 of this act.

 If a unit is owned by more than one person, each owner of the unit

 may vote or register protest to the casting of votes by the other

 owners of the unit through an executed proxy. A unit’s owner may

 revoke a proxy given pursuant to this section only by actual notice

 of revocation to the person presiding over a meeting of the

 association. [A proxy is void if:

    (a) It is not dated or purports]

    3.  Before a vote may be cast pursuant to a proxy:

    (a) The proxy must be dated.

    (b) The proxy must not purport to be revocable without notice .

 [;

    (b) It does not]

    (c) The proxy must designate the meeting for which it is

 executed.

    (d) The proxy must designate [the votes that must be cast on

 behalf of] each specific item on the agenda of the meeting for

 which the unit’s owner [who] has executed the proxy [; or

    (c)] , except that the unit’s owner may execute the proxy

 without designating any specific items on the agenda of the

 meeting if the proxy is to be used solely for determining whether a

 quorum is present for the meeting. If the proxy designates one or

 more specific items on the agenda of the meeting for which the

 unit’s owner has executed the proxy, the proxy must indicate, for

 each specific item designated in the proxy, whether the holder of

 the proxy must cast a vote in the affirmative or the negative on

 behalf of the unit’s owner. If the proxy does not indicate whether

 the holder of the proxy must cast a vote in the affirmative or the


negative for a particular item on the agenda of the meeting, the

proxy must be treated, with regard to that particular item, as if the

 unit’s owner were present but not voting on that particular item.

    (e) The holder of the proxy [does not] must disclose at the

 beginning of the meeting for which the proxy is executed the

 number of proxies pursuant to which [he] the holder will be casting

 votes . [and the voting instructions received for each proxy.]

    4.  A proxy terminates immediately after the conclusion of the

 meeting for which it [was] is executed.

    5.  A vote may not be cast pursuant to a proxy for the election

 or removal of a member of the executive board of an association[.

    3.  Only a vote cast in person, by secret ballot or by proxy, may

 be counted.

    4.] unless the proxy is exercised through a delegate or

 representative authorized pursuant to section 46 of this act.

    6.  The holder of a proxy may not cast a vote on behalf of the

 unit’s owner who executed the proxy in a manner that is contrary

 to the proxy.

    7.  A proxy is void if the proxy or the holder of the proxy

 violates any provision of subsections 1 to 6, inclusive.

    8. If the declaration requires that votes on specified matters

 affecting the common-interest community must be cast by the

 lessees of leased units rather than the units’ owners [of] who have

 leased the units:

    (a) The provisions of subsections 1 [and 2] to 7, inclusive, apply

 to the lessees as if they were the units’ owners;

    (b) [Units’] The units’ owners who have leased their units to

 [other persons] the lessees may not cast votes on those specified

 matters; [and]

    (c) [Lessees] The lessees are entitled to notice of meetings,

 access to records[,] and other rights respecting those matters as if

 they were the units’ owners [.

Units’] ; and

    (d) The units’ owners must [also] be given notice, in the manner

 provided in NRS 116.3108, of all meetings at which the lessees are

 entitled to vote.

    [5.  No]

    9.  If any votes are allocated to a unit that is owned by the

 association , those votes may not be cast [.

    6.  Votes cast for the election of a member of the executive

 board of an association must be counted in public.] , by proxy or

 otherwise, for any purpose.

    Sec. 70.  NRS 116.31139 is hereby amended to read as

 follows:

    116.31139  1.  [An association may employ a person engaged

 in property management for the common-interest community.


    2.] Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person

[engaged in property management for a common-interest

 community must:

    (a) Hold] shall not act as a community manager unless the

 person holds a permit [to engage in property management that is

 issued pursuant to the provisions of chapter 645 of NRS; or

    (b) Hold] or a certificate . [issued by the Real Estate

 Commission pursuant to subsection 3.

    3.  The Real Estate]

    2.  The Commission shall [provide] by regulation provide for

 the [issuance of certificates for the management of common-interest

 communities to persons who are not otherwise authorized to engage

 in property management pursuant to the provisions of chapter 645

 of NRS. The regulations:

    (a) Must establish the qualifications for the issuance of such a

 certificate, including the education and experience required to

 obtain such a certificate;

    (b) May require applicants to pass an examination in order to

 obtain a certificate;

    (c) Must establish] standards of practice for [persons engaged in

 property management for a common-interest community;

    (d) Must establish the grounds for initiating disciplinary action

 against a person to whom a certificate has been issued, including,

 without limitation, the grounds for placing conditions, limitations

 or restrictions on a certificate and for the suspension or revocation

 of a certificate; and

    (e) Must establish rules of practice and procedure for conducting

 disciplinary hearings.

The Real Estate Division of the Department of Business and

 Industry] community managers who hold permits or certificates.

    3.  The Division may investigate [the property managers to

 whom certificates have been issued] any community manager who

 holds a permit or certificate to ensure [their compliance] that the

 community manager is complying with the standards of practice

 adopted [pursuant to this subsection and collect a fee for the

 issuance of a certificate] by the Commission . [in an amount not to

 exceed the administrative costs of issuing the certificate.]

    4.  In addition to any other remedy or penalty, if the

 Commission or a hearing panel, after notice and hearing, finds

 that a community manager who holds a permit or certificate has

 violated any provision of this chapter or any of the standards of

 practice adopted by the Commission, the Commission or the

 hearing panel may take appropriate disciplinary action against

 the community manager.

    5.  The provisions of [subsection 2] this section do not apply to:


    (a) [A person who is engaged in property management for a

common-interest community on October 1, 1999, and is granted an

 exemption from the requirements of subsection 2 by the

 Administrator upon demonstration that he is qualified and

 competent to engage in property management for a common

-interest community.

    (b)] A financial institution[.

    (c)] that is engaging in an activity permitted by law.

    (b) An attorney who is licensed to practice in this state[.

    (d)] and who is acting in that capacity.

    (c) A trustee[.

    (e) An employee of a corporation who manages only] with

 respect to the property of the [corporation.

    (f)] trust.

    (d) A declarant[.

    (g)] , an affiliate of the declarant and any officers or

 employees of the declarant or an affiliate of the declarant when

 engaging in the management of a common-interest community

 during the period in which the declarant controls that common

-interest community.

    (e) A receiver[.

    5.  As used in this section, “property management” means the

 physical, administrative or financial maintenance and management

 of real property, or the supervision of those activities for a fee,

 commission or other compensation or valuable consideration.] with

 respect to property subject to the receivership.

    (f) A member of an executive board or an officer of an

 association who is acting solely within the scope of his duties as a

 member of the executive board or an officer of the association.

    Sec. 71.  NRS 116.311391 is hereby amended to read as

 follows:

    116.311391  The expiration or revocation of a permit or

 certificate [for the management of a common-interest community]

 by operation of law or by order or decision of [the Real Estate

 Commission or a] any agency or court of competent jurisdiction, or

 the voluntary surrender of such a permit or certificate by the holder

 of the permit or certificate does not:

    1.  Prohibit the [Real Estate Division of the Department of

 Business and Industry or Real Estate] Commission or the Division

 from initiating or continuing an investigation of, or action or

 disciplinary proceeding against, the holder of the permit or

 certificate as authorized pursuant to the provisions of this chapter

or the regulations adopted pursuant thereto; or

    2.  Prevent the imposition or collection of any fine or penalty

 authorized pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or the


regulations adopted pursuant thereto against the holder of the permit

or certificate.

    Sec. 72.  NRS 116.31151 is hereby amended to read as

 follows:

    116.31151  1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2

 and unless the declaration of a common‑interest community

 imposes more stringent standards, the executive board of an

 association shall, not less than 30 days or more than 60 days before

 the beginning of the fiscal year of the association, prepare and

 distribute to each unit’s owner a copy of:

    (a) The budget for the daily operation of the association. The

 budget must include, without limitation, the estimated annual

 revenue and expenditures of the association and any contributions

 to be made to the reserve account of the association.

    (b) The budget to maintain the reserve required by paragraph (b)

 of subsection 2 of NRS 116.3115. The budget must include,

 without limitation:

        (1) The current estimated replacement cost, estimated

 remaining life and estimated useful life of each major component of

 the common elements;

        (2) As of the end of the fiscal year for which the budget is

 prepared, the current estimate of the amount of cash reserves that

 are necessary, and the current amount of accumulated cash reserves

 that are set aside, to repair, replace or restore the major components

 of the common elements;

        (3) A statement as to whether the executive board has

 determined or anticipates that the levy of one or more special

 assessments will be required to repair, replace or restore any major

 component of the common elements or to provide adequate

 reserves for that purpose; and

        (4) A general statement describing the procedures used for

 the estimation and accumulation of cash reserves pursuant to

 subparagraph (2), including, without limitation, the qualifications of

 the person responsible for the preparation of the study of the

 reserves required by NRS 116.31152.

    2.  In lieu of distributing copies of the budgets of the

 association required by subsection 1, the executive board may

 distribute to each unit’s owner a summary of those budgets,

 accompanied by a written notice that [the] :

    (a) The budgets are available for review at the business office of

 the association or some other suitable location within the county

 where the common‑interest community is situated or, if it is

 situated in more than one county, within one of those counties;

 and [that copies]

    (b) Copies of the budgets will be provided upon request.


    Sec. 73.  NRS 116.31152 is hereby amended to read as

follows:

    116.31152  1.  The executive board of an association shall:

    (a) Cause to be conducted , at least once every 5 years, a study

 of the reserves required to repair, replace and restore the major

 components of the common elements;

    (b) Review the results of that study at least annually to

 determine if those reserves are sufficient; and

    (c) Make any adjustments it deems necessary to maintain the

 required reserves.

    2.  The study of the reserves required by subsection 1 must be

 conducted by a person who is qualified by training and experience

 to conduct such a study, including , without limitation, a member

 of the executive board, a unit’s owner or [the property manager of

 the association] a community manager who is so qualified. The

 study of the reserves must include, without limitation:

    (a) A summary of an inspection of the major components of the

 common elements that the association is obligated to repair, replace

 or restore;

    (b) An identification of the major components of the common

 elements that the association is obligated to repair, replace or

 restore which have a remaining useful life of less than 30 years;

    (c) An estimate of the remaining useful life of each major

 component identified pursuant to paragraph (b);

    (d) An estimate of the cost of repair, replacement or restoration

 of each major component identified pursuant to paragraph (b)

 during and at the end of its useful life; and

    (e) An estimate of the total annual assessment that may be

 required to cover the cost of repairing, replacement or restoration of

 the major components identified pursuant to paragraph (b), after

 subtracting the reserves of the association as of the date of the

 study.

    3.  The results of the study of the reserves required by

 subsection 1 must be submitted to the Commission not later than

 45 days after the date that the executive board of the association

 adopts the results of the study.

    4.  The [Administrator] Commission shall adopt by regulation

 the qualifications required for conducting [a] the study of the

 reserves required by subsection 1.

    5.  If a common-interest community was developed as part of

 a planned unit development pursuant to chapter 278A of NRS

 and is subject to an agreement with a city or county to receive

 credit against the amount of the residential construction tax that

 is imposed pursuant to NRS 278.4983 and 278.4985, the

 association that is organized for the common-interest community

 may use the money from that credit for the repair, replacement or

 restoration of park facilities and related improvements if:


    (a) The park facilities and related improvements are identified

as major components of the common elements of the association;

 and

    (b) The association is obligated to repair, replace or restore the

 park facilities and related improvements in accordance with the

 study of the reserves required by subsection 1.

    Sec. 74.  NRS 116.31155 is hereby amended to read as

 follows:

    116.31155  1.  An association shall:

    (a) If the association is required to pay the fee imposed by NRS

 78.150 , 82.193 or [82.193,] 86.263, pay to the Administrator a fee

 established by regulation of the Administrator for every unit in the

 association used for residential use.

    (b) If the association is organized as a trust or partnership, pay

 to the Administrator a fee established by regulation of the

 Administrator for each unit in the association.

    2.  The fees required to be paid pursuant to this section must be:

    (a) Paid at such times as are established by the [Administrator.]

 Division.

    (b) Deposited with the State Treasurer for credit to the Account

 for [the Ombudsman for Owners in] Common-Interest

 Communities created [pursuant to] by NRS 116.1117.

    (c) Established on the basis of the actual [cost] costs of

 administering the Office of the Ombudsman [for Owners in

 Common-Interest Communities] and the Commission and not on a

 basis which includes any subsidy [for the Office.] beyond those

 actual costs. In no event may the fees required to be paid pursuant

 to this section exceed $3 per unit.

    3.  The Administrator may by regulation establish an

 administrative penalty to be imposed against an association that

 violates the provisions of this section by failing to pay the fees

 owed by the association within the times established by the

 Division. The administrative penalty that is imposed for each

 violation may not exceed 10 percent of the amount of the fees

 owed by the association or $500, whichever amount is less.

    4.  A unit’s owner may not be required to pay any portion of the

 fees or any administrative penalties required to be paid pursuant to

 this section to a master association and to an association organized

 pursuant to NRS 116.3101.

    [4.] 5. Upon the payment of the fees and any administrative

 penalties required by this section, the Administrator shall provide

 to the association evidence that it paid the fees and the

 administrative penalties in compliance with this section.


    Sec. 75.  NRS 116.31158 is hereby amended to read as

follows:

    116.31158  1.  Each association shall, at the time it pays the

 fee required by NRS 116.31155, register with the Ombudsman [for

 Owners in Common-Interest Communities] on a form prescribed by

 the Ombudsman.

    2.  The form for registration must include, without limitation,

 the information required to be maintained pursuant to paragraph

 [(d)] (e) of subsection 4 of NRS 116.1116.

    Sec. 76.  NRS 116.3116 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    116.3116  1.  The association has a lien on a unit for any

 construction penalty that is imposed against the unit’s owner

 pursuant to section 47 of this act, any assessment levied against

 that unit or any fines imposed against the unit’s owner from the

 time the construction penalty, assessment or fine becomes due.

 Unless the declaration otherwise provides, any penalties, fees,

 charges, late charges, fines and interest charged pursuant to

 paragraphs (j), (k) and (l) of subsection 1 of NRS 116.3102 are

 enforceable as assessments under this section. If an assessment is

 payable in installments, the full amount of the assessment is a lien

 from the time the first installment thereof becomes due.

    2.  A lien under this section is prior to all other liens and

 encumbrances on a unit except:

    (a) Liens and encumbrances recorded before the recordation of

 the declaration and, in a cooperative, liens and encumbrances which

 the association creates, assumes or takes subject to;

    (b) A first security interest on the unit recorded before the date

 on which the assessment sought to be enforced became delinquent

 [,] or, in a cooperative, the first security interest encumbering only

 the unit’s owner’s interest and perfected before the date on which

 the assessment sought to be enforced became delinquent; and

    (c) Liens for real estate taxes and other governmental

 assessments or charges against the unit or cooperative.

The lien is also prior to all security interests described in paragraph

 (b) to the extent of the assessments for common expenses based on

 the periodic budget adopted by the association pursuant to NRS

 116.3115 which would have become due in the absence of

 acceleration during the 6 months immediately preceding institution

 of an action to enforce the lien. This subsection does not affect the

 priority of mechanics’ or materialmen’s liens, or the priority of

 liens for other assessments made by the association.

    3.  Unless the declaration otherwise provides, if two or more

 associations have liens for assessments created at any time on the

 same property, those liens have equal priority.


    4.  Recording of the declaration constitutes record notice and

perfection of the lien. No further recordation of any claim of lien for

 assessment under this section is required.

    5.  A lien for unpaid assessments is extinguished unless

 proceedings to enforce the lien are instituted within 3 years after the

 full amount of the assessments becomes due.

    6.  This section does not prohibit actions to recover sums for

 which subsection 1 creates a lien or prohibit an association from

 taking a deed in lieu of foreclosure.

    7.  A judgment or decree in any action brought under this

 section must include costs and reasonable attorney’s fees for the

 prevailing party.

    8.  The association , upon written request , shall furnish to a

 unit’s owner a statement setting forth the amount of unpaid

 assessments against the unit. If the interest of the unit’s owner is

 real estate [,] or if a lien for the unpaid assessments may be

 foreclosed under NRS 116.31162 to 116.31168, inclusive, the

 statement must be in recordable form. The statement must be

 furnished within 10 business days after receipt of the request and is

 binding on the association, the executive board and every unit’s

 owner.

    9.  In a cooperative, upon nonpayment of an assessment on a

 unit, the unit’s owner may be evicted in the same manner as

 provided by law in the case of an unlawful holdover by a

 commercial tenant, and :

    (a) In a cooperative where the owner’s interest in a unit is real

 estate under NRS 116.1105, the association’s lien may be

 foreclosed [as provided by this section or by] under NRS

 116.31162 to 116.31168, inclusive.

    [10.] (b) In a cooperative where the owner’s interest in a unit is

 personal property [(] under NRS 116.1105 , [),] the association’s

 lien [may] :

        (1) May be foreclosed [in like manner] as a security interest

 under NRS 104.9101 to 104.9709, inclusive [.] ; or

        (2) If the declaration so provides, may be foreclosed under

 NRS 116.31162 to 116.31168, inclusive.

    Sec. 77.  NRS 116.31162 is hereby amended to read as

 follows:

    116.31162  1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4,

 in a condominium, in a planned community, in a cooperative

 where the owner’s interest in a unit is real estate [as determined

 pursuant to] under NRS 116.1105, or [a planned community,] in a

 cooperative where the owner’s interest in a unit is personal

 property under NRS 116.1105 and the declaration provides that a

 lien may be foreclosed under NRS 116.31162 to 116.31168,

 inclusive, the association may foreclose its lien by sale after:


    (a) The association has mailed by certified or registered mail,

return receipt requested, to the unit’s owner or his successor in

 interest, at his address if known[,] and at the address of the unit, a

 notice of delinquent assessment which states the amount of the

 assessments and other sums which are due in accordance with

 subsection 1 of NRS 116.3116, a description of the unit against

 which the lien is imposed[,] and the name of the record owner of

 the unit;

    (b) [The] Not less than 30 days after mailing the notice of

 delinquent assessment pursuant to paragraph (a), the association

 or other person conducting the sale has executed and caused to be

 recorded, with the county recorder of the county in which the

 common-interest community or any part of it is situated, a notice of

 default and election to sell the unit to satisfy the lien, which

 contains the same information as the notice of delinquent

 assessment, but must also describe the deficiency in payment and

 the name and address of the person authorized by the association to

 enforce the lien by sale; and

    (c) The unit’s owner or his successor in interest has failed to pay

 the amount of the lien, including costs, fees and expenses incident

 to its enforcement, for [60] 90 days following the recording of the

 notice of default and election to sell.

    2.  The notice of default and election to sell must be signed by

 the person designated in the declaration or by the association for

 that purpose[,] or , if no one is designated, by the president of the

 association.

    3.  The period of [60] 90 days begins on the first day following

 the later of:

    (a) The day on which the notice of default is recorded; or

    (b) The day on which a copy of the notice of default is mailed

 by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to the unit’s

 owner or his successor in interest at his address , if known, and at

 the address of the unit.

    4.  The association may not foreclose a lien by sale [for the

 assessment of] based on a fine or penalty for a violation of the

 [declaration, bylaws, rules or regulations] governing documents of

 the association [, unless the violation is of a type that threatens]

 unless:

    (a) The violation threatens the health, safety or welfare of the

 residents of the common-interest community [.] ; or

    (b) The penalty is imposed for failure to adhere to a schedule

 required pursuant to section 47 of this act.


    Sec. 78.  NRS 116.311635 is hereby amended to read as

follows:

    116.311635  The association or other person conducting the

 sale shall also, after the expiration of the [60] 90 days and before

 selling the unit:

    1.  Give notice of the time and place of the sale in the manner

 and for a time not less than that required by law for the sale of real

 property upon execution, except that a copy of the notice of sale

 must be mailed, on or before the date of first publication or posting,

 by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to the unit’s

 owner or his successor in interest at his address , if known, and to

 the address of the unit.

    2.  Mail, on or before the date of first publication or posting, a

 copy of the notice by first-class mail to:

    (a) Each person entitled to receive a copy of the notice of default

 and election to sell notice under NRS 116.31163; [and]

    (b) The holder of a recorded security interest or the purchaser of

 the unit, if either of them has notified the association, before the

 mailing of the notice of sale, of the existence of the security

 interest, lease or contract of sale, as applicable [.] ; and

    (c) The Ombudsman.

    Sec. 79.  NRS 116.31175 is hereby amended to read as

 follows:

    116.31175  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this

 subsection, the executive board of an association shall, upon the

 written request of a unit’s owner, make available the books, records

 and other papers of the association for review during the regular

 working hours of the association[.] , including, without limitation,

 all contracts to which the association is a party and all records

 filed with a court relating to a civil or criminal action to which the

 association is a party. The provisions of this subsection do not

 apply to:

    (a) The personnel records of the employees of the association [;

 and] , except for those records relating to the number of hours

 worked and the salaries and benefits of those employees;

    (b) The records of the association relating to another unit’s

 owner [.] , except for those records described in subsection 2; and

    (c) A contract between the association and an attorney.

    2.  The executive board of an association shall maintain a

 general record concerning each violation of the governing

 documents, other than a violation involving a failure to pay an

 assessment, for which the executive board has imposed a fine, a

 construction penalty or any other sanction. The general record:

    (a) Must contain a general description of the nature of the

 violation and the type of the sanction imposed. If the sanction


imposed was a fine or construction penalty, the general record

must specify the amount of the fine or construction penalty.

    (b) Must not contain the name or address of the person against

 whom the sanction was imposed or any other personal

 information which may be used to identify the person or the

 location of the unit, if any, that is associated with the violation.

    (c) Must be maintained in an organized and convenient filing

 system or data system that allows a unit’s owner to search and

 review the general records concerning violations of the governing

 documents.

    3.  If the executive board refuses to allow a unit’s owner to

 review the books, records or other papers of the association, the

 Ombudsman [for Owners in Common-Interest Communities] may:

    (a) On behalf of the unit’s owner and upon written request,

 review the books, records or other papers of the association during

 the regular working hours of the association; and

    (b) If he is denied access to the books, records or other papers,

 request the Commission , or any member thereof acting on behalf

 of the Commission, to issue a subpoena for their production.

    4.  The books, records and other papers of an association

 must be maintained for at least 10 years. The provisions of this

 subsection do not apply to:

    (a) The minutes of a meeting of the units’ owners which must

 be maintained in accordance with NRS 116.3108; or

    (b) The minutes of a meeting of the executive board which

 must be maintained in accordance with NRS 116.31083.

    5.  The executive board shall not require a unit’s owner to pay

 an amount in excess of $10 per hour to review any books, records,

 contracts or other papers of the association pursuant to the

 provisions of this section.

    Sec. 80.  NRS 116.31177 is hereby amended to read as

 follows:

    116.31177  1.  The executive board of an association shall

 maintain and make available for review at the business office of the

 association or some other suitable location [:] within the county

 where the common‑interest community is situated or, if it is

 situated in more than one county, within one of those counties:

    (a) The financial statement of the association;

    (b) The budgets of the association required to be prepared

 pursuant to NRS 116.31151; and

    (c) The study of the reserves of the association required to be

 conducted pursuant to NRS 116.31152.

    2.  The executive board shall provide a copy of any of the

 records required to be maintained pursuant to subsection 1 to a

 unit’s owner or the Ombudsman [for Owners in Common-Interest

 Communities] within 14 days after receiving a written request


therefor. The executive board may charge a fee to cover the actual

costs of preparing a copy, but not to exceed 25 cents per page.

    Sec. 81.  NRS 116.3118 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    116.3118  1.  The association shall keep financial records

 sufficiently detailed to enable the association to comply with NRS

 116.4109.

    2.  All financial and other records of the association must be :

    (a) Maintained and made available for review at the business

 office of the association or some other suitable location within the

 county where the common‑interest community is situated or, if it

 is situated in more than one county, within one of those counties;

 and

    (b) Made reasonably available for any unit’s owner and his

 authorized agents to inspect, examine, photocopy and audit.

    Sec. 82.  NRS 116.4108 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    116.4108  1.  A person required to deliver a public offering

 statement pursuant to subsection 3 of NRS 116.4102 shall provide a

 purchaser with a copy of the current public offering statement not

 later than the date [of any contract of sale.] on which an offer to

 purchase becomes binding on the purchaser. Unless the purchaser

 has personally inspected the unit, the purchaser may cancel, by

 written notice, the contract of purchase until midnight of the fifth

 calendar day following the date of execution of the contract, and the

 contract for purchase must contain a provision to that effect.

    2.  If a purchaser elects to cancel a contract pursuant to

 subsection 1, he may do so by hand delivering notice thereof to the

 offeror or by mailing notice thereof by prepaid United States mail

 to the offeror or to his agent for service of process. Cancellation is

 without penalty, and all payments made by the purchaser before

 cancellation must be refunded promptly.

    3.  If a person required to deliver a public offering statement

 pursuant to subsection 3 of NRS 116.4102 fails to provide a

 purchaser to whom a unit is conveyed with a current public offering

 statement, the purchaser is entitled to actual damages, rescission or

 other relief, but if the purchaser has accepted a conveyance of the

 unit, he is not entitled to rescission.

    Sec. 83.  NRS 116.4109 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    116.4109  1.  Except in the case of a sale in which delivery of

 a public offering statement is required, or unless exempt under

 subsection 2 of NRS 116.4101, a unit’s owner shall furnish to a

 purchaser before [execution of any contract for sale of a unit, or

 otherwise before conveyance:] an offer to purchase a unit

 becomes binding on the purchaser:

    (a) A copy of the declaration, other than any plats and plans, the

 bylaws, the rules or regulations of the association and the

 information statement required by NRS 116.41095;


    (b) A statement setting forth the amount of the monthly

assessment for common expenses and any unpaid assessment of any

 kind currently due from the selling unit’s owner;

    (c) The current operating budget of the association and a

 financial statement for the association [;] , which must include a

 summary of the financial components of the study of the reserves

 of the association required by NRS 116.31152; and

    (d) A statement of any unsatisfied judgments or pending legal

 actions against the association and the status of any pending legal

 actions relating to the common-interest community of which the

 unit’s owner has actual knowledge.

    2.  The association, within 10 days after a request by a unit’s

 owner, shall furnish a certificate containing the information

 necessary to enable the unit’s owner to comply with [this section.]

 subsection 1. A unit’s owner providing a certificate pursuant to

 subsection 1 is not liable to the purchaser for any erroneous

 information provided by the association and included in the

 certificate.

    3.  Neither a purchaser nor the purchaser’s interest in a unit is

 liable for any unpaid assessment or fee greater than the amount set

 forth in the certificate prepared by the association. If the association

 fails to furnish the certificate within the 10 days allowed by

 subsection 2, the seller is not liable for the delinquent assessment.

    4.  Upon the request of a unit’s owner, a purchaser to whom

 the unit’s owner has provided a certificate pursuant to subsection

 1 or an authorized agent of the unit’s owner or the purchaser, the

 association shall make the entire study of the reserves of the

 association which is required by NRS 116.31152 reasonably

 available for the unit’s owner, purchaser or authorized agent to

 inspect, examine, photocopy and audit. The study must be made

 available at the business office of the association or some other

 suitable location within the county where the common‑interest

 community is situated or, if it is situated in more than one county,

 within one of those counties.

    Sec. 84.  NRS 116.41095 is hereby amended to read as

 follows:

    116.41095  The information statement required by NRS

 116.4103 and 116.4109 must be in substantially the following form:

 

BEFORE YOU PURCHASE PROPERTY IN A

COMMON-INTEREST COMMUNITY

DID YOU KNOW . . .

    1.  YOU ARE AGREEING TO RESTRICTIONS ON HOW

 YOU CAN USE YOUR PROPERTY?

These restrictions are contained in a document known as the

 Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (C, C & R’s)


that should be provided for your review before making your

purchase. The C, C & R’s become a part of the title to your

 property. They bind you and every future owner of the property

 whether or not you have read them or had them explained to you.

 The C, C & R’s, together with other “governing documents” (such

 as association bylaws and rules and regulations), are intended to

 preserve the character and value of properties in the community,

 but may also restrict what you can do to improve or change your

 property and limit how you use and enjoy your property. By

 purchasing a property encumbered by C, C & R’s, you are agreeing

 to limitations that could affect your lifestyle and freedom of choice.

 You should review the C, C & R’s and other governing documents

 before purchasing to make sure that these limitations and controls

 are acceptable to you.

    2.  YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY OWNERS’ ASSESSMENTS

 FOR AS LONG AS YOU OWN YOUR PROPERTY?

As an owner in a common-interest community, you are responsible

 for paying your share of expenses relating to the common elements,

 such as landscaping, shared amenities and the operation of any

 homeowner’s association. The obligation to pay these assessments

 binds you and every future owner of the property. Owners’ fees are

 usually assessed by the homeowner’s association and due monthly.

 You have to pay dues whether or not you agree with the way the

 association is managing the property or spending the assessments.

 The executive board of the association may have the power to

 change and increase the amount of the assessment and to levy

 special assessments against your property to meet extraordinary

 expenses. In some communities, major components of the

 community such as roofs and private roads must be maintained and

 replaced by the association. If the association is not well managed

 or fails to maintain adequate reserves to repair, replace and restore

 common elements, you may be required to pay large, special

 assessments to accomplish these tasks.

    3.  IF YOU FAIL TO PAY OWNERS’ ASSESSMENTS, YOU

 COULD LOSE YOUR HOME?

If you do not pay these assessments when due, the association

 usually has the power to collect them by selling your property in a

 nonjudicial foreclosure sale. If fees become delinquent, you may

 also be required to pay penalties and the association’s costs and

 attorney’s fees to become current. If you dispute the obligation or

 its amount, your only remedy to avoid the loss of your home may

 be to file a lawsuit and ask a court to intervene in the dispute.

    4.  YOU MAY BECOME A MEMBER OF A

 HOMEOWNER’S ASSOCIATION THAT HAS THE POWER TO

 AFFECT HOW YOU USE AND ENJOY YOUR PROPERTY?


Many common-interest communities have a homeowner’s

association. In a new development, the association will usually be

 controlled by the developer until a certain number of units have

 been sold. After the period of developer control, the association

 may be controlled by property owners like yourself who are elected

 by homeowners to sit on an executive board and other boards and

 committees formed by the association. The association, and its

 executive board, are responsible for assessing homeowners for the

 cost of operating the association and the common or shared

 elements of the community and for the day to day operation and

 management of the community. Because homeowners sitting on the

 executive board and other boards and committees of the association

 may not have the experience or professional background required to

 understand and carry out the responsibilities of the association

 properly, the association may hire professional managers to carry

 out these responsibilities.

Homeowner’s associations operate on democratic principles. Some

 decisions require all homeowners to vote, some decisions are made

 by the executive board or other boards or committees established by

 the association or governing documents. Although the actions of the

 association and its executive board are governed by state laws, the

 C, C & R’s and other documents that govern the common-interest

 community, decisions made by these persons will affect your use

 and enjoyment of your property, your lifestyle and freedom of

 choice, and your cost of living in the community. You may not

 agree with decisions made by the association or its governing

 bodies even though the decisions are ones which the association is

 authorized to make. Decisions may be made by a few persons on

 the executive board or governing bodies that do not necessarily

 reflect the view of the majority of homeowners in the community.

 If you do not agree with decisions made by the association, its

 executive board or other governing bodies, your remedy is typically

 to attempt to use the democratic processes of the association to seek

 the election of members of the executive board or other governing

 bodies that are more responsive to your needs. If persons

 controlling the association or its management are not complying

 with state laws or the governing documents, your remedy is

 typically to seek to mediate or arbitrate the dispute and, if

 mediation or arbitration is unsuccessful, file a lawsuit and ask a

 court to resolve the dispute. In addition to your personal cost in

 mediation or arbitration, or to prosecute a lawsuit, you may be

 responsible for paying your share of the association’s cost in

 defending against your claim. There is no government agency in

 this state that investigates or intervenes to resolve disputes in

 homeowner’s associations.


    5.  YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PROSPECTIVE

BUYERS OF YOUR PROPERTY WITH INFORMATION

 ABOUT LIVING IN YOUR COMMON-INTEREST

 COMMUNITY?

The law requires you to provide to a prospective purchaser of your

 property, before you enter into a purchase agreement, a copy of the

 community’s governing documents, including the C, C & R’s,

 association bylaws, and rules and regulations, as well as a copy of

 this document. You are also required to provide a copy of the

 association’s current financial statement, operating budget and

 information regarding the amount of the monthly assessment for

 common expenses, including the amount set aside as reserves for

 the repair, replacement and restoration of common elements. You

 are also required to inform prospective purchasers of any

 outstanding judgments or lawsuits pending against the association

 of which you are aware. You are also required to provide a copy of

 the minutes from the most recent meeting of the homeowner’s

 association or its executive board. For more information regarding

 these requirements, see Nevada Revised Statutes 116.4103[.] and

 116.4109.

    6.  YOU HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS REGARDING

 OWNERSHIP IN A COMMON-INTEREST COMMUNITY

 THAT ARE GUARANTEED YOU BY THE STATE?

Pursuant to provisions of chapter 116 of Nevada Revised Statutes,

 you have the right:

    (a) To be notified of all meetings of the association and its

 executive board, except in cases of emergency.

    (b) To attend and speak at all meetings of the association and its

 executive board, except in some cases where the executive board is

 authorized to meet in closed, executive session.

    (c) To request a special meeting of the association upon petition

 of at least 10 percent of the homeowners.

    (d) To inspect, examine, photocopy and audit financial and other

 records of the association.

    (e) To be notified of all changes in the community’s rules and

 regulations and other actions by the association or board that affect

 you.

    7.  QUESTIONS?

Although they may be voluminous, you should take the time to read

 and understand the documents that will control your ownership of a

 property in a common-interest community. You may wish to ask

 your real estate professional, lawyer or other person with

 experience to explain anything you do not understand. You may

 also request assistance from the Ombudsman for Owners in

 Common-Interest Communities, Nevada Real Estate Division, at

 (telephone number).

 


Buyer or prospective buyer’s initials:_____

Date:_____

    Sec. 85.  NRS 38.300 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    38.300  As used in NRS 38.300 to 38.360, inclusive, unless the

 context otherwise requires:

    1.  “Assessments” means:

    (a) Any charge which an association may impose against an

 owner of residential property pursuant to a declaration of

 covenants, conditions and restrictions, including any late charges,

 interest and costs of collecting the charges; and

    (b) Any penalties, fines, fees and other charges which may be

 imposed by an association pursuant to paragraphs (j), (k) and (l) of

 subsection 1 of NRS 116.3102.

    2.  “Association” has the meaning ascribed to it in

NRS 116.110315.

    3.  “Civil action” includes an action for money damages or

 equitable relief. The term does not include an action in equity for

 injunctive relief in which there is an immediate threat of irreparable

 harm, or an action relating to the title to residential property.

    4.  “Division” means the Real Estate Division of the

 Department of Business and Industry.

    5.  “Residential property” includes, but is not limited to, real

 estate within a planned community subject to the provisions of

 chapter 116 of NRS. The term does not include commercial

 property if no portion thereof contains property which is used for

 residential purposes.

    Sec. 86.  NRS 38.330 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    38.330  1.  If all parties named in a written claim filed

 pursuant to NRS 38.320 agree to have the claim submitted for

 mediation, the parties shall reduce the agreement to writing and

 shall select a mediator from the list of mediators maintained by the

 Division pursuant to NRS 38.340. Any mediator selected must be

 available within the geographic area. If the parties fail to agree

 upon a mediator, the Division shall appoint a mediator from the list

 of mediators maintained by the Division. Any mediator appointed

 must be available within the geographic area. Unless otherwise

 provided by an agreement of the parties, mediation must be

 completed within 60 days after the parties agree to mediation. Any

 agreement obtained through mediation conducted pursuant to this

 section must, within 20 days after the conclusion of mediation, be

 reduced to writing by the mediator and a copy thereof provided to

 each party. The agreement may be enforced as any other written

 agreement. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the parties

 are responsible for all costs of mediation conducted pursuant to this

 section.


    2.  If all the parties named in the claim do not agree to

mediation, the parties shall select an arbitrator from the list of

 arbitrators maintained by the Division pursuant to NRS 38.340.

 Any arbitrator selected must be available within the geographic

 area. If the parties fail to agree upon an arbitrator, the Division shall

 appoint an arbitrator from the list maintained by the Division. Any

 arbitrator appointed must be available within the geographic area.

 Upon appointing an arbitrator, the Division shall provide the name

 of the arbitrator to each party.

    3.  The Division may provide for the payment of the fees for a

 mediator or an arbitrator selected or appointed pursuant to this

 section from the Account for [the Ombudsman for Owners in]

 Common-Interest Communities created [pursuant to] by NRS

 116.1117, to the extent that :

    (a) The Commission for Common-Interest Communities

 approves the payment; and

    (b) There is money [is] available in the account for this purpose.

    4.  Except as otherwise provided in this section and except

 where inconsistent with the provisions of NRS 38.300 to 38.360,

 inclusive, the arbitration of a claim pursuant to this section must be

 conducted in accordance with the provisions of NRS 38.231,

 38.232, 38.233, 38.236 to 38.239, inclusive, 38.242 and 38.243. At

 any time during the arbitration of a claim relating to the

 interpretation, application or enforcement of any covenants,

 conditions or restrictions applicable to residential property or any

 bylaws, rules or regulations adopted by an association, the

 arbitrator may issue an order prohibiting the action upon which the

 claim is based. An award must be made within 30 days after the

 conclusion of arbitration, unless a shorter period is agreed upon by

 the parties to the arbitration.

    5.  If all the parties have agreed to nonbinding arbitration, any

 party to the arbitration may, within 30 days after a decision and

 award have been served upon the parties, commence a civil action

 in the proper court concerning the claim which was submitted for

 arbitration. Any complaint filed in such an action must contain a

 sworn statement indicating that the issues addressed in the

 complaint have been arbitrated pursuant to the provisions of NRS

 38.300 to 38.360, inclusive. If such an action is not commenced

 within that period, any party to the arbitration may, within 1 year

 after the service of the award, apply to the proper court for a

 confirmation of the award pursuant to NRS 38.239.

    6.  If all the parties agree in writing to binding arbitration, the

 arbitration must be conducted in accordance with the provisions of

 this chapter . [38 of NRS.] An award procured pursuant to such

 arbitration may be vacated and a rehearing granted upon application

 of a party pursuant to the provisions of NRS 38.241.


    7.  If, after the conclusion of arbitration, a party:

    (a) Applies to have an award vacated and a rehearing granted

 pursuant to NRS 38.241; or

    (b) Commences a civil action based upon any claim which was

 the subject of arbitration,

the party shall, if he fails to obtain a more favorable award or

 judgment than that which was obtained in the initial arbitration, pay

 all costs and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred by the opposing

 party after the application for a rehearing was made or after the

 complaint in the civil action was filed.

    8.  Upon request by a party, the Division shall provide a

 statement to the party indicating the amount of the fees for a

 mediator or an arbitrator selected or appointed pursuant to this

 section.

    9.  As used in this section, “geographic area” means an area

 within 150 miles from any residential property or association which

 is the subject of a written claim submitted pursuant to NRS 38.320.

    Sec. 87.  NRS 78.150 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    78.150  1.  A corporation organized pursuant to the laws of

 this state shall, on or before the first day of the second month after

 the filing of its articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State,

 file with the Secretary of State a list, on a form furnished by him,

 containing:

    (a) The name of the corporation;

    (b) The file number of the corporation, if known;

    (c) The names and titles of the president, secretary, treasurer and

 of all the directors of the corporation;

    (d) The mailing or street address, either residence or business, of

 each officer and director listed, following the name of the officer or

 director;

    (e) The name and street address of the resident agent of the

 corporation; and

    (f) The signature of an officer of the corporation certifying that

 the list is true, complete and accurate.

    2.  The corporation shall annually thereafter, on or before the

 last day of the month in which the anniversary date of incorporation

 occurs in each year, file with the Secretary of State, on a form

 furnished by him, an annual list containing all of the information

 required in subsection 1.

    3.  Each list required by subsection 1 or 2 must be accompanied

 by a declaration under penalty of perjury that the corporation has

 complied with the provisions of chapter 364A of NRS.

    4.  Upon filing the list required by:

    (a) Subsection 1, the corporation shall pay to the Secretary of

 State a fee of $165.


    (b) Subsection 2, the corporation shall pay to the Secretary of

State a fee of $85.

    5.  The Secretary of State shall, 60 days before the last day for

 filing each annual list required by subsection 2, cause to be mailed

 to each corporation which is required to comply with the provisions

 of NRS 78.150 to 78.185, inclusive, and which has not become

 delinquent, a notice of the fee due pursuant to subsection 4 and a

 reminder to file the annual list required by subsection 2. Failure of

 any corporation to receive a notice or form does not excuse it from

 the penalty imposed by law.

    6.  If the list to be filed pursuant to the provisions of subsection

 1 or 2 is defective in any respect or the fee required by subsection 4

 or 8 is not paid, the Secretary of State may return the list for

 correction or payment.

    7.  An annual list for a corporation not in default which is

 received by the Secretary of State more than 60 days before its due

 date shall be deemed an amended list for the previous year and

 must be accompanied by a fee of $85 for filing. A payment

 submitted pursuant to this subsection does not satisfy the

 requirements of subsection 2 for the year to which the due date is

 applicable.

    8.  If the corporation is an association as defined in NRS

 116.110315, the Secretary of State shall not accept the filing

 required by this section unless it is accompanied by evidence of the

 payment of the fee required to be paid pursuant to NRS 116.31155

 that is provided to the association pursuant to [subsection 4 of] that

 section.

    Sec. 88.  As soon as practicable after July 1, 2003, the

 Governor shall appoint to the Commission for Common-Interest

 Communities:

    1.  One member whose term begins on October 1, 2003, and

 expires on October 1, 2004.

    2.  Two members whose terms begin on October 1, 2003, and

 expire on October 1, 2005.

    3.  Two members whose terms begin on October 1, 2003, and

 expire on October 1, 2006.

    Sec. 89.  1.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this act and

 except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, during the period

 from October 1, 2003, until January 1, 2004, the Real Estate

 Commission, the Real Estate Administrator, the Ombudsman for

 Owners in Common-Interest Communities and the Real Estate

 Division of the Department of Business and Industry shall continue

 to exercise all the powers and perform all the duties that, before

 October 1, 2003, were assigned to them pursuant to the provisions

 of chapter 116 of NRS.

    2.  During the period described in subsection 1, the

 Commission for Common-Interest Communities, the Real Estate


Administrator, the Ombudsman for Owners in Common-Interest

Communities and the Real Estate Division of the Department of

 Business and Industry may exercise any power and perform any

 duty assigned to them pursuant to the provisions of chapter 116 of

 NRS, as amended by this act, if the exercise of the power or the

 performance of the duty is necessary as an organizational,

 preparatory or preliminary measure to prepare them to carry out

 those provisions.

    Sec. 90.  1.  The State Treasurer shall transfer any balance

 remaining unexpended on October 1, 2003, in the Account for the

 Ombudsman for Owners in Common-Interest Communities in the

 State General Fund to the Account for Common-Interest

 Communities which is created by NRS 116.1117, as amended by

 this act.

    2.  On and after October 1, 2003, the State Treasurer shall treat

 any outstanding claims against the Account for the Ombudsman for

 Owners in Common-Interest Communities as claims against the

 Account for Common-Interest Communities.

    Sec. 91.  1.  Any administrative regulations adopted by an

 officer or an agency whose name has been changed or whose

 responsibilities have been transferred pursuant to the provisions of

 this act to another officer or agency remain in force until amended

 by the officer or agency to which the responsibility for the adoption

 of the regulations has been transferred.

    2.  Any contracts or other agreements entered into by an officer

 or agency whose name has been changed or whose responsibilities

 have been transferred pursuant to the provisions of this act to

 another officer or agency are binding upon the officer or agency to

 which the responsibility for the administration of the provisions of

 the contract or other agreement has been transferred. Such contracts

 and other agreements may be enforced by the officer or agency to

 which the responsibility for the enforcement of the provisions of the

 contract or other agreement has been transferred.

    3.  Any action taken by an officer or agency whose name has

 been changed or whose responsibilities have been transferred

 pursuant to the provisions of this act to another officer or agency

 remains in effect as if taken by the officer or agency to which the

 responsibility for the enforcement of such actions has been

 transferred.

    Sec. 92.  1.  Not later than July 1, 2005, an association or

 master association of a common-interest community shall have

 conducted elections of members of the executive board so that the

 terms of the members of the executive board are staggered as

 required by the provisions of NRS 116.31034, as amended by

 section 62 of this act.

    2.  As used in this section:


    (a) “Association” has the meaning ascribed to it in

NRS 116.110315.

    (b) “Common-interest community” has the meaning ascribed to

 it in NRS 116.110323.

    (c) “Executive board” has the meaning ascribed to it in

NRS 116.110345.

    (d) “Master association” has the meaning ascribed to it in

NRS 116.110358.

    Sec. 93.  1.  This section and section 88 of this act become

 effective on July 1, 2003.

    2.  Sections 1 to 23, inclusive, 38 to 69, inclusive, 72 to 87,

 inclusive, and 89 to 92, inclusive, of this act become effective on

 October 1, 2003.

    3.  Sections 24 to 37, inclusive, 70 and 71 of this act become

 effective on October 1, 2003, for the purpose of adopting

 regulations and on January 1, 2004, for all other purposes.

    4.  Sections 25 and 26 of this act expire by limitation on the

 date on which the provisions of 42 U.S.C. § 666 requiring each

 state to establish procedures under which the state has authority to

 withhold or suspend, or to restrict the use of professional,

 occupational and recreational licenses of persons who:

    (a) Have failed to comply with a subpoena or warrant relating to

 a proceeding to determine the paternity of a child or to establish or

 enforce an obligation for the support of a child; or

    (b) Are in arrears in the payment for the support of one or more

 children,

are repealed by the Congress of the United States, whichever is

 earlier.

 

20~~~~~03