HB0271 Engrossed LRB096 04007 ASK 14045 b

1     AN ACT concerning professions and occupations.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Community Association Manager Act.
 
6     Section 5. Legislative intent. It is the intent of the
7 General Assembly that this Act provide for the regulation of
8 managers of community associations, ensure that those who hold
9 themselves out as possessing professional qualifications to
10 engage in the provision of community association management
11 services are, in fact, qualified to render management services
12 of a professional nature, and provide for the maintenance of
13 high standards of professional conduct by those licensed as
14 community association managers.
 
15     Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
16     "Commission" means the Community Association Manager
17 Regulatory Commission.
18     "Community association" means an association in which
19 membership is a condition of ownership or shareholder interest
20 of a unit in a condominium, cooperative, townhouse, villa, or
21 other residential unit which is part of a residential
22 development plan and that is authorized to impose an

 

 

HB0271 Engrossed - 2 - LRB096 04007 ASK 14045 b

1 assessment, rents, or other costs that may become a lien on the
2 unit or lot.
3     "Community association manager" means an individual who
4 administers for remuneration the financial, administrative,
5 maintenance, or other duties for the community association,
6 including the following services: (A) collecting, controlling
7 or disbursing funds of the community association or having the
8 authority to do so; (B) preparing budgets or other financial
9 documents for the community association; (C) assisting in the
10 conduct of community association meetings; (D) maintaining
11 association records; and (E) administrating association
12 contracts, as stated in the declaration, by-laws, proprietary
13 lease, declaration of covenants, or other governing document of
14 the community association. "Community association manager"
15 does not mean support staff, including, but not limited to
16 bookkeepers, administrative assistants, secretaries, property
17 inspectors, or customer service representatives.
18     "Department" means the Department of Financial and
19 Professional Regulation.
20     "License" means the license issued to a person to act as a
21 community association manager under this Act.
22     "Licensee" means a person to whom a license has been issued
23 under this Act.
 
24     Section 15. License required. No person may provide
25 services as a community association manager to community

 

 

HB0271 Engrossed - 3 - LRB096 04007 ASK 14045 b

1 associations in this State after January 1, 2011, unless he or
2 she holds a current and valid license issued by the Department
3 or is otherwise exempt from licensure under this Act.
 
4     Section 20. Exemptions; distinction from real estate
5 license.
6     (a) This Act does not apply to any of the following:
7         (1) Any director, officer, or member of a community
8     association providing one or more of the services of a
9     community association manager without compensation for
10     such services to the association.
11         (2) Any person providing one or more of the services of
12     a community association manager to a community association
13     of 10 units or less.
14         (3) A licensed attorney acting solely as an incident to
15     the practice of law.
16         (4) A person acting as a receiver, trustee in
17     bankruptcy, administrator, executor, or guardian acting
18     under a court order or under the authority of a will or of
19     a trust instrument.
20     (b) A licensed community association manager may not
21 perform or engage in any activities for which a real estate
22 broker or real estate salesperson's license is required under
23 the Real Estate License Act of 2000, unless he or she also
24 possesses a current license under the Real Estate License Act
25 of 2000 and is providing those services as provided for in that

 

 

HB0271 Engrossed - 4 - LRB096 04007 ASK 14045 b

1 Act and the applicable rules.
 
2     Section 25. Community Association Manager Regulatory
3 Commission.
4     (a) There is hereby created the Community Association
5 Manager Regulatory Commission, which shall consist of 7 members
6 appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the
7 Senate. All members must be residents of the State and must
8 have resided in the State for at least 5 years immediately
9 preceding the date of appointment. Five members of the
10 Commission must be licensees under this Act, except that,
11 initially, these members must meet the qualifications for
12 licensure and must obtain a license within 6 months after the
13 rules to administer this Act are adopted by the Department. Two
14 members of the Commission shall be owners or shareholders of a
15 unit in a community association at the time of appointment who
16 are not licensees under this Act.
17     (b) Commission members shall serve for terms of 5 years,
18 except that, initially, 4 members shall serve for 5 years and 3
19 members shall serve for 3 years. All members shall serve until
20 his or her successor is appointed and qualified. All vacancies
21 shall be filled in like manner for the unexpired term. The
22 Governor shall remove from the Commission any member whose
23 license has become void or has been revoked or suspended and
24 may remove any member of the Commission for neglect of duty,
25 misconduct, or incompetence.

 

 

HB0271 Engrossed - 5 - LRB096 04007 ASK 14045 b

1     (c) The presence of two-thirds of the full Commission shall
2 constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Action
3 shall only be taken upon the majority vote of a quorum, except
4 regarding disciplinary actions, which shall require a
5 unanimous vote of a quorum.
6     (d) Any member of the Commission, any attorney providing
7 advice to the Commission, any person acting as a consultant to
8 the Commission, and any witness testifying in a proceeding
9 authorized under this Act, excluding the party making the
10 complaint, shall be immune from liability in any civil action
11 brought against him or her for acts occurring while acting in
12 his or her capacity as a Commission member, consultant, or
13 witness, respectively, unless the conduct that gave rise to the
14 action was willful or wanton misconduct.
 
15     Section 30. Powers and duties of the Department. The
16 Department shall exercise the powers and duties prescribed by
17 the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois for the
18 administration of licensure Acts and shall exercise other
19 powers and duties necessary for effectuating the purposes of
20 this Act.
 
21     Section 35. Powers and duties of the Commission. The
22 Commission may perform each of the following:
23         (1) Elect annually from among its members a chairperson
24     and prescribe the duties of such office.

 

 

HB0271 Engrossed - 6 - LRB096 04007 ASK 14045 b

1         (2) Assist the Department in the following matters:
2             (A) enforcing the rules of professional conduct as
3         stated under this Act;
4             (B) developing appropriate administrative
5         enforcement procedures for violations of the rules of
6         professional conduct;
7             (C) providing forms and receiving applications for
8         licensure;
9             (D) creating examinations to be given to
10         applicants;
11             (E) issuing licenses and renewals as provided
12         under this Act;
13             (F) imposing disciplinary actions in the manner
14         prescribed under this Act; and
15             (G) determining the criteria to be included in the
16         State examination and to administer or cause to be
17         administered the State examination.
 
18     Section 40. Qualifications.
19     (a) No person shall be qualified for licensure under this
20 Act, unless he or she meets all of the following
21 qualifications:
22         (1) He or she is at least 21 years of age.
23         (2) He or she is a citizen or legal permanent resident
24     of the United States.
25         (3) He or she has not been convicted of forgery,

 

 

HB0271 Engrossed - 7 - LRB096 04007 ASK 14045 b

1     embezzlement, obtaining money under false pretenses,
2     larceny, extortion, conspiracy to defraud, or any other
3     similar offense, or a felony involving moral turpitude, in
4     any court of competent jurisdiction in this State or any
5     other state, district, or territory of the United States or
6     of a foreign country, unless the Board waives this
7     qualification after taking into account the nature of the
8     applicant's conduct, any aggravating or extenuating
9     circumstances, the time elapsed since the conviction, the
10     rehabilitation or restitution performed by the applicant,
11     and any other factors that the Board deems relevant.
12         (4) He or she provides satisfactory evidence to the
13     Commission of having completed at least 20 classroom hours
14     in community association management courses approved by
15     the Commission.
16         (5) He or she has successfully completed an examination
17     covering the fundamentals of community association
18     management, including the Condominium Property Act, the
19     General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986, and any
20     other statutes that the Commission deems appropriate as it
21     relates to community association management.
22         (6) He or she has not had a license suspended or
23     revoked in any jurisdiction as a community association
24     manager; or the comparable category of Licensee, or been
25     convicted of any offense in any jurisdiction arising from
26     actions as a community association manager.

 

 

HB0271 Engrossed - 8 - LRB096 04007 ASK 14045 b

1     (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of
2 this Section:
3         (1) the education requirement to qualify for the
4     licensing examination does not apply to persons holding a
5     real estate broker or real estate salesperson license
6     issued under the Real Estate License Act of 2000; and
7         (2) the examination and initial education requirement
8     shall not apply to persons who, within 6 months after the
9     rules to administer this Act are adopted by the Department,
10     apply for a license by providing satisfactory evidence to
11     the Department and the Commission of qualifying experience
12     or education, including without limitation evidence that
13     he or she has (A) practiced community association
14     management for a period of 5 years or (B) achieved a
15     designation awarded by recognized community association
16     management organizations in the State.
 
17     Section 45. Examination.
18     (a) Every person who makes application for initial
19 licensure as a community association manager shall personally
20 take and achieve a passing score on a nationally prepared and
21 administered standardized examination for the community
22 association management profession. The standardized
23 examination must be developed according to the basic principles
24 of professional testing standards utilizing psychometric
25 measurement. The examination shall be prepared by an

 

 

HB0271 Engrossed - 9 - LRB096 04007 ASK 14045 b

1 independent testing service designated by the Commission using
2 standards set forth by the National Organization for Competency
3 Assurances and shall be approved by the Department.
4     (b) The designated independent testing service shall
5 conduct the examinations at such times and places as the
6 Commission shall approve.
7     (c) An applicant shall be eligible to take the examination
8 only after successfully completing the education requirements
9 set forth in this Act and attaining the minimum age required
10 under this Act.
 
11     Section 50. Fidelity insurance; segregation of accounts.
12     (a) A licensee or the firm with which the licensee is
13 employed shall not have access to and disburse funds of a
14 community association unless each of the following conditions
15 occur:
16         (1) There is fidelity insurance in place to insure
17     against loss for theft of community association funds.
18         (2) The fidelity insurance coverage is not less than
19     all moneys under the limit of the licensee or the firm of
20     the licensee for the association.
21         (3) The fidelity insurance covers the licensee and all
22     partners, officers, and employees of the firm with whom the
23     licensee is employed during the term of the insurance
24     coverage, as well as the association officers, directors,
25     and employees.

 

 

HB0271 Engrossed - 10 - LRB096 04007 ASK 14045 b

1         (4) The insurance company issuing the fidelity
2     insurance may not cancel or refuse to renew the bond
3     without giving at least 10 days prior written notice.
4         (5) Unless an agreement between the community
5     association and the licensee or a management company
6     provides to the contrary, the association secures and pays
7     for the fidelity insurance.
8 The community association manager must be named as an
9 additional insured party on the association policy.
10     (b) A licensee who provides community association
11 management services for more than one community association
12 shall maintain separate, segregated accounts for each
13 community association or, with the consent of the association,
14 combine the accounts of one or more associations, but in that
15 event, separately account for the funds of each association.
16 The funds shall not, in any event, be commingled with the
17 licensee's or firm's funds. The maintenance of such accounts by
18 the licensee shall be custodial, and such accounts shall be in
19 the name of the respective community association or firm as the
20 agent for the association.
21     (c) The licensee or the firm of the licensee shall also
22 obtain the appropriate general liability and errors and
23 omissions insurance to cover any losses or claims against
24 community association clients.
 
25     Section 55. Disciplinary action.

 

 

HB0271 Engrossed - 11 - LRB096 04007 ASK 14045 b

1     (a) Disciplinary action recommended by the Commission and
2 imposed by the Department may consist of one or more of the
3 following:
4         (1) The revocation or suspension of a license.
5         (2) The refusal to renew or reinstate a license.
6         (3) The placement of the community association manager
7     on probation for a reasonable period of time.
8         (4) The issuance of a reprimand or a censor to the
9     community association manager.
10         (5) The imposition of a reasonable fine.
11     (b) A community association manager is subject to
12 disciplinary action if the community association manager
13 commits any of the following:
14         (1) A felony or offense involving moral turpitude or
15     unprofessional conduct.
16         (2) Any violation of this Act or the provisions of an
17     order of the Department or an agreement with the
18     Department.
19         (3) Failure to cooperate with the Commission in the
20     investigation of a complaint, including without limitation
21     failure to produce any document, book, or record in the
22     possession or control of the community association manager
23     after the Commission or the Department requests production
24     of such document, book, or record in the course of an
25     investigation of a complaint.
 

 

 

HB0271 Engrossed - 12 - LRB096 04007 ASK 14045 b

1     Section 60. Fees.
2     (a) All fees shall be deposited into the Community
3 Association Manager Licensing Fund, which is hereby created as
4 a special fund in the State treasury.
5     (b) A fee not to exceed $100 shall be paid for each
6 application made to the Department, whether the same is an
7 application for examination or reexamination or for issuance,
8 renewal, reactivation, or reinstatement of a license or any
9 other application requiring formal action or consideration by
10 the Department.
11     (c) All fees shall be paid to the Department or its
12 authorized representative and shall be paid by the applicant in
13 advance of examination dates or of any action by the
14 Department.
15     (d) Fees imposed under this Act shall not be increased
16 within a given year by more than a percentage that exceeds the
17 percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for
18 All Urban Consumers for the Midwest Area for all items
19 published by the U.S. Department of Labor for the 12 months
20 ending on the previous December 31.
 
21     Section 65. Licensure; renewal; reactivation;
22 reinstatement.
23     (a) All licenses issued under this Act shall expire every 4
24 years on a date established by the Department, but may be
25 renewed upon the payment of the renewal fee authorized by this

 

 

HB0271 Engrossed - 13 - LRB096 04007 ASK 14045 b

1 Section and satisfactory completion of mandatory continuing
2 education.
3     (b) Any person may reactivate an expired license within a
4 one-year grace period after the date of its expiration by
5 making written application for reactivation and paying a
6 reactivation fee imposed by the Department.
7     (c) In the event that a person fails to reactivate his or
8 her license within the one-year grace period specified in this
9 Section, a person may reinstate such license within 4 years
10 after the date of the expiration of the grace period by making
11 written application for reinstatement, paying a reinstatement
12 fee, and providing proof to the Department of his or her
13 continued professional competence as required by the
14 Department. Thereafter, a person shall not be reinstated unless
15 he or she fulfills and meets the requirements and conditions
16 required of an applicant applying for the issuance of an
17 original license, which requirements shall include retaking
18 and passing the licensure examination.
19     (d) Any person who performs community association
20 management services after the expiration of his or her license
21 shall be practicing in violation of this Act and be subject to
22 any of the sanctions authorized under this Act. The Department
23 may refuse to reactivate or reinstate any expired license for
24 conduct that constitutes a violation of any provision of this
25 Act.
 

 

 

HB0271 Engrossed - 14 - LRB096 04007 ASK 14045 b

1     Section 70. Continuing education.
2     (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, each
3 person who applies for renewal of his or her license as a
4 community association manager must successfully complete
5 continuing education courses approved by the Commission at the
6 rate of 4 hours per year or its equivalent or 16 hours over a 4
7 year period. No license may be renewed except upon the
8 successful completion of the required courses or their
9 equivalent as determined by the Department with the
10 recommendation of the Commission.
11     (b) The continuing education requirement for community
12 association managers shall consist of a curriculum established
13 by the Commission. In establishing the curriculum, the
14 Commission shall consider subjects that will educate licensees
15 on recent changes in applicable laws and new laws and refresh
16 the licensee in areas of community association management that
17 the Commission deems appropriate, and any other areas that the
18 Commission deems timely and applicable in order to prevent
19 violations of this Act and to protect the public.
20     (c) Individuals who complete authorized courses in the core
21 curriculum or elective courses to renew a real estate brokerage
22 or real estate salespersons license shall receive credit for
23 each course to calculate the continuing education requirement
24 to renew a community association manager license.
25     (d) The curriculum developed by the Commission shall
26 qualify as elective courses required to achieve or renew a real

 

 

HB0271 Engrossed - 15 - LRB096 04007 ASK 14045 b

1 estate brokerage or real estate salesperson's license under the
2 Real Estate License Act.
 
3     Section 80. Rulemaking conditions. Rulemaking authority to
4 implement this Act, if any, is conditioned on the rules being
5 adopted in accordance with all provisions of the Illinois
6 Administrative Procedure Act and all rules and procedures of
7 the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; any purported rule
8 not so adopted, for whatever reason, is unauthorized.
 
9     Section 900. The Regulatory Sunset Act is amended by adding
10 Section 4.31 as follows:
 
11     (5 ILCS 80/4.31 new)
12     Sec. 4.31. Act repealed on January 1, 2021. The following
13 Act is repealed on January 1, 2021:
14     The Community Association Manager Act.
 
15     Section 905. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
16 Section 5.719 as follows:
 
17     (30 ILCS 105/5.719 new)
18     Sec. 5.719. The Community Association Manager Licensing
19 Fund.
 
20     (765 ILCS 605/18.7 rep.)

 

 

HB0271 Engrossed - 16 - LRB096 04007 ASK 14045 b

1     Section 910. The Condominium Property Act is amended by
2 repealing Section 18.7.
 
3     Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect
4 immediately.