Virginia Property Owners' Association Act; meetings of association boards of directors. (HB1043)

Introduced By

Del. Kelly Fowler (D-Virginia Beach) with support from co-patron Del. Marcus Simon (D-Falls Church)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Property Owners' Association Act; meetings of association boards of directors. Provides that an association member may share a recording of any portion of an association board of directors meeting that is required to be open and that neither the board of directors nor a subcommittee or other committee thereof conducting the meeting shall obstruct a member from recording or sharing a recording of the meeting. The bill also provides that during any portion of a meeting required to be open, the vote of each board member shall be announced to members and recorded in the meeting minutes. Finally, the bill requires that a summary of any comments made by association members and the issues discussed be included in the meeting minutes. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/09/2018Committee
01/09/2018Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18103515D
01/09/2018Referred to Committee on General Laws
01/16/2018Impact statement from DPB (HB1043)
01/26/2018Assigned GL sub: Subcommittee #2
02/01/2018Subcommittee recommends striking from docket (8-Y 0-N)
02/13/2018Left in General Laws

Comments

Phil Grandfield writes:

I disagree with allowing permission of my voice and image captured during a Homeowner's Association meeting to be "shared with anyone" or posted on social media. The existing bill stipulates minutes must be accurately recorded and made available to Association members. Done properly, the existing bill meets the need.

I object to the audio and visual recording of a Homeowner's Association meeting as an invasion of my privacy. Such an invasion of privacy will have the negative effect of limiting the involvement of neighbors interested in the running of their community.

Bob S. writes:

I have personal experience with my hoa board's misinterpretation of the existing statue and tried to limit my ability to record a meeting. they tried to get me to place my handycam, and small digital recorder, in a far corner of the room, in essence, rendering the recording unusable. They went so far as to call the police to get me to do it. It was originally written for large hoa's where tv crews came in with large cameras, bulky wires, and microphones. Today's technology has advance and by no means does any of the equipment (smart phones, laptops, small digital recorders)'interfere' with the proceedings of a meeting.
Privacy can be a concern, but you can't leave your home today, go to any store, gas station, or atm, and expect that your image will Not be recorded. If any member takes the time and makes the effort to attend their association meeting and acts with appropriate decorum, why worry who sees you?