HB3955 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 06280 AJO 16363 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB3955

Introduced 2/26/2009, by Rep. Harry Osterman

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

765 ILCS 605/2	from Ch. 30, par. 302
765 ILCS 605/9	from Ch. 30, par. 309
765 ILCS 605/18	from Ch. 30, par. 318
765 ILCS 605/18.4	from Ch. 30, par. 318.4
765 ILCS 605/18.5	from Ch. 30, par. 318.5
765 ILCS 605/22	from Ch. 30, par. 322
765 ILCS 605/22.1	from Ch. 30, par. 322.1
765 ILCS 605/33 new

Amends the Condominium Property Act. Provides that Board of Managers meeting is a gathering of a quorum of Board Members to conduct business means acting or voting, not simple discussion (instead of to conduct business). Provides that upon filing any action to foreclose a lien on a condominium unit, the mortgagee shall be responsible for all assessments accruing beginning with the month after the month in which the action was filed. Provides that a unit owner who prevails in a Civil action brought to enforce the Act or the condominium instruments may recover damages of at least $1000, which shall be trebled by the court, if there is a showing by clear and convincing evidence that the wrongful actions complained of were willful and wanton and without legal justification, provided that the unit owner obtained a written opinion from an Illinois attorney that the owner had a colorable claim and the owner gave notice of the intent to file the action at least 60 days before filing. Provides a form of financial questions that a unit owner may pose to an association. Provides for a developer to place in escrow an amount equal to 20% of the aggregate initial sale prices of all units to address common element deficiencies. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning civil law.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Condominium Property Act is amended by changing Sections 2, 9, 18, 18.4, 18.5, 22, and 22.1 and by adding Section 33 as follows:

(765 ILCS 605/2) (from Ch. 30, par. 302)

Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "Declaration" means the instrument by which the property is submitted to the provisions of this Act, as hereinafter provided, and such declaration as from time to time amended.

(b) "Parcel" means the lot or lots, tract or tracts of land, described in the declaration, submitted to the provisions of this Act.

(c) "Property" means all the land, property and space comprising the parcel, all improvements and structures erected, constructed or contained therein or thereon, including the building and all easements, rights and appurtenances belonging thereto, and all fixtures and equipment intended for the mutual use, benefit or enjoyment of the unit owners, submitted to the provisions of this Act.

(d) "Unit" means a part of the property designed and intended for any type of independent use.

(e) "Common Elements" means all portions of the property except the units, including limited common elements unless otherwise specified.

(f) "Person" means a natural individual, corporation, partnership, trustee or other legal entity capable of holding title to real property.

(g) "Unit Owner" means the person or persons whose estates or interests, individually or collectively, aggregate fee simple absolute ownership of a unit, or, in the case of a leasehold condominium, the lessee or lessees of a unit whose leasehold ownership of the unit expires simultaneously with the lease described in item (x) of this Section.

(h) "Majority" or "majority of the unit owners" means the owners of more than 50% in the aggregate in interest of the undivided ownership of the common elements. Any specified percentage of the unit owners means such percentage in the aggregate in interest of such undivided ownership. "Majority" or "majority of the members of the board of managers" means more than 50% of the total number of persons constituting such board pursuant to the bylaws. Any specified percentage of the members of the board of managers means that percentage of the total number of persons constituting such board pursuant to the bylaws.

(i) "Plat" means a plat or plats of survey of the parcel and of all units in the property submitted to the provisions of this Act, which may consist of a three-dimensional horizontal and vertical delineation of all such units.

(j) "Record" means to record in the office of the recorder or, whenever required, to file in the office of the Registrar of Titles of the county wherein the property is located.

(k) "Conversion Condominium" means a property which contains structures, excepting those newly constructed and intended for condominium ownership, which are, or have previously been, wholly or partially occupied before recording of condominium instruments by persons other than those who have contracted for the purchase of condominiums.

(l) "Condominium Instruments" means all documents and authorized amendments thereto recorded pursuant to the provisions of the Act, including the declaration, bylaws and plat.

(m) "Common Expenses" means the proposed or actual expenses affecting the property, including reserves, if any, lawfully assessed by the Board of Managers of the Unit Owner's Association.

(n) "Reserves" means those sums paid by unit owners which are separately maintained by the board of managers for purposes specified by the board of managers or the condominium instruments.

(o) "Unit Owners' Association" or "Association" means the association of all the unit owners, acting pursuant to bylaws through its duly elected board of managers.

(p) "Purchaser" means any person or persons other than the Developer who purchase a unit in a bona fide transaction for value.

(q) "Developer" means any person who submits property legally or equitably owned in fee simple by the developer, or leased to the developer under a lease described in item (x) of this Section, to the provisions of this Act, or any person who offers units legally or equitably owned in fee simple by the developer, or leased to the developer under a lease described in item (x) of this Section, for sale in the ordinary course of such person's business, including any successor or successors to such developers' entire interest in the property other than the purchaser of an individual unit.

(r) "Add-on Condominium" means a property to which additional property may be added in accordance with condominium instruments and this Act.

(s) "Limited Common Elements" means a portion of the common elements so designated in the declaration as being reserved for the use of a certain unit or units to the exclusion of other units, including but not limited to balconies, terraces, patios and parking spaces or facilities.

(t) "Building" means all structures, attached or unattached, containing one or more units.

(u) "Master Association" means an organization described in Section 18.5 whether or not it is also an association described in Section 18.3.

(v) "Developer Control" means such control at a time prior to the election of the Board of Managers provided for in Section 18.2(b) of this Act.

(w) "Meeting of Board of Managers or Board of Master Association" means any gathering of a quorum of the members of the Board of Managers or Board of the Master Association held for the purpose of conducting board business, provided that "conducting board business" means proposing, making or taking action or voting on matters, but not simply or exclusively discussing matters.

(x) "Leasehold Condominium" means a property submitted to the provisions of this Act which is subject to a lease, the expiration or termination of which would terminate the condominium and the lessor of which is (i) exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (ii) a limited liability company whose sole member is exempt from taxation under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or (iii) a Public Housing Authority created pursuant to the Housing Authorities Act that is located in a municipality having a population in excess of 1,000,000 inhabitants.

(Source: P.A. 93-474, eff. 8-8-03.)

(765 ILCS 605/9) (from Ch. 30, par. 309)

Sec. 9. Sharing of expenses - Lien for nonpayment.

(a) All common expenses incurred or accrued prior to the first conveyance of a unit shall be paid by the developer, and during this period no common expense assessment shall be payable to the association. It shall be the duty of each unit owner including the developer to pay his proportionate share of the common expenses commencing with the first conveyance. The proportionate share shall be in the same ratio as his percentage of ownership in the common elements set forth in the declaration.

(b) The condominium instruments may provide that common expenses for insurance premiums be assessed on a basis reflecting increased charges for coverage on certain units.

(c) Budget and reserves.

(1) The board of managers shall prepare and distribute to all unit owners a detailed proposed annual budget, setting forth with particularity all anticipated common expenses by category as well as all anticipated assessments and other income. The initial budget and common expense assessment based thereon shall be adopted prior to the conveyance of any unit. The budget shall also set forth each unit owner's proposed common expense assessment.

(2) All budgets adopted by a board of managers on or after July 1, 1990 shall provide for reasonable reserves for capital expenditures and deferred maintenance for repair or replacement of the common elements. To determine the amount of reserves appropriate for an association, the board of managers shall take into consideration the following: (i) the repair and replacement cost, and the estimated useful life, of the property which the association is obligated to maintain, including but not limited to structural and mechanical components, surfaces of the buildings and common elements, and energy systems and equipment; (ii) the current and anticipated return on investment of association funds; (iii) any independent professional reserve study which the association may obtain; (iv) the financial impact on unit owners, and the market value of the condominium units, of any assessment increase needed to fund reserves; and (v) the ability of the association to obtain financing or refinancing.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (c), an association without a reserve requirement in its condominium instruments may elect to waive in whole or in part the reserve requirements of this Section by a vote of 2/3 of the total votes of the association. Any association having elected under this paragraph (3) to waive the provisions of subsection (c) may by a vote of 2/3 of the total votes of the association elect to again be governed by the requirements of subsection (c).

(4) In the event that an association elects to waive all or part of the reserve requirements of this Section, that fact must be disclosed after the meeting at which the waiver occurs by the association in the financial statements of the association and, highlighted in bold print, in the response to any request of a prospective purchaser for the information prescribed under Section 22.1; and no member of the board of managers or the managing agent of the association shall be liable, and no cause of action may be brought for damages against these parties, for the lack or inadequacy of reserve funds in the association budget.

(d) (Blank).

(e) The condominium instruments may provide for the assessment, in connection with expenditures for the limited common elements, of only those units to which the limited common elements are assigned.

(f) Payment of any assessment shall be in amounts and at times determined by the board of managers.

(g) Lien.

(1) If any unit owner shall fail or refuse to make any payment of the common expenses or the amount of any unpaid fine when due, the amount thereof together with any interest, late charges, reasonable attorney fees incurred enforcing the covenants of the condominium instruments, rules and regulations of the board of managers, or any applicable statute or ordinance, and costs of collections shall constitute a lien on the interest of the unit owner in the property prior to all other liens and encumbrances, recorded or unrecorded, except only (a) taxes, special assessments and special taxes theretofore or thereafter levied by any political subdivision or municipal corporation of this State and other State or federal taxes which by law are a lien on the interest of the unit owner prior to preexisting recorded encumbrances thereon and (b) encumbrances on the interest of the unit owner recorded prior to the date of such failure or refusal which by law would be a lien thereon prior to subsequently recorded encumbrances. Any action brought to extinguish the lien of the association shall include the association as a party.

(2) With respect to encumbrances executed prior to August 30, 1984 or encumbrances executed subsequent to August 30, 1984 which are neither bonafide first mortgages nor trust deeds and which encumbrances contain a statement of a mailing address in the State of Illinois where notice may be mailed to the encumbrancer thereunder, if and whenever and as often as the manager or board of managers shall send, by United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to any such encumbrancer at the mailing address set forth in the recorded encumbrance a statement of the amounts and due dates of the unpaid common expenses with respect to the encumbered unit, then, unless otherwise provided in the declaration or bylaws, the prior recorded encumbrance shall be subject to the lien of all unpaid common expenses with respect to the unit which become due and payable within a period of 90 days after the date of mailing of each such notice.

(3) The purchaser of a condominium unit at a judicial foreclosure sale, or a mortgagee who receives title to a unit by deed in lieu of foreclosure or judgment by common law strict foreclosure or otherwise takes possession pursuant to court order under the Illinois Mortgage Foreclosure Law, shall have the duty to pay the unit's proportionate share of the common expenses for the unit assessed from and after the first day of the month after the date of the judicial foreclosure sale, delivery of the deed in lieu of foreclosure, entry of a judgment in common law strict foreclosure, or taking of possession pursuant to such court order. Such payment confirms the extinguishment of any lien created pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection (g) by virtue of the failure or refusal of a prior unit owner to make payment of common expenses, where the judicial foreclosure sale has been confirmed by order of the court, a deed in lieu thereof has been accepted by the lender, or a consent judgment has been entered by the court.

(4) After filing an action to foreclose its lien on a condominium unit, the mortgagee shall be responsible for all assessments accruing from and after the first day of the month after the filing of the action up to the date of the judicial foreclosure sale, and unless the purchaser at the judicial foreclosure sale is a person other than the mortgagee, the mortgagee's responsibility for assessments shall continue until title to the unit is transferred. The purchaser of a condominium unit at a judicial foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, who takes possession of a condominium unit pursuant to a court order or a purchaser who acquires title from a mortgagee shall have the duty to pay the proportionate share, if any, of the common expenses for the unit which would have become due in the absence of any assessment acceleration during the 6 months immediately preceding institution of an action to enforce the collection of assessments, and which remain unpaid by the owner during whose possession the assessments accrued. If the outstanding assessments are paid at any time during any action to enforce the collection of assessments, the purchaser shall have no obligation to pay any assessments which accrued before he or she acquired title.

(5) The notice of sale of a condominium unit under subsection (c) of Section 15-1507 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall state that the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g)(1) and (g)(4) of Section 9 of this Act. The statement of assessment account issued by the association to a unit owner under subsection (i) of Section 18 of this Act, and the disclosure statement issued to a prospective purchaser under Section 22.1 of this Act, shall state the amount of the assessments and the legal fees, if any, required by subdivisions (g)(1) and (g)(4) of Section 9 of this Act.

(h) A lien for common expenses shall be in favor of the members of the board of managers and their successors in office and shall be for the benefit of all other unit owners. Notice of the lien may be recorded by the board of managers, or if the developer is the manager or has a majority of seats on the board of managers and the manager or board of managers fails to do so, any unit owner may record notice of the lien. Upon the recording of such notice the lien may be foreclosed by an action brought in the name of the board of managers in the same manner as a mortgage of real property.

(i) Unless otherwise provided in the declaration, the members of the board of managers and their successors in office, acting on behalf of the other unit owners, shall have the power to bid on the interest so foreclosed at the foreclosure sale, and to acquire and hold, lease, mortgage and convey it.

(j) Any encumbrancer may from time to time request in writing a written statement from the manager or board of managers setting forth the unpaid common expenses with respect to the unit covered by his encumbrance. Unless the request is complied with within 20 days, all unpaid common expenses which become due prior to the date of the making of such request shall be subordinate to the lien of the encumbrance. Any encumbrancer holding a lien on a unit may pay any unpaid common expenses payable with respect to the unit, and upon payment the encumbrancer shall have a lien on the unit for the amounts paid at the same rank as the lien of his encumbrance.

(k) Nothing in Public Act 83-1271 is intended to change the lien priorities of any encumbrance created prior to August 30, 1984.

(Source: P.A. 94-1049, eff. 1-1-07.)

(765 ILCS 605/18) (from Ch. 30, par. 318)

Sec. 18. Contents of bylaws. The bylaws shall provide for at least the following:

(a) (1) The election from among the unit owners of a board of managers, the number of persons constituting such board, and that the terms of at least one-third of the members of the board, shall expire annually and that all members of the board shall be elected at large. If there are multiple owners of a single unit, only one of the multiple owners shall be eligible to serve as a member of the board at any one time.

(2) the powers and duties of the board;

(3) the compensation, if any, of the members of the board;

(4) the method of removal from office of members of the board;

(5) that the board may engage the services of a manager or managing agent;

(6) that each unit owner shall receive, at least 30 days prior to the adoption thereof by the board of managers, a copy of the proposed annual budget together with an indication of which portions are intended for reserves, capital expenditures or repairs or payment of real estate taxes;

(7) that the board of managers shall annually make available within 120 days of close of the fiscal year supply to all unit owners an itemized accounting (for associations with 30 or more units, the accounting shall include a balance sheet and income statement) of the common expenses for the preceding year actually incurred or paid, together with an indication of which portions were for reserves, capital expenditures or repairs or payment of real estate taxes and with a tabulation of the amounts collected pursuant to the budget or assessment, and showing the net excess or deficit of income over expenditures plus reserves;

(8) (i) that each unit owner shall receive notice, in the same manner as is provided in this Act for membership meetings, of any meeting of the board of managers concerning the adoption of the proposed annual budget and regular assessments pursuant thereto or to adopt a separate (special) assessment, (ii) that except as provided in subsection (iv) below, if an adopted budget or any separate assessment adopted by the board would result in the sum of all regular and separate assessments payable in the current fiscal year exceeding 115% of the sum of all regular and separate assessments payable during the preceding fiscal year, the board of managers, upon written petition by unit owners with 20 percent of the votes of the association delivered to the board within 14 days of the board action, shall call a meeting of the unit owners within 30 days of the date of delivery of the petition to consider the budget or separate assessment; unless a majority of the total votes of the unit owners are cast at the meeting to reject the budget or separate assessment, it is ratified, (iii) that any common expense not set forth in the budget or any increase in assessments over the amount adopted in the budget shall be separately assessed against all unit owners, (iv) that separate assessments for expenditures relating to emergencies or mandated by law may be adopted by the board of managers without being subject to unit owner approval or the provisions of item (ii) above or item (v) below. As used herein, "emergency" means an immediate danger to the structural integrity of the common elements or to the life, health, safety or property of the unit owners, (v) that assessments for additions and alterations to the common elements or to association-owned property not included in the adopted annual budget, shall be separately assessed and are subject to approval of two-thirds of the total votes of all unit owners, (vi) that the board of managers may adopt separate assessments payable over more than one fiscal year. With respect to multi-year assessments not governed by items (iv) and (v), the entire amount of the multi-year assessment shall be deemed considered and authorized in the first fiscal year in which the assessment is approved;

(9) that meetings of the board of managers shall be open to any unit owner, except for the portion of any meeting held (i) to discuss litigation when an action against or on behalf of the particular association has been filed and is pending in a court or administrative tribunal, or when the board of managers finds that such an action is probable or imminent, (ii) to consider information regarding appointment, employment or dismissal of an employee, or (iii) to discuss violations of rules and regulations of the association or a unit owner's unpaid share of common expenses; that any vote on these matters shall be taken at a meeting or portion thereof open to any unit owner; that any unit owner may record the proceedings at meetings or portions thereof required to be open by this Act by tape, film or other means; that the board may prescribe reasonable rules and regulations to govern the right to make such recordings, that notice of such meetings shall be mailed or delivered at least 48 hours prior thereto, unless a written waiver of such notice is signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice pursuant to the declaration, bylaws, other condominium instrument, or provision of law other than this subsection before the meeting is convened, and that copies of notices of meetings of the board of managers shall be posted in entranceways, elevators, or other conspicuous places in the condominium at least 48 hours prior to the meeting of the board of managers except where there is no common entranceway for 7 or more units, the board of managers may designate one or more locations in the proximity of these units where the notices of meetings shall be posted;

(10) that the board shall meet at least 4 times annually;

(11) that no member of the board or officer shall be elected for a term of more than 2 years, but that officers and board members may succeed themselves;

(12) the designation of an officer to mail and receive all notices and execute amendments to condominium instruments as provided for in this Act and in the condominium instruments;

(13) the method of filling vacancies on the board which shall include authority for the remaining members of the board to fill the vacancy by two-thirds vote until the next annual meeting of unit owners or for a period terminating no later than 30 days following the filing of a petition signed by unit owners holding 20% of the votes of the association requesting a meeting of the unit owners to fill the vacancy for the balance of the term, and that a meeting of the unit owners shall be called for purposes of filling a vacancy on the board no later than 30 days following the filing of a petition signed by unit owners holding 20% of the votes of the association requesting such a meeting, and the method of filling vacancies among the officers that shall include the authority for the members of the board to fill the vacancy for the unexpired portion of the term;

(14) what percentage of the board of managers, if other than a majority, shall constitute a quorum;

(15) provisions concerning notice of board meetings to members of the board;

(16) the board of managers may not enter into a contract with a current board member or with a corporation or partnership in which a board member or a member of the board member's immediate family has 25% or more interest, unless notice of intent to enter the contract is given to unit owners within 20 days after a decision is made to enter into the contract and the unit owners are afforded an opportunity by filing a petition, signed by 20% of the unit owners, for an election to approve or disapprove the contract; such petition shall be filed within 20 days after such notice and such election shall be held within 30 days after filing the petition; for purposes of this subsection, a board member's immediate family means the board member's spouse, parents, and children;

(17) that the board of managers may disseminate to unit owners biographical and background information about candidates for election to the board if (i) reasonable efforts to identify all candidates are made and all candidates are given an opportunity to include biographical and background information in the information to be disseminated; and (ii) the board does not express a preference in favor of any candidate;

(18) any proxy distributed for board elections by the board of managers gives unit owners the opportunity to designate any person as the proxy holder, and gives the unit owner the opportunity to express a preference for any of the known candidates for the board or to write in a name;

(19) that special meetings of the board of managers can be called by the president or 25% of the members of the board; and

(20) that the board of managers may establish and maintain a system of master metering of public utility services and collect payments in connection therewith, subject to the requirements of the Tenant Utility Payment Disclosure Act.

(b) (1) What percentage of the unit owners, if other than 20%, shall constitute a quorum provided that, for condominiums with 20 or more units, the percentage of unit owners constituting a quorum shall be 20% unless the unit owners holding a majority of the percentage interest in the association provide for a higher percentage;

(2) that the association shall have one class of membership;

(3) that the members shall hold an annual meeting, one of the purposes of which shall be to elect members of the board of managers;

(4) the method of calling meetings of the unit owners;

(5) that special meetings of the members can be called by the president, board of managers, or by 20% of unit owners;

(6) that written notice of any membership meeting shall be mailed or delivered giving members no less than 10 and no more than 30 days notice of the time, place and purpose of such meeting;

(7) that voting shall be on a percentage basis, and that the percentage vote to which each unit is entitled is the percentage interest of the undivided ownership of the common elements appurtenant thereto, provided that the bylaws may provide for approval by unit owners in connection with matters where the requisite approval on a percentage basis is not specified in this Act, on the basis of one vote per unit;

(8) that, where there is more than one owner of a unit, if only one of the multiple owners is present at a meeting of the association, he is entitled to cast all the votes allocated to that unit, if more than one of the multiple 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 multiple owners, unless the declaration expressly provides otherwise, that there is majority agreement if any one of the multiple owners cast the votes allocated to that unit without protest being made promptly to the person presiding over the meeting by any of the other owners of the unit;

(9)(A) that unless the Articles of Incorporation or the bylaws otherwise provide, and except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph (9) in connection with board elections, a unit owner may vote by proxy executed in writing by the unit owner or by his duly authorized attorney in fact; that the proxy must bear the date of execution and, unless the condominium instruments or the written proxy itself provide otherwise, is invalid after 11 months from the date of its execution;

(B) that if a rule adopted at least 120 days before a board election or the declaration or bylaws provide for balloting as set forth in this subsection, unit owners may not vote by proxy in board elections, but may vote only (i) by submitting an association-issued ballot in person at the election meeting or (ii) by submitting an association-issued ballot to the association or its designated agent by mail or other means of delivery specified in the declaration, bylaws, or rule; that the ballots shall be mailed or otherwise distributed to unit owners not less than 10 and not more than 30 days before the election meeting, and the board shall give unit owners not less than 21 days' prior written notice of the deadline for inclusion of a candidate's name on the ballots; that the deadline shall be no more than 7 days before the ballots are mailed or otherwise distributed to unit owners; that every such ballot must include the names of all candidates who have given the board or its authorized agent timely written notice of their candidacy and must give the person casting the ballot the opportunity to cast votes for candidates whose names do not appear on the ballot; that a ballot received by the association or its designated agent after the close of voting shall not be counted; that a unit owner who submits a ballot by mail or other means of delivery specified in the declaration, bylaws, or rule may request and cast a ballot in person at the election meeting, and thereby void any ballot previously submitted by that unit owner;

(C) that if a written petition by unit owners with at least 20% of the votes of the association is delivered to the board within 14 days after the board's approval of a rule adopted pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this paragraph (9), the board shall call a meeting of the unit owners within 30 days after the date of delivery of the petition; that unless a majority of the total votes of the unit owners are cast at the meeting to reject the rule, the rule is ratified;

(10) that the association may, upon adoption of the appropriate rules by the board of managers, conduct elections by secret ballot whereby the voting ballot is marked only with the percentage interest for the unit and the vote itself, provided that the board further adopt rules to verify the status of the unit owner issuing a proxy or casting a ballot; and further, that a candidate for election to the board of managers or such candidate's representative shall have the right to be present at the counting of ballots at such election;

(11) that in the event of a resale of a condominium unit the purchaser of a unit from a seller other than the developer pursuant to an installment contract for purchase shall during such times as he or she resides in the unit be counted toward a quorum for purposes of election of members of the board of managers at any meeting of the unit owners called for purposes of electing members of the board, shall have the right to vote for the election of members of the board of managers and to be elected to and serve on the board of managers unless the seller expressly retains in writing any or all of such rights. In no event may the seller and purchaser both be counted toward a quorum, be permitted to vote for a particular office or be elected and serve on the board. Satisfactory evidence of the installment contact shall be made available to the association or its agents. For purposes of this subsection, "installment contact" shall have the same meaning as set forth in Section 1 (e) of "An Act relating to installment contracts to sell dwelling structures", approved August 11, 1967, as amended;

(12) the method by which matters subject to the approval of unit owners set forth in this Act, or in the condominium instruments, will be submitted to the unit owners at special membership meetings called for such purposes; and

(13) that matters subject to the affirmative vote of not less than 2/3 of the votes of unit owners at a meeting duly called for that purpose, shall include, but not be limited to:

(i) merger or consolidation of the association;

(ii) sale, lease, exchange, or other disposition (excluding the mortgage or pledge) of all, or substantially all of the property and assets of the association; and

(iii) the purchase or sale of land or of units on behalf of all unit owners.

(c) Election of a president from among the board of managers, who shall preside over the meetings of the board of managers and of the unit owners.

(d) Election of a secretary from among the board of managers, who shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the board of managers and of the unit owners and who shall, in general, perform all the duties incident to the office of secretary.

(e) Election of a treasurer from among the board of managers, who shall keep the financial records and books of account.

(f) Maintenance, repair and replacement of the common elements and payments therefor, including the method of approving payment vouchers.

(g) An association with 30 or more units shall obtain and maintain fidelity insurance covering persons who control or disburse funds of the association for the maximum amount of coverage available to protect funds in the custody or control of the association plus the association reserve fund. All management companies which are responsible for the funds held or administered by the association shall maintain and furnish to the association a fidelity bond for the maximum amount of coverage available to protect funds in the custody of the management company at any time. The association shall bear the cost of the fidelity insurance and fidelity bond, unless otherwise provided by contract between the association and a management company. The association shall be the direct obligee of any such fidelity bond. A management company holding reserve funds of an association shall at all times maintain a separate account for each association, provided, however, that for investment purposes, the Board of Managers of an association may authorize a management company to maintain the association's reserve funds in a single interest bearing account with similar funds of other associations. The management company shall at all times maintain records identifying all moneys of each association in such investment account. The management company may hold all operating funds of associations which it manages in a single operating account but shall at all times maintain records identifying all moneys of each association in such operating account. Such operating and reserve funds held by the management company for the association shall not be subject to attachment by any creditor of the management company.

For the purpose of this subsection a management company shall be defined as a person, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity entitled to transact business on behalf of others, acting on behalf of or as an agent for a unit owner, unit owners or association of unit owners for the purpose of carrying out the duties, responsibilities, and other obligations necessary for the day to day operation and management of any property subject to this Act. For purposes of this subsection, the term "fiduciary insurance coverage" shall be defined as both a fidelity bond and directors and officers liability coverage, the fidelity bond in the full amount of association funds and association reserves that will be in the custody of the association, and the directors and officers liability coverage at a level as shall be determined to be reasonable by the board of managers, if not otherwise established by the declaration or by laws.

Until one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1985, if a condominium association has reserves plus assessments in excess of $250,000 and cannot reasonably obtain 100% fidelity bond coverage for such amount, then it must obtain a fidelity bond coverage of $250,000.

(h) Method of estimating the amount of the annual budget, and the manner of assessing and collecting from the unit owners their respective shares of such estimated expenses, and of any other expenses lawfully agreed upon.

(i) That upon 10 days notice to the manager or board of managers and payment of a reasonable fee, any unit owner shall be furnished a statement of his account setting forth the amount of any unpaid assessments or other charges due and owing from such owner.

(j) Designation and removal of personnel necessary for the maintenance, repair and replacement of the common elements.

(k) Such restrictions on and requirements respecting the use and maintenance of the units and the use of the common elements, not set forth in the declaration, as are designed to prevent unreasonable interference with the use of their respective units and of the common elements by the several unit owners.

(l) Method of adopting and of amending administrative rules and regulations governing the operation and use of the common elements.

(m) The percentage of votes required to modify or amend the bylaws, but each one of the particulars set forth in this section shall always be embodied in the bylaws.

(n) (i) The provisions of this Act, the declaration, bylaws, other condominium instruments, and rules and regulations that relate to the use of the individual unit or the common elements shall be applicable to any person leasing a unit and shall be deemed to be incorporated in any lease executed or renewed on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1984. (ii) With regard to any lease entered into subsequent to the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989, the unit owner leasing the unit shall deliver a copy of the signed lease to the board or if the lease is oral, a memorandum of the lease, not later than the date of occupancy or 10 days after the lease is signed, whichever occurs first. In addition to any other remedies, by filing an action jointly against the tenant and the unit owner, an association may seek to enjoin a tenant from occupying a unit or seek to evict a tenant under the provisions of Article IX of the Code of Civil Procedure for failure of the lessor-owner to comply with the leasing requirements prescribed by this Section or by the declaration, bylaws, and rules and regulations. The board of managers may proceed directly against a tenant, at law or in equity, or under the provisions of Article IX of the Code of Civil Procedure, for any other breach by tenant of any covenants, rules, regulations or bylaws.

(o) The association shall have no authority to forbear the payment of assessments by any unit owner.

(p) That when 30% or fewer of the units, by number, possess over 50% in the aggregate of the votes in the association, any percentage vote of members specified herein or in the condominium instruments shall require the specified percentage by number of units rather than by percentage of interest in the common elements allocated to units that would otherwise be applicable. For purposes of this subsection (p), when making a determination of whether 30% or fewer of the units, by number, possess over 50% in the aggregate of the votes in the association, a unit shall not include a garage unit or a storage unit.

(q) That a unit owner may not assign, delegate, transfer, surrender, or avoid the duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of a unit owner under this Act, the condominium instruments, or the rules and regulations of the Association; and that such an attempted assignment, delegation, transfer, surrender, or avoidance shall be deemed void.

The provisions of this Section are applicable to all condominium instruments recorded under this Act. Any portion of a condominium instrument which contains provisions contrary to these provisions shall be void as against public policy and ineffective. Any such instrument which fails to contain the provisions required by this Section shall be deemed to incorporate such provisions by operation of law.

(Source: P.A. 95-624, eff. 6-1-08.)

(765 ILCS 605/18.4) (from Ch. 30, par. 318.4)

Sec. 18.4. Powers and Duties of Board of Managers. The board of managers shall exercise for the association all powers, duties and authority vested in the association by law or the condominium instruments except for such powers, duties and authority reserved by law to the members of the association. The powers and duties of the board of managers shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

(a) To provide for the operation, care, upkeep, maintenance, replacement and improvement of the common elements. Nothing in this subsection (a) shall be deemed to invalidate any provision in a condominium instrument placing limits on expenditures for the common elements, provided, that such limits shall not be applicable to expenditures for repair, replacement, or restoration of existing portions of the common elements. The term "repair, replacement or restoration" means expenditures to deteriorated or damaged portions of the property related to the existing decorating, facilities, or structural or mechanical components, interior or exterior surfaces, or energy systems and equipment with the functional equivalent of the original portions of such areas. Replacement of the common elements may result in an improvement over the original quality of such elements or facilities; provided that, unless the improvement is mandated by law or is an emergency as defined in item (iv) of subparagraph (8) of paragraph (a) of Section 18, if the improvement results in a proposed expenditure exceeding 5% of the annual budget, the board of managers, upon written petition by unit owners with 20% of the votes of the association delivered to the board within 14 days of the board action to approve the expenditure, shall call a meeting of the unit owners within 30 days of the date of delivery of the petition to consider the expenditure. Unless a majority of the total votes of the unit owners are cast at the meeting to reject the expenditure, it is ratified.

(b) To prepare, adopt and distribute the annual budget for the property.

(c) To levy and expend assessments.

(d) To collect assessments from unit owners.

(e) To provide for the employment and dismissal of the personnel necessary or advisable for the maintenance and operation of the common elements.

(f) To obtain adequate and appropriate kinds of insurance.

(g) To own, convey, encumber, lease, and otherwise deal with units conveyed to or purchased by it.

(h) To adopt and amend rules and regulations covering the details of the operation and use of the property, after a meeting of the unit owners called for the specific purpose of discussing the proposed rules and regulations. Notice of the meeting shall contain the full text of the proposed rules and regulations, and the meeting shall conform to the requirements of Section 18(b) of this Act, except that no quorum is required at the meeting of the unit owners unless the declaration, bylaws or other condominium instrument expressly provides to the contrary. However, no rule or regulation may impair any rights guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States or Section 4 of Article I of the Illinois Constitution including, but not limited to, the free exercise of religion, nor may any rules or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Act or the condominium instruments. No rule or regulation shall prohibit any reasonable accommodation for religious practices, including the attachment of religiously mandated objects to the front-door area of a condominium unit.

(i) To keep detailed, accurate records of the receipts and expenditures affecting the use and operation of the property.

(j) To have access to each unit from time to time as may be necessary for the maintenance, repair or replacement of any common elements or for making emergency repairs necessary to prevent damage to the common elements or to other units.

(k) To pay real property taxes, special assessments, and any other special taxes or charges of the State of Illinois or of any political subdivision thereof, or other lawful taxing or assessing body, which are authorized by law to be assessed and levied upon the real property of the condominium.

(l) To impose charges for late payment of a unit owner's proportionate share of the common expenses, or any other expenses lawfully agreed upon, and after notice and an opportunity to be heard, to levy reasonable fines for violation of the declaration, by-laws, and rules and regulations of the association.

(m) Unless the condominium instruments expressly provide to the contrary, by a majority vote of the entire board of managers, to assign the right of the association to future income from common expenses or other sources, and to mortgage or pledge substantially all of the remaining assets of the association.

(n) To record the dedication of a portion of the common elements to a public body for use as, or in connection with, a street or utility where authorized by the unit owners under the provisions of Section 14.2.

(o) To record the granting of an easement for the laying of cable television cable where authorized by the unit owners under the provisions of Section 14.3; to obtain, if available and determined by the board to be in the best interests of the association, cable television service for all of the units of the condominium on a bulk identical service and equal cost per unit basis; and to assess and recover the expense as a common expense and, if so determined by the board, to assess each and every unit on the same equal cost per unit basis.

(p) To seek relief on behalf of all unit owners when authorized pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 10 from or in connection with the assessment or levying of real property taxes, special assessments, and any other special taxes or changes of the State of Illinois or of any political subdivision thereof or of any lawful taxing or assessing body.

(q) To reasonably accommodate the needs of a handicapped unit owner as required by the federal Civil Rights Act of 1968, the Human Rights Act and any applicable local ordinances in the exercise of its powers with respect to the use of common elements or approval of modifications in an individual unit.

(r) To accept service of a notice of claim for purposes of the Mechanics Lien Act on behalf of each respective member of the Unit Owners' Association with respect to improvements performed pursuant to any contract entered into by the Board of Managers or any contract entered into prior to the recording of the condominium declaration pursuant to this Act, for a property containing more than 8 units, and to distribute the notice to the unit owners within 7 days of the acceptance of the service by the Board of Managers. The service shall be effective as if each individual unit owner had been served individually with notice.

(s) In the event that a unit owner prevails in an action brought to enforce the Act or the condominium instruments, rules, or regulations against the board of managers, by clear and convincing evidence, that the wrongful act or omission by the board or members of the board which formed the basis of the action was wrongful, willful and wanton, and without any legal justification either in law or fact, then the unit owner is entitled to recover damages against the board or members of the board thereof personally, and those damages shall not be less than $1,000 per defendant and those damages shall be trebled by the court, plus the unit owner's reasonable attorney's fees and court costs; provided that at least 60 days prior to filing the action, the unit owner gave written notice to the board or members of the board specifying the nature and factual basis of the claim; and provided further that the unit owner shall have obtained a written opinion from an attorney licensed to practice in Illinois that the unit owner has a colorable claim based on the facts alleged in the unit owner's notice to the board or members of the board.

In the performance of their duties, the officers and members of the board, whether appointed by the developer or elected by the unit owners, shall exercise the care required of a fiduciary of the unit owners.

The collection of assessments from unit owners by an association, board of managers or their duly authorized agents shall not be considered acts constituting a collection agency for purposes of the Collection Agency Act.

The provisions of this Section are applicable to all condominium instruments recorded under this Act. Any portion of a condominium instrument which contains provisions contrary to these provisions shall be void as against public policy and ineffective. Any such instrument that fails to contain the provisions required by this Section shall be deemed to incorporate such provisions by operation of law.

(Source: P.A. 94-384, eff. 1-1-06; 94-729, eff. 1-1-07.)

(765 ILCS 605/18.5) (from Ch. 30, par. 318.5)

Sec. 18.5. Master Associations.

(a) If the declaration, other condominium instrument, or other duly recorded covenants provide that any of the powers of the unit owners associations are to be exercised by or may be delegated to a nonprofit corporation or unincorporated association that exercises those or other powers on behalf of one or more condominiums, or for the benefit of the unit owners of one or more condominiums, such corporation or association shall be a master association.

(b) There shall be included in the declaration, other condominium instruments, or other duly recorded covenants establishing the powers and duties of the master association the provisions set forth in subsections (c) through (h).

In interpreting subsections (c) through (h), the courts should interpret these provisions so that they are interpreted consistently with the similar parallel provisions found in other parts of this Act.

(c) Meetings and finances.

(1) Each unit owner of a condominium subject to the authority of the board of the master association shall receive, at least 30 days prior to the adoption thereof by the board of the master association, a copy of the proposed annual budget.

(2) The board of the master association shall annually supply to all unit owners of condominiums subject to the authority of the board of the master association an itemized accounting of the common expenses for the preceding year actually incurred or paid, together with a tabulation of the amounts collected pursuant to the budget or assessment, and showing the net excess or deficit of income over expenditures plus reserves.

(3) Each unit owner of a condominium subject to the authority of the board of the master association shall receive written notice mailed or delivered no less than 10 and no more than 30 days prior to any meeting of the board of the master association concerning the adoption of the proposed annual budget or any increase in the budget, or establishment of an assessment.

(4) Meetings of the board of the master association shall be open to any unit owner in a condominium subject to the authority of the board of the master association, except for the portion of any meeting held:

(A) to discuss litigation when an action against or on behalf of the particular master association has been filed and is pending in a court or administrative tribunal, or when the board of the master association finds that such an action is probable or imminent,

(B) to consider information regarding appointment, employment or dismissal of an employee, or

(C) to discuss violations of rules and regulations of the master association or unpaid common expenses owed to the master association.

Any vote on these matters shall be taken at a meeting or portion thereof open to any unit owner of a condominium subject to the authority of the master association.

Any unit owner may record the proceedings at meetings required to be open by this Act by tape, film or other means; the board may prescribe reasonable rules and regulations to govern the right to make such recordings. Notice of meetings shall be mailed or delivered at least 48 hours prior thereto, unless a written waiver of such notice is signed by the persons entitled to notice before the meeting is convened. Copies of notices of meetings of the board of the master association shall be posted in entranceways, elevators, or other conspicuous places in the condominium at least 48 hours prior to the meeting of the board of the master association. Where there is no common entranceway for 7 or more units, the board of the master association may designate one or more locations in the proximity of these units where the notices of meetings shall be posted.

(5) If the declaration provides for election by unit owners of members of the board of directors in the event of a resale of a unit in the master association, the purchaser of a unit from a seller other than the developer pursuant to an installment contract for purchase shall, during such times as he or she resides in the unit, be counted toward a quorum for purposes of election of members of the board of directors at any meeting of the unit owners called for purposes of electing members of the board, and shall have the right to vote for the election of members of the board of directors and to be elected to and serve on the board of directors unless the seller expressly retains in writing any or all of those rights. In no event may the seller and purchaser both be counted toward a quorum, be permitted to vote for a particular office, or be elected and serve on the board. Satisfactory evidence of the installment contract shall be made available to the association or its agents. For purposes of this subsection, "installment contract" shall have the same meaning as set forth in subsection (e) of Section 1 of the Dwelling Unit Installment Contract Act.

(6) The board of the master association shall have the authority to establish and maintain a system of master metering of public utility services and to collect payments in connection therewith, subject to the requirements of the Tenant Utility Payment Disclosure Act.

(7) The board of the master association or a common interest community association shall have the power, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, to levy and collect reasonable fines from members for violations of the declaration, bylaws, and rules and regulations of the master association or the common interest community association. Nothing contained in this subdivision (7) shall give rise to a statutory lien for unpaid fines.

(8) Other than attorney's fees, no fees pertaining to the collection of a unit owner's financial obligation to the Association, including fees charged by a manager or managing agent, shall be added to and deemed a part of an owner's respective share of the common expenses unless: (i) the managing agent fees relate to the costs to collect common expenses for the Association; (ii) the fees are set forth in a contract between the managing agent and the Association; and (iii) the authority to add the management fees to an owner's respective share of the common expenses is specifically stated in the declaration or bylaws of the Association.

(d) Records.

(1) The board of the master association shall maintain the following records of the association and make them available for examination and copying at convenient hours of weekdays by any unit owners in a condominium subject to the authority of the board or their mortgagees and their duly authorized agents or attorneys:

(i) Copies of the recorded declaration, other condominium instruments, other duly recorded covenants and bylaws and any amendments, articles of incorporation of the master association, annual reports and any rules and regulations adopted by the master association or its board shall be available. Prior to the organization of the master association, the developer shall maintain and make available the records set forth in this subdivision (d)(1) for examination and copying.

(ii) Detailed and accurate records in chronological order of the receipts and expenditures affecting the common areas, specifying and itemizing the maintenance and repair expenses of the common areas and any other expenses incurred, and copies of all contracts, leases, or other agreements entered into by the master association, shall be maintained.

(iii) The minutes of all meetings of the master association and the board of the master association shall be maintained for not less than 7 years.

(iv) Ballots and proxies related thereto, if any, for any election held for the board of the master association and for any other matters voted on by the unit owners shall be maintained for not less than one year.

(v) Such other records of the master association as are available for inspection by members of a not-for-profit corporation pursuant to Section 107.75 of the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986 shall be maintained.

(vi) With respect to units owned by a land trust, if a trustee designates in writing a person to cast votes on behalf of the unit owner, the designation shall remain in effect until a subsequent document is filed with the association.

(2) Where a request for records under this subsection is made in writing to the board of managers or its agent, failure to provide the requested record or to respond within 30 days shall be deemed a denial by the board of directors.

(3) A reasonable fee may be charged by the master association or its board for the cost of copying.

(4) If the board of directors fails to provide records properly requested under subdivision (d)(1) within the time period provided in subdivision (d)(2), the unit owner may seek appropriate relief, including an award of attorney's fees and costs.

(e) The board of directors shall have standing and capacity to act in a representative capacity in relation to matters involving the common areas of the master association or more than one unit, on behalf of the unit owners as their interests may appear.

(f) Administration of property prior to election of the initial board of directors.

(1) Until the election, by the unit owners or the boards of managers of the underlying condominium associations, of the initial board of directors of a master association whose declaration is recorded on or after August 10, 1990, the same rights, titles, powers, privileges, trusts, duties and obligations that are vested in or imposed upon the board of directors by this Act or in the declaration or other duly recorded covenant shall be held and performed by the developer.

(2) The election of the initial board of directors of a master association whose declaration is recorded on or after August 10, 1990, by the unit owners or the boards of managers of the underlying condominium associations, shall be held not later than 60 days after the conveyance by the developer of 75% of the units, or 3 years after the recording of the declaration, whichever is earlier. The developer shall give at least 21 days notice of the meeting to elect the initial board of directors and shall upon request provide to any unit owner, within 3 working days of the request, the names, addresses, and weighted vote of each unit owner entitled to vote at the meeting. Any unit owner shall upon receipt of the request be provided with the same information, within 10 days of the request, with respect to each subsequent meeting to elect members of the board of directors.

(3) If the initial board of directors of a master association whose declaration is recorded on or after August 10, 1990 is not elected by the unit owners or the members of the underlying condominium association board of managers at the time established in subdivision (f)(2), the developer shall continue in office for a period of 30 days, whereupon written notice of his resignation shall be sent to all of the unit owners or members of the underlying condominium board of managers entitled to vote at an election for members of the board of directors.

(4) Within 60 days following the election of a majority of the board of directors, other than the developer, by unit owners, the developer shall deliver to the board of directors:

(i) All original documents as recorded or filed pertaining to the property, its administration, and the association, such as the declaration, articles of incorporation, other instruments, annual reports, minutes, rules and regulations, and contracts, leases, or other agreements entered into by the association. If any original documents are unavailable, a copy may be provided if certified by affidavit of the developer, or an officer or agent of the developer, as being a complete copy of the actual document recorded or filed.

(ii) A detailed accounting by the developer, setting forth the source and nature of receipts and expenditures in connection with the management, maintenance and operation of the property, copies of all insurance policies, and a list of any loans or advances to the association which are outstanding.

(iii) Association funds, which shall have been at all times segregated from any other moneys of the developer.

(iv) A schedule of all real or personal property, equipment and fixtures belonging to the association, including documents transferring the property, warranties, if any, for all real and personal property and equipment, deeds, title insurance policies, and all tax bills.

(v) A list of all litigation, administrative action and arbitrations involving the association, any notices of governmental bodies involving actions taken or which may be taken concerning the association, engineering and architectural drawings and specifications as approved by any governmental authority, all other documents filed with any other governmental authority, all governmental certificates, correspondence involving enforcement of any association requirements, copies of any documents relating to disputes involving unit owners, and originals of all documents relating to everything listed in this subparagraph.

(vi) If the developer fails to fully comply with this paragraph (4) within the 60 days provided and fails to fully comply within 10 days of written demand mailed by registered or certified mail to his or her last known address, the board may bring an action to compel compliance with this paragraph (4). If the court finds that any of the required deliveries were not made within the required period, the board shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred from and after the date of expiration of the 10 day demand.

(5) With respect to any master association whose declaration is recorded on or after August 10, 1990, any contract, lease, or other agreement made prior to the election of a majority of the board of directors other than the developer by or on behalf of unit owners or underlying condominium associations, the association or the board of directors, which extends for a period of more than 2 years from the recording of the declaration, shall be subject to cancellation by more than 1/2 of the votes of the unit owners, other than the developer, cast at a special meeting of members called for that purpose during a period of 90 days prior to the expiration of the 2 year period if the board of managers is elected by the unit owners, otherwise by more than 1/2 of the underlying condominium board of managers. At least 60 days prior to the expiration of the 2 year period, the board of directors, or, if the board is still under developer control, then the board of managers or the developer shall send notice to every unit owner or underlying condominium board of managers, notifying them of this provision, of what contracts, leases and other agreements are affected, and of the procedure for calling a meeting of the unit owners or for action by the underlying condominium board of managers for the purpose of acting to terminate such contracts, leases or other agreements. During the 90 day period the other party to the contract, lease, or other agreement shall also have the right of cancellation.

(6) The statute of limitations for any actions in law or equity which the master association may bring shall not begin to run until the unit owners or underlying condominium board of managers have elected a majority of the members of the board of directors.

(g) In the event of any resale of a unit in a master association by a unit owner other than the developer, the owner shall obtain from the board of directors and shall make available for inspection to the prospective purchaser, upon demand, the following:

(1) A copy of the declaration, other instruments and any rules and regulations.

(2) A statement of any liens, including a statement of the account of the unit setting forth the amounts of unpaid assessments and other charges due and owing.

(3) A statement of any capital expenditures anticipated by the association within the current or succeeding 2 fiscal years.

(4) A statement of the status and amount of any reserve for replacement fund and any portion of such fund earmarked for any specified project by the board of directors.

(5) A copy of the statement of financial condition of the association for the last fiscal year for which such a statement is available.

(6) A statement of the status of any pending suits or judgments in which the association is a party.

(7) A statement setting forth what insurance coverage is provided for all unit owners by the association.

(8) A statement that any improvements or alterations made to the unit, or any part of the common areas assigned thereto, by the prior unit owner are in good faith believed to be in compliance with the declaration of the master association.

The principal officer of the unit owner's association or such other officer as is specifically designated shall furnish the above information when requested to do so in writing, within 30 days of receiving the request.

A reasonable fee covering the direct out-of-pocket cost of copying and providing such information may be charged by the association or its board of directors to the unit seller for providing the information.

(h) Errors and omissions.

(1) If there is an omission or error in the declaration or other instrument of the master association, the master association may correct the error or omission by an amendment to the declaration or other instrument, as may be required to conform it to this Act, to any other applicable statute, or to the declaration. The amendment shall be adopted by vote of two-thirds of the members of the board of directors or by a majority vote of the unit owners at a meeting called for that purpose, unless the Act or the declaration of the master association specifically provides for greater percentages or different procedures.

(2) If, through a scrivener's error, a unit has not been designated as owning an appropriate undivided share of the common areas or does not bear an appropriate share of the common expenses, or if all of the common expenses or all of the common elements in the condominium have not been distributed in the declaration, so that the sum total of the shares of common areas which have been distributed or the sum total of the shares of the common expenses fail to equal 100%, or if it appears that more than 100% of the common elements or common expenses have been distributed, the error may be corrected by operation of law by filing an amendment to the declaration, approved by vote of two-thirds of the members of the board of directors or a majority vote of the unit owners at a meeting called for that purpose, which proportionately adjusts all percentage interests so that the total is equal to 100%, unless the declaration specifically provides for a different procedure or different percentage vote by the owners of the units and the owners of mortgages thereon affected by modification being made in the undivided interest in the common areas, the number of votes in the unit owners association or the liability for common expenses appertaining to the unit.

(3) If an omission or error or a scrivener's error in the declaration or other instrument is corrected by vote of two-thirds of the members of the board of directors pursuant to the authority established in subdivisions (h)(1) or (h)(2) of this Section, the board, upon written petition by unit owners with 20% of the votes of the association or resolutions adopted by the board of managers or board of directors of the condominium and common interest community associations which select 20% of the members of the board of directors of the master association, whichever is applicable, received within 30 days of the board action, shall call a meeting of the unit owners or the boards of the condominium and common interest community associations which select members of the board of directors of the master association within 30 days of the filing of the petition or receipt of the condominium and common interest community association resolution to consider the board action. Unless a majority of the votes of the unit owners of the association are cast at the meeting to reject the action, or board of managers or board of directors of condominium and common interest community associations which select over 50% of the members of the board of the master association adopt resolutions prior to the meeting rejecting the action of the board of directors of the master association, it is ratified whether or not a quorum is present.

(4) The procedures for amendments set forth in this subsection (h) cannot be used if such an amendment would materially or adversely affect property rights of the unit owners unless the affected unit owners consent in writing. This Section does not restrict the powers of the association to otherwise amend the declaration, bylaws, or other condominium instruments, but authorizes a simple process of amendment requiring a lesser vote for the purpose of correcting defects, errors, or omissions when the property rights of the unit owners are not materially or adversely affected.

(5) If there is an omission or error in the declaration or other instruments that may not be corrected by an amendment procedure set forth in subdivision (h)(1) or (h)(2) of this Section, then the circuit court in the county in which the master association is located shall have jurisdiction to hear a petition of one or more of the unit owners thereon or of the association, to correct the error or omission, and the action may be a class action. The court may require that one or more methods of correcting the error or omission be submitted to the unit owners to determine the most acceptable correction. All unit owners in the association must be joined as parties to the action. Service of process on owners may be by publication, but the plaintiff shall furnish all unit owners not personally served with process with copies of the petition and final judgment of the court by certified mail, return receipt requested, at their last known address.

(6) Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to invalidate any provision of a declaration authorizing the developer to amend an instrument prior to the latest date on which the initial membership meeting of the unit owners must be held, whether or not it has actually been held, to bring the instrument into compliance with the legal requirements of the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal Housing Administration, the United States Veterans Administration or their respective successors and assigns.

(h-5) After filing an action to foreclosure its lien on a unit in a common interest community, the mortgagee shall be responsible for all assessments with regard to that unit accruing from and after the first day of the month after the filing of the action up to the date of the judicial foreclosure sale and, unless the purchaser at the judicial foreclosure sale is a person other than the mortgagee, the mortgagee's responsibility for assessments shall continue until title to the unit is transferred.

(i) The provisions of subsections (c) through (h) are applicable to all declarations, other condominium instruments, and other duly recorded covenants establishing the powers and duties of the master association recorded under this Act. Any portion of a declaration, other condominium instrument, or other duly recorded covenant establishing the powers and duties of a master association which contains provisions contrary to the provisions of subsection (c) through (h) shall be void as against public policy and ineffective. Any declaration, other condominium instrument, or other duly recorded covenant establishing the powers and duties of the master association which fails to contain the provisions required by subsections (c) through (h) shall be deemed to incorporate such provisions by operation of law.

(j) The provisions of subsections (c) through (h) and (h-5) are applicable to all common interest community associations and their unit owners for common interest community associations which are subject to the provisions of Section 9-102(a)(8) of the Code of Civil Procedure. For purposes of this subsection, the terms "common interest community" and "unit owners" shall have the same meaning as set forth in Section 9-102(c) of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(Source: P.A. 94-384, eff. 1-1-06.)

(765 ILCS 605/22) (from Ch. 30, par. 322)

Sec. 22. Full disclosure before sale. In relation to the initial sale or offering for sale of any condominium unit, the seller must make full disclosure of, and provide copies to the prospective buyer of, the following information relative to the condominium project:

(a) the Declaration;

(b) the Bylaws of the association;

(c) a projected operating budget for the condominium unit to be sold to the prospective buyer, including full details concerning the estimated monthly payments for the condominium unit, estimated monthly charges for maintenance or management of the condominium property, and monthly charges for the use of recreational facilities; and

(d) a floor plan of the unit apartment to be purchased by the prospective buyer and the street address of the unit, if any, and if the unit has no unique street address, the street address of the project.

(e) in addition, any developer of a conversion condominium shall include the following information:

(1) A specific statement of the amount of any initial or special condominium fee due from the purchaser on or before settlement of the purchase contract and the basis of such fee;

(2) Information, if available, on the actual expenditures made on all repairs, maintenance, operation, or upkeep of the subject building or buildings within the last 2 years, set forth tabularly with the proposed budget of the condominium and cumulatively, broken down on a per unit basis in proportion to the relative voting strengths allocated to the units by the bylaws. If such building or buildings have not been occupied for a period of 3 years then the information shall be set forth for the last 2 year period such building or buildings have been occupied;

(3) A description of any provisions made in the budget for reserves for capital expenditures and an explanation of the basis for such reserves, or, if no provision is made for such reserves, a statement to that effect;

For developments of more than 6 units for which the notice of intent to convert is issued after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1979, an engineer's report furnished by the developer as to the present condition of all structural components and major utility installations in the condominium, which statement shall include the approximate dates of construction, installation, major repairs and the expected useful life of such items, together with the estimated cost (in current dollars) of replacing such items; and

(5) Any release, warranty, certificate of insurance, or surety required by Section 9.1.

All of the information required by this Section which is available at the time shall be furnished to the prospective buyer before execution of the contract for sale. Thereafter, no changes or amendments may be made in any of the items furnished to the prospective buyer which would materially affect the rights of the buyer or the value of the unit without obtaining the approval of at least 75% of the buyers then owning interest in the condominium. If all of the information is not available at the time of execution of the contract for sale, then the contract shall be voidable at option of the buyer at any time up until 5 days after the last item of required information is furnished to the prospective buyer, or until the closing of the sale, whichever is earlier. Failure on the part of the seller to make full disclosure as required by this Section shall entitle the buyer to rescind the contract for sale at any time before the closing of the contract and to receive a refund of all deposit moneys paid with interest thereon at the rate then in effect for interest on judgments.

A sale is not an initial sale for the purposes of this Section if there is not a bona fide transfer of the ownership and possession of the condominium unit for the purpose of occupancy of such unit as the result of the sale or if the sale was entered into for the purpose of avoiding the requirements of this Section. The buyer in the first bona fide sale of any condominium unit has the rights granted to buyers under this Section. If the buyer in any sale of a condominium unit asserts that such sale is the first bona fide sale of that unit, the seller has the burden of proving that his interest was acquired through a bona fide sale.

(Source: P.A. 91-616, eff. 8-19-99.)

(765 ILCS 605/22.1) (from Ch. 30, par. 322.1)

Sec. 22.1. (a) In the event of any resale of a condominium unit by a unit owner other than the developer such owner shall obtain from the Board of Managers and shall make available for inspection to the prospective purchaser, upon demand, the following:

(1) A copy of the Declaration, by-laws, other condominium instruments and any rules and regulations.

(2) A statement of any liens, including a statement of the account of the unit setting forth the amounts of unpaid assessments and other charges due and owing as authorized and limited by the provisions of Section 9 of this Act or the condominium instruments.

(3) A statement of any capital expenditures approved by the association's Board of Managers anticipated by the unit owner's association within the current or succeeding two fiscal years.

(4) A statement of the status and amount of any reserve for replacement fund and any portion of such fund earmarked for any specified project by the Board of Managers.

(5) A copy of the statement of financial condition of the unit owner's association for the last fiscal year for which such statement is available.

(6) A statement of the status of any pending suits or judgments in which the unit owner's association is a party.

(7) A statement setting forth what insurance coverage is provided for all unit owners by the unit owner's association.

(8) A statement that any improvements or alterations made to the unit, or the limited common elements assigned thereto, by the prior unit owner are in good faith believed to be in compliance with the condominium instruments.

(9) The identity and mailing address of the principal officer of the unit owner's association or of the other officer or agent as is specifically designated to receive notices.

The Board of Managers or its designated property manager for the association shall only be required to respond to a written inquiry from a unit owner for the information required in paragraphs 1 through 9 of subsection (a) of this Section in a form substantially similar to the standard form below:

"1. Are there any known liens against the Association? If so, please provide details

2. Are there any reserves which have been previously approved by the Board of Managers for specific projects which are over $25,000? If so, please provide details.

3. Are there any capital expenditures approved by the Board of Managers for the current or next 2 fiscal years which will require a special assessment on the owners or an increase in monthly assessments of more than 15% over the prior year's monthly assessments? If so, please provide the amount of the approved capital expenditure or the percentage increase in monthly assessment for this unit owner.

4. Are there any existing special assessments or loans for capital improvement projects pending against the subject unit? If so, please provide details.

5. Are there any pending lawsuits or unpaid judgments against the Association? If so, please provide details."

All documents or other information required to be disclosed by this Section and which are available at the time shall be provided to the unit owner within 30 days after receipt of the written request.

Information shall be disclosed to the parties, other than the unit owner, only upon written authorization of the unit owner.

(b) The principal officer of the unit owner's association, through its officers or designated property manager, or such other officer as is specifically designated shall furnish the above information when requested to do so in writing and within 30 days of the request.

(c) Within 15 days of the recording of a mortgage or trust deed against a unit ownership given by the owner of that unit to secure a debt, the owner shall provide in writing to inform the Board of Managers of the unit owner's association, of the identity of the lender together with a mailing address at which the lender can receive notices from the association. If a unit owner fails or refuses to inform the Board as required under subsection (c) then that unit owner shall be liable to the association for all costs, expenses and reasonable attorneys fees and such other damages, if any, incurred by the association as a result of such failure or refusal.

A reasonable fee covering the costs direct out-of-pocket cost of providing such information and copying may be charged by the association or its Board of Managers to the unit seller for providing such information.

(Source: P.A. 87-692.)

(765 ILCS 605/33 new)

Sec. 33. Developer escrow. To provide assurance to unit owners that the developer will fulfill its obligations to the association or the unit owners collectively with respect to common element deficiencies for which the developer is responsible, the developer shall establish an escrow in an amount equal to 20% of the aggregate initial sale prices of all units in the condominium, which escrow shall be kept separate and apart from the developer's funds or the funds of any other person and which funds shall be maintained at a federally insured depository. The escrow shall be maintained for a period of not less than 2 years after the election of the first unit owner board as provided in subsection (b) of Section 18.2 unless sooner disbursed to or at the direction of the first unit owner board.

The escrow shall not be deemed to impose any limitation on the developer's obligation under any warranty or other legal obligation. This escrow requirement cannot be waived by any individual unit purchaser or unit owner. A developer who violates this Section shall be subject to an action by the association, which shall be entitled to recover treble damages and attorney's fees from the developer and, if the developer is a trust, corporation, or limited liability entity, the beneficiaries of the trust, shareholders of the corporation, or members of the limited liability entity shall be jointly and severally liable for the damages and fees due to a violation of this Section.

Nothing contained herein shall apply to any municipality which enacts an ordinance establishing a bond from a developer to adequately protect against damages to public property.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.