Brown Reintroduces Bill to Improve the Way Issues Within Planned Communities are Handled at State Level
HARRISBURG – In her continuing efforts to strongly push for a way to improve the way investigations and mediation complaints are handled in planned residential communities, Rep. Rosemary M. Brown (R-Monroe/Pike) has reintroduced legislation which would assign additional tasks to the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
“This legislation is very important, as nearly one quarter of Pennsylvania residents live in some type of self-governing community,” Brown explained. “My bill seeks to grant unit owners and board members the ability to seek assistance and investigation when the possibility of illegal activity is present from the attorney general’s office. It would provide assistance to unit owners and board members, alike, when they feel their rights and benefits may have been violated. It could also prevent these parties from having to enter into potentially costly lawsuits.”
Communities formed under Title 68 are operated under a set of governing bylaws, which create micro governments. When occasional disagreements or incidences of fraud occur in these communities, residents and unit owner boards feel they have nowhere to turn for assistance in resolving complaints.
Title 68 already allows for complaints regarding financial documents to be filed with the Bureau of Consumer Protection; however, it does not assist with other complaints that may be a violation of other portions of Title 68. Examples include meetings, quorums, voting/proxies and other association records.
“My district office in East Stroudsburg receives a tremendous amount of calls from frustrated residents and we have nowhere in which to direct them,” Brown said. “I believe there should be a way to help mediate and investigate specific violations to ensure the rights of homeowners and boards are protected. Because this bureau is already equipped to handle these complaints in a way that will find resolution and justice for these disagreement and violations, it only makes sense to add these issues to their purview.”
Brown sponsored similar legislation,
House Bill 1774, in the 2015-16 legislative session. During that time, it was approved by the House and passed the Senate Urban Affairs Committee. It was not voted on by the full Senate. This is a priority for Brown, who strongly believes this will make community living more harmonious and protected.
For more information about this legislation, or any state-related issue, contact Brown’s district office in
East Stroudsburg located at 143 Seven Bridge Road, by calling 570-420-8301. Information can also be found on online at
RepBrown.com or
Facebook.com/RepRosemaryBrown.
Representative Rosemary M. Brown
189th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Krisinda Corbin
717.705.2032
KCorbin@pahousegop.com
RepBrown.com /
Facebook.com/RepRosemaryBrown