D.C. Act 23-453. Common Interest Community Virtual Meeting Emergency Amendment Act of 2020.
AN ACT
To amend, on an emergency basis, Title 29 of the District of Columbia Official Code to authorize remote meetings of members of foreign corporations and associations; to amend the Condominium Act of 1976 to authorize condominium unit owners' associations to conduct virtual meetings and to clarify voting and quorum requirements for such meetings during a period of time for which the Mayor has declared a public health emergency; and to amend the Coronavirus Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2020 to repeal an obsolete provision.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Common Interest Community Virtual Meeting Emergency Amendment Act of 2020".
Sec. 2. Section 29-936 of the District of Columbia Official Code is amended as follows:
(a) The existing text is designated as subsection (a).
(b) A new subsection (b) is added to read as follows:
"(b) During a period of time for which a public health emergency has been declared pursuant to
Sec. 3. Section 303 of the Condominium Act of 1976, effective March 29, 1977 (D.C. Law 1-89; D.C. Official Code § 42-1903.03), is amended by adding new a subsection (f) to read as follows:
"(f) Notwithstanding any language contained in this act or in the condominium instruments, during a period of time for which the Mayor has declared a public health emergency pursuant to
"(1) The executive board may authorize unit owners to submit votes by electronic transmission up to 7 days before the scheduled date of any meeting of the unit owners, and unit owners who submit votes during such period shall be deemed to be present and voting in person at such meeting.
"(2)(A) Meetings of the unit owners' association, board of directors, or committees may be conducted or attended by telephone conference, video conference, or similar electronic means. If a meeting is conducted by telephone conference, video conference, or similar electronic means, the equipment or system used must permit any unit owner in attendance to hear and be heard by, and to communicate what is said by, all other unit owners participating in the meeting. Any unit owner, board member, or committee member attending such meeting shall be deemed present for quorum purposes.
"(B) A link or instructions on how to access an electronic meeting shall be included in the notice required under subsection (a) of this section.
"(C) Any matters requiring a vote of the unit owners' association at an annual or regular meeting may be set by the executive board for a vote, and a ballot may be delivered with the notice required under subsection (a) of this section. The executive board may set a reasonable deadline for a ballot to be returned to the association.".
Sec. 4. Section 507(d) of the Coronavirus Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2020, effective October 9, 2020 (D.C. Law 23-130; 67 DCR 8622), is repealed.
Sec. 5. Applicability.
This act shall apply as of October 9, 2020.
Sec. 6. Fiscal impact statement.
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).
Sec. 7. Effective date.
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), and shall remain in effect for no longer than 90 days, as provided for emergency acts of the Council of the District of Columbia in section 412(a) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 788; D.C. Official Code § 1-204.12(a)).
