D.C. Law 23-103. Condominium Warranty Claims Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2020.

AN ACT

To amend, on a temporary basis, the Condominium Act of 1976 to clarify standards and procedures governing the resolution of a claim for a condominium developer's warranty against structural defects, that a claimant may appeal the findings of the Mayor to the Office of Administrative Hearings, and the circumstances when the Mayor may release the warranty security funds to the claimant.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Condominium Warranty Claims Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2020".

Sec. 2. Section 316 of the Condominium Act of 1976, effective March 8, 1991 (D.C. Law 8-233; D.C. Official Code § 42-1903.16), is amended as follows:

(a) Subsection (a) is amended to read as follows:

"(a) For the purposes of this section, the term:

"(1) "Adjudication" shall have the meaning set forth in section 102(19) of the District of Columbia Administrative Procedure Act, approved October 21, 1968 (82 Stat. 1204; D.C. Official Code § 2-502(19)).

"(2) "Claimant" means a person asserting a claim under the warranty for structural defects required by this section.

"(3) "Conveyance" means the transfer of title by written instrument.

"(4) "Order" shall have the meaning set forth in section 102(11) of the District of Columbia Administrative Procedure Act, approved October 21, 1968 (82 Stat. 1204; D.C. Official Code § 2-502(11)).

"(5) "Perfected claim" means a claim that contains all the information and proof required by this section or any other applicable law or regulation.

"(6) "Structural defect" means a defect in a component that constitutes any unit or portion of the common elements that reduces the stability or safety of the structure below standards commonly accepted in the real estate market or that restricts the normally intended use of all or part of the structure and which requires repair, renovation, restoration, or replacement. The term "structural defect" does not include items of maintenance relating to the units or common elements.".

(b) New subsections (e-1) and (e-2) are added to read as follows:

"(e-1)(1) A claimant asserting a claim for a structural defect under this section shall provide notice of each such claim to the Mayor and to the declarant on a form prescribed by the Mayor.

"(2) The declarant shall notify the Mayor within 10 business days after receiving a notice of a structural defect from a claimant.

"(3) Within 90 days after providing notice to the Mayor and to the declarant pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, the claimant may pursue the remedies provided by this act by filing a claim with the Mayor on a form prescribed by the Mayor.

"(4) Within 60 days after receiving a claim, the Mayor shall determine whether the claim is a perfected claim, and if so, the Mayor shall adjudicate the claim on the merits and issue an order setting forth the decision of the Mayor.

"(5)(A) The order of the Mayor may be appealed by the declarant or claimant to the Office of Administrative Hearings no later than 30 days after the order is issued by the Mayor.

"(B) An appeal of a Mayor's order issued pursuant to this section shall be reviewed de novo by the Office of Administrative Hearings.

"(6) In the event that the Mayor has not yet issued the forms required by paragraphs (1) and (3) of this subsection, the claimant may submit a claim in writing in a manner and form satisfactory to the Mayor.

"(e-2) The Mayor shall approve the release of the funds secured under subsection (e) of this section to satisfy any costs that arise from a declarant's failure to satisfy the requirements of this section pursuant to:

"(1) A written agreement between the declarant and claimant regarding the release of the warranty security in satisfaction of the claim, approved by the Mayor;

"(2) An order issued by the Mayor pursuant to subsection (e-1)(4) of this section, after the expiration of the applicable appeal period;

"(3) An order of the Office of Administrative Hearings issued for an appeal under subsection (e-1)(5) of this section, after the expiration of the applicable appeal period; or

"(4) An order of a court of competent jurisdiction, after the expiration of the applicable appeal period.".

(c) Subsection (f) is repealed.

Sec. 3. 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. 4. Effective date.

(a) 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), a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved

December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.

(b) This act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.