BILL REQ. #:  H-0587.2 

Read first time 01/18/11.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     AN ACT Relating to the notice requirement for homeowners' associations meetings; and amending RCW 64.38.035.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 64.38.035 and 1995 c 283 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A meeting of the association must be held at least once each year. Special meetings of the association may be called by the president, a majority of the board of directors, or by owners having ten percent of the votes in the association.
     (2) Not less than fourteen nor more than sixty days in advance of any meeting of the association, the secretary or other officers specified in the bylaws shall ((cause notice to be hand-delivered or sent)) provide written notice to each owner of record by:
     (a) Hand delivery to the mailing address of the owner or other address designated in writing by the owner;
     (b) Prepaid ((by)) first-class United States mail to the mailing address of ((each)) the owner or to any other mailing address designated in writing by the owner; or
     (c) Electronic transmission to an address, location, or system designated in writing by the owner unless the owner provides to the secretary or other officers specified in the bylaws a written request not to receive notices by electronic transmission.
     (3) The notice of any meeting shall state the time and place of the meeting and the business to be placed on the agenda by the board of directors for a vote by the owners, including the general nature of any proposed amendment to the articles of incorporation, bylaws, any budget or changes in the previously approved budget that result in a change in assessment obligation, and any proposal to remove a director.
     (((2))) (4) Except as provided in this subsection, all meetings of the board of directors shall be open for observation by all owners of record and their authorized agents. The board of directors shall keep minutes of all actions taken by the board, which shall be available to all owners. Upon the affirmative vote in open meeting to assemble in closed session, the board of directors may convene in closed executive session to consider personnel matters; consult with legal counsel or consider communications with legal counsel; and discuss likely or pending litigation, matters involving possible violations of the governing documents of the association, and matters involving the possible liability of an owner to the association. The motion shall state specifically the purpose for the closed session. Reference to the motion and the stated purpose for the closed session shall be included in the minutes. The board of directors shall restrict the consideration of matters during the closed portions of meetings only to those purposes specifically exempted and stated in the motion. No motion, or other action adopted, passed, or agreed to in closed session may become effective unless the board of directors, following the closed session, reconvenes in open meeting and votes in the open meeting on such motion, or other action which is reasonably identified. The requirements of this subsection shall not require the disclosure of information in violation of law or which is otherwise exempt from disclosure.