A number of manager licensing initiatives are moving through legislatures across the country.  CAI has been working with diverse groups to support these bills and provide a mechanism to ensure accountability, consumer protection, and adequate education and skill requirements are addressed.  It appears that the Commonwealth of Virginia will be the first out of the chute with a new licensing law.
 
On Tuesday, March 4, 2008, the Virginia General Assembly passed HB 516, requiring the Commonwealth’s professional community association managers to be licensed. The bill moves to Governor Tim Kaine (D) for his signature.  If signed, the law becomes effective July 1, 2008.
 
Under the bill, individuals and entities offering management services to community associations in the Commonwealth must be licensed with the Common Interest Community Board (the Board).  The Board, to be appointed by the Governor, will be comprised of representatives of the management industry and community associations.
 
Under the law, employees of community association management firms who have principal or supervisory responsibility for persons providing management services must be certified according to standards established by regulations adopted by the Common Interest Community Board.  Specific language in the statute allows those standards to be met by any manager holding a Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA), an Association Management Specialist (AMS), a Professional Community Associations Manager (PCAM), or a company holding an Accredited Association Management Company designation.
 
Provisional Licenses; Future Board Actions
 
The Board will issue provisional licenses to individuals and entities after July 1, 2008, until December 31, 2008. After that time, applicants will have to meet all licensing requirements. The provisional licenses will be valid until June, 2011.
 
Over the course of this summer, the appointed Board will begin the process of developing regulations to implement the requirements of the legislation – which include substantial other provisions that will affect community associations: establishing an office of community association ombudsman, and substantial modifications to resale disclosure requirements.
 
A brief Q&A is included in the attached file.  As more details about implementation of this far-reaching bill become known, and once it is signed by the governor, CAI will pass it on to our members.  Check back to our Political Heads-Up page for more information as it becomes available.