Common interest developments: association management and meeting procedures.

Assembly Member DeMaio's Homeowner Association Accountability and Transparency Act revises California's Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act to modify how homeowner associations conduct meetings, maintain records, and communicate with members. The legislation mandates electronic recording of open board meetings and requires associations to provide members access to these recordings alongside traditional meeting minutes.

The bill establishes new requirements for board communications and decision-making processes. Boards must provide individual notice of proposed rule changes to members at least 28 days before implementation, and board majorities are prohibited from conducting association business discussions outside authorized meetings. When associations become involved in litigation or file insurance claims, boards must announce these actions at subsequent meetings and document specific details, including court names and case numbers, in meeting minutes.

For association elections, the legislation modifies voting procedures and record-keeping requirements. Associations must maintain comprehensive election materials, including ballots and voter lists, for one year after each election. The bill permits electronic secret ballots for certain votes while maintaining written ballot options. Members cannot be denied ballots except for non-membership status at the time of distribution.

The act expands member access to association records and establishes cost limitations for document requests. Electronic distribution of minutes becomes free of charge, and associations must provide detailed meeting minutes containing specific elements such as attendance records and voting outcomes. Members may bring civil actions in either superior or small claims court to enforce their rights under these provisions, with courts authorized to void actions taken at meetings conducted in violation of the law.