HOUSE BILL No. 6199

 

June 14, 2006, Introduced by Rep. Gosselin and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

     A bill to amend 1978 PA 59, entitled

 

"Condominium act,"

 

(MCL 559.101 to 559.276) by adding section 63a.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 63a. (1) The office of the condominium ombudsman is

 

created in the administrator. The condominium ombudsman shall

 

develop programs to do all of the following:

 

     (a) Assist the private sector to understand their legal rights

 

and responsibilities under the law and the condominium documents.

 

     (b) Monitor and review procedures and disputes concerning

 

condominium elections and meetings.

 

     (c) Encourage and facilitate voluntary meetings with and

 

between condominium unit owners, the association of co-owners, the

 


board of directors for the association of co-owners, and other

 

interested or affected parties.

 

     (d) Act as a neutral resource concerning the rights and

 

responsibilities of individual condominium unit owners and the

 

association of co-owners and any board of directors for the

 

association of co-owners.

 

     (e) Assist in resolving informal disputes within an

 

association of co-owners.

 

     (f) Report on a periodic basis to the governor, the

 

administrator, and the legislature regarding recommended changes to

 

this act.

 

     (2) The head of the office of the condominium ombudsman shall

 

be appointed by the governor. The head of the office of the

 

condominium ombudsman shall be an attorney licensed to practice law

 

in this state and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. A

 

vacancy in the office shall be filled in the same manner as the

 

original appointment.

 

     (3) An officer or full-time employee of the condominium

 

ombudsman shall not do any of the following:

 

     (a) Engage in any other business or profession.

 

     (b) Serve as the representative or employee of a political

 

party.

 

     (c) Receive remuneration for activities on behalf of any

 

candidate for public office.

 

     (d) Engage in solicitation of votes for any candidate for

 

public office.

 

     (e) Become a candidate for public office before resigning from

 


his or her position with the condominium ombudsman.