General Not for Profir ofit Corporation Act of 1986.f municipalities, su ordinances go ordinances aff and adminis individual


ual ow


overning condominiums. Those laws and ffect how community associations are operated stered, as well as the rights and obligations of wners.


such as the City ofy y


During every legislat


to community associations. Those bills do ot o not originate in a vacuum. Legislators do not sit around ini a room alone late at night scheming up new laws bent on interfering with community


may havey h y


Leg


those bills arise when an individual constituent or an interest group reaches out to the legislator andr help. Someone or somer


process is the means by which to achieve their objective.r That may meany


y


cannot do. Or perhapsr owner rightsr


additional relief forf further limitationsr additional restrictions on individual


such as foreclosures. Regardless of thef legislators generally doy


reached out to themin the first place. Whether orr


r not any ofy usf


and obligations. However, it can also mean r an association in certain circumstances, bill’s actual purpose,


viewpoints before introducing a bill, but instead, act on the information provided to them by they


who


negatively, we should all want to make sure any proposedy legislation ultimately makesy


toward good law? We communicate with the legislator whor introduced the bill. How does one go about communicating with a legislator? There are several options.


Direct. Each representative or senatorr


covers a designated geographic area. You can determine who your representative and senator arer y


the homepage of thef website is a “Legislator Lookup”r you click onk


Officials” page of thef If youf


click onk the link shownk


address, click “confirmk of yourf


The Illinois Board of Electionf r legislators and their contactr website.


you live. The Illinois General Assembly website (www.ilga. gov) is an excellent resource for legislativer


r has a district that based on where information. On


link. If


that link, you are taken to the “Find My Electedy Illinois State Board of Electionf


there, you can enter yourr


address” and you are provided a list information.


names and contact information for localr


website does not provide elected officials,


such as alderman in Chicago. But there are ways to find your local elected officials too. Remember, if all else fails, ask thek 21st century oracley


Once you know the identity ofy yourf


Google, because Google knows all. r legislator andr


y y


and what position you advocate your legislatorr 16 | COMMON INTEREST®


his or herr


contact information, you can directly contact your legislator about specific bills that affect community associations. You want to make sure you identify whoy


you are, where you live, r to take. You


view a particular bill positively ory good law.* How do we work


r


not go out in search of differentf individual or groupr


un associations. Instead, asks for


aws justj y


group believes that the legislative on what a board can or


because they arey


Assembly, bills are roduced that propose a change in law O or ar new law affecting community associations. Sometimes those bills bring elco times, bills ay


slative session of the Illinois General intr


y welc


lcomed change or clarification. ther the potent


Othe potential for causingr great harm reat


Also, some f Chicago, have their ownr


can even invite them to visit your communityr Di


y


com gene


mmunity erally


sier


y association.


Direct communicationwith your legislator can be on own in a single community association, or evenr their constituents,r


an individual basis, but it can also be through a group of ners


easi thatr get their ear. r Organizations. Industry organizations,y a group of


y associations. Being elected officials, legislators y want to hear fromr you think tok


and it may bey such as CAI,


are active in the legislative process. For example, the CAI- Illinois Legislative Action Committee (“ILAC”) is a group of volunteers from different areas of thef


bills introduced in Springfield. ILAC has its own lobbyist that it closely works


y with. When a bill of particularf


pops up, ILAC and its lobbyist reach out to the legislator who introduced the bill to discuss ILAC’s concerns. That often leads to meetings and discussions with the individual or groupr


lines of communicationf the purpose of shapingf


if enacted.f CAI is not thet


industry whoy monitor r concern


behind the bill. ILAC works hard to maintain open with legislators and stakeholders for a bill so that it wouldmake good law


only industryy y organization.Others include


the Association of Condominium, Townhouse, and Homeowners Association (“ACTHA”), the Association of Sheridanf


the Illinois Association of Lakef or ther


association and support them.t


Another way you can communicate with legislators is to support industry organizations. Your support can be volunteering your time.r y


community association, each industry organizationy money toy operate. For example,r


ILAC must pay itsy without who ILAC would not be half asf is necessary andy


It can also be monetary. Like your needs


lobbyist,


with legislation, legislators, and stakeholders. So even if you are unable to support organizations with your timer talents, your monetary supporty


essential.


Finally, it would be remiss not to mention the CAI Political Action Committee Illinois (“CAI PAC Illinois” or “PAC”). The PAC is a political action committee, which means it donates funds to legislature campaigns. Doing so builds relationships with legislators and maintains open lines of communication. In other words,r way toy communicate with legislators.


supporting PAC is another


Grassroots. Although it can fall under the direct communication umbrella, it is important to separately mention grassroots efforts. If there is an issue that you are passionate about, reach out to other ownersr


in your


community association, as well as other community associations. Find like-minded people, organize yourselves, and start your ownr


grassroots campaign to communicate


with legislators and stakeholders. Certainly, it can take a lot of timef


and effort, but it can be done and can be effective. • Fall 2020 • A Publication of CAI-Illinois Chapter


effective in dealing and


(“NAHC”), to name a few. Find one that bestt your interestsr


and needs or those of yourf


Condominium/Co-op Owners (“ASCO”), Communities (“IALC”),


Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation t fits


r community


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