Legislative Pulse - May 2015

Board of Directors Elections  

November 2015   

 

Elections for the 2016-2017 CAA Board of Directors are right around the corner.  The board term starts January 1, 2016 and runs for 2 years.  Nominations will be accepted starting this fall for members who are interested.  For more information, reach out to Katie Chapman, KChapman@CharlestonApartmentAssociation.com.  

House Rejects Bid to Cut Core Military Housing Benefit

 

The House passed the annual "National Defense Authorization Act," rejecting a Department of Defense proposal to cut back the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), on May 15. The BAH is a core military benefit that compensates service members for their housing costs and a cut could jeopardize the continued success of the privatized military housing program.

NAA/NMHC circulated letters to both the House and Senate in support of the BAH. They will continue to raise awareness among lawmakers about the negative impacts of any reduction in military housing benefits.

The House broadly pushed back on the Obama Administration's plans to roll back military pay and benefits, instead continuing to review comprehensive compensation recommendations made through the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission released earlier this year.  Importantly, the Commission did not recommend any changes to the BAH or military housing programs.

The Pentagon continues to argue that to combat budget challenges it must confront rising personnel costs.  The Senate has begun consideration of their version of the bill and is poised to move forward with a modest adjustment to the BAH for FY 2016.

*Provided by NMHC as part of the NAA/NMHC Joint Legislative Program.

South Carolina Apartment Association Update

The South Carolina Apartment Association (SCAA) attended the Real Estate Commission meeting this week to share their perspective on the experience requirement for property managers. The Commission agreed to the compromise they reached to get rid of the experience requirement in favor of a prerequisite PMIC course. The draft language now reads:

(4) For a property manager-in-charge license:

(a) completion of qualifications for an active property manager license; and

(b) completion of seven (7) hours of Commission approved instruction in property management accounting and record keeping.

Although the Commission has approved this draft, legislation has not yet been introduced.   SCAA will certainly let us know when a bill is filed.