(1) There is hereby created, within the division of real estate, the HOA information and resource center, the head of which shall be the HOA information officer. The HOA information officer shall be appointed by the executive director of the department of regulatory agencies pursuant to section 13 of article XII of the state constitution.

(2) The HOA information officer shall be familiar with the "Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act", article 33.3 of title 38, C.R.S., also referred to in this section as the "act". No person who is or, within the immediately preceding ten years, has been licensed by or registered with the division of real estate or who owns stocks, bonds, or any pecuniary interest in a corporation subject in whole or in part to regulation by the division of real estate shall be appointed as HOA information officer. In addition, in conducting the search for an appointee, the executive director of the division of real estate shall place a high premium on candidates who are balanced, independent, unbiased, and without any current financial ties to an HOA board or board member or to any person or entity that provides HOA management services. After being appointed, the HOA information officer shall refrain from engaging in any conduct or relationship that would create a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest.

(3) (a) The HOA information officer shall act as a clearing house for information concerning the basic rights and duties of unit owners, declarants, and unit owners' associations under the act by:

(I) Compiling a database about registered associations, including the name; address; email address, if any; website, if any; and telephone number of each;

(II) Coordinating and assisting in the preparation of educational and reference materials, including materials to assist unit owners, executive boards, board members, and association managers in understanding their rights and responsibilities with respect to:

(A) Open meetings;

(B) Proper use of executive sessions;

(C) Removal of executive board members;

(D) Unit owners' right to speak at meetings of the executive board;

(E) Unit owners' obligation to pay assessments and the association's rights and responsibilities in pursuing collection of past-due amounts; and

(F) Other educational or reference materials that the HOA information officer deems necessary or appropriate;

(III) Monitoring changes in federal and state laws relating to common interest communities and providing information about the changes on the division of real estate's website; and

(IV) Providing information, including a "frequently asked questions" resource, on the division of real estate's website.

(b) The HOA information officer may:

(I) Employ one or more assistants as may be necessary to carry out his or her duties; and

(II) Request certain records from associations as necessary to carry out the HOA information officer's duties as set forth in this section.

(c) The HOA information officer shall track inquiries and complaints and report annually to the director of the division of real estate regarding the number and types of inquiries and complaints received.

(4) The operating expenses of the HOA information and resource center shall be paid from the division of real estate cash fund, created in section 12-61-111.5, subject to annual appropriation.

(5) The director of the division of real estate may adopt rules as necessary to implement this section and section 38-33.3-401, C.R.S. This subsection (5) shall not be construed to confer additional rule-making authority upon the director for any other purpose.

(6) This section is repealed, effective September 1, 2020. Prior to such repeal, the HOA information and resource center and the HOA information officer's powers and duties under this section shall be reviewed in accordance with section 24-34-104, C.R.S.