HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5231

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                      Commerce & Labor

Title:  An act relating to real estate continuing education.

Brief Description:  Providing that examinations not be required for real estate licensees' continuing education.

Sponsor(s):  Senator McCaslin.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Commerce & Labor, April 5, 1991, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Heavey, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Fuhrman, Ranking Minority Member; Lisk, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Franklin; Jones; R. King; O'Brien; Prentice; and Wilson.

Staff:  Jim Kelley (786-7166).

Background:  A real estate broker or salesperson must complete 30 hours of state-approved continuing education course work every two years as a condition of renewal of his or her license.  An examination is a required component of a state-approved continuing education course.  A broker or salesperson must pass the examination to receive credit for the course taken.

Summary of Amended Bill:  An examination is no longer a required component of a state-approved continuing education class for real estate brokers and salespersons.  A broker or salesperson may receive credit for taking a continuing education class without passing an examination.  A person holding a lapsed broker's or salesperson's license may reactivate the license, without examination, by completing 60 hours of continuing education.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The amended bill allows a person with a lapsed real estate license to reactivate the license, without examination, by completing 60 hours of continuing education.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill has the support of the industry.  There will be safeguards to ensure that the continuing education students do attend class for all of the required hours.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Van Anderson and Glen Hudson, Washington Association of Realtors (in favor).