SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5231

                        AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 6, 1991

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

SPONSORS:Senator McCaslin.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Matson, Chairman; Anderson, Vice Chairman; Bluechel, McCaslin, McMullen, and Murray. 

Staff:  Traci Anderson (786‑7452)

Hearing Dates:February 6, 1991; February 18, 1991

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

BACKGROUND:

Current law requires real estate brokers and salespersons to complete 30 hours of state-approved continuing education course work every two years as a condition for the renewal of their licenses.  Examinations are a required component of state-approved continuing education courses.  Brokers and salespersons must pass such examinations to receive credit for the courses taken.

SUMMARY:

Examinations are no longer a required component of state- approved continuing education classes for real estate brokers and salespersons.  Brokers and salespersons can now receive credit for taking a continuing education class without passing an examination.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

Current law requires instructors of state-approved continuing education classes to give exams, with a specific number of test questions that must be included on the exam, based on the number of class hours taught.  Requiring individuals to take an exam is not an effective way of measuring the knowledge obtained by an individual.  This is especially true if the course is a short two or three-hour class.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Tricia Page, Evangeline Anderson, Glen Hudson, Washington Association of Realtors (pro); Sid Beckett, Administrator, Department of Licensing; Bob Mitchell, Program Manager, Department of Licensing

HOUSE AMENDMENT(S):

The House striking amendment contains all elements of the original Senate bill.  In addition, a new provision is added to the bill that allows a person holding a lapsed real estate license to reactivate the license by satisfying the procedures and requirements as prescribed by the director of the Department of Licensing.