HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5510

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Senators Warnke, McCaslin and Smitherman; by request of Department of Licensing)

Modifying provisions relating to real estate licenses.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Wang, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Fisch, Fisher, R. King, O'Brien, Patrick, Sanders, Sayan, C. Smith and Walker.

House Staff:Joan Elgee (786-7166)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 16, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Licensing licenses persons to act as real estate brokers and salespersons.  A salesperson must generally be a Washington resident. A nonresident salesperson may operate under a licensed nonresident broker, but to be licensed the broker must live in a state which grants reciprocal privileges to Washington residents.  A salesperson must complete a 30 clock hour course in real estate to obtain a license and again upon renewal of the license.

The director's enforcement power includes the authority to suspend, revoke, and refuse to renew a real estate license.  License fees are set forth in statute.

SUMMARY:

The residency requirement and reciprocity provisions for real estate brokers and salespersons are removed.  The director of the Department of Licensing shall establish standards for licensure of persons licensed in other jurisdictions by rule.

If the director finds the individual otherwise qualified, the director may waive the 30 hour education requirements for salespersons.

The director is given authority to impose fines on licensees, not to exceed $1,000, in addition to other enforcement authority.  The director is also given specific authority to enforce the chapter by refusing to issue a license to an applicant.  The fines collected are to be deposited in the real estate commission account and used solely for the education of licensees.  The director may institute a program of education at institutions of higher education.

License fees are to be established by rule, rather than placed in statute, and the director shall establish a fee for the certification of real estate schools.  The statutory renewal date for corporate licenses is deleted and instead the director is given authority to establish renewal dates by rule.

Fingerprinting of applicants is no longer required.

Gender references are deleted and other technical changes are made.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    John Clark, Department of Licensing.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The department requests this bill.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.