H-901                _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1287

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Day, Chandler, Crane, Winsley, Dellwo, Schmidt and P. King

Read first time 1/20/89 and referred to Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance.

AN ACT Relating to the license renewal of escrow officers; and amending RCW 18.44.300.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 23, chapter 156, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. as amended by section 5, chapter 340, Laws of 1985 and RCW 18.44.300 are each amended to read as follows:

          Any person desiring to be an escrow officer must include with the application a license fee.  Every escrow officer license issued under the provisions of this chapter expires on the date one year from the date of issue which date will henceforth be the renewal date.  An annual license renewal fee in the same amount must be paid on or before each renewal date:  PROVIDED, That licenses issued or renewed prior to September 21, 1977 shall use the existing renewal date as the date of issue.  If the application for a renewal license is not received by the director on or before the renewal date such license is expired.  The license may be reinstated at any time prior to the next succeeding renewal date following its expiration upon the payment to the director of the annual renewal fee then in default.  Acceptance by the director of an application for renewal after the renewal date shall not be a waiver of the delinquency.  Licenses not renewed within one year of the renewal date then in default shall be canceled.  The director may accept and approve an application for renewal after the next succeeding renewal date if the application contains appropriate certification demonstrating that the applicant has been employed during a significant portion of the unlicensed period by an escrow agent, including those exempt under RCW 18.44.020, and the applicant's primary duties for such escrow agent were handling escrow transactions substantially in the manner as escrow officers under this chapter.  A new license may be obtained by satisfying the procedures and qualifications for initial licensing, including where applicable successful completion of examinations.