STATEHOUSE – A bill sponsored by State Rep. Bill Davis (R-Portland) to modernize real estate procedures and increase professionalism among practitioners passed final reading in the House unanimously. The bill will now go to conference committee where members of the House and Senate can concur on amendments to the bill. Senate Bill (SB) 275 would transition all practitioners to broker status, eliminating the license for real estate salespersons. Everyone in the profession would be elevated to the same standards of education and expertise. To streamline the licensing process, the legislation would also provide that licenses issued by the Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) are valid for three years instead of two years as the current law states. By allowing licenses to be valid for an extra year, the PLA could spread out some of its administrative workload. SB 275 would also reduce the number of people appointed by the Indiana Real Estate Commission (REC) to the Real Estate Education Advisory Council (REEAC) from seven to five. The authority of the REC would expand to approve all prelicensing and continuing education courses as recommended by the REEAC. Because education is such an important tool for the 21st century realtor, the REC would be able to develop or approve continuing education requirements within their existing schedule of meetings. The REC currently is scheduled to meet eight times during 2012. “This bill will help cut costs and redundancy within our state government,” said Rep. Davis. “As the business of real estate becomes more and more complicated, Hoosiers will benefit from a better educated, more professional pool of real estate brokers.”
-30- Rep. Davis sponsors bill to cut costs, increase real estate standards, 2-21-12.docx |
