|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S.B. 560
|
|
VETOES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The provisions of Senate Bill 560 that alter the requirements for individuals who
have been licensed for 10 years or more represent a significant departure from the
policy adopted by the General Assembly in 1998. Chapter 360 of the Acts of 1998
reduced the continuing education requirements for those licensees from 15
clock-hours to 6 clock-hours regarding relevant changes to federal, State or local
laws. Senate Bill 560 would increase this requirement to at least 7.5 hours, and
possibly 15 hours, for these individuals. I find it troubling that a licensee who is
currently required to complete 6 hours of continuing education would now, 4 years
after the law was changed, again have to complete 15 hours unless the individual
chooses to join a "nationally recognized real estate trade association." No policy
justification has been advanced to justify this change so soon after the clock hour
requirement was reduced.
Since the passage of Senate Bill 560, I have received over 75 letters from licensees
requesting that I veto the bill. These individuals have been licensed for many years,
but for various reasons have chosen not to join a trade association. Now, they will be
faced with the decision to complete an additional 9 clock-hours of instruction, or pay
dues to an organization they have consciously decided not to join. These Marylanders
have expressed their opinion that they are being forced to take additional courses or
sign up for a membership drive for no apparent policy reason.
The new requirement regarding an enhanced ethics course is meritorious. That
requirement could have been integrated into the current continuing education
program without imposing additional burdens on licensees. The importance of the
ethics course does not, in my opinion, outweigh the interests of the individuals who
will be affected by the arbitrary reversal of the 1998 decision to reduce the continuing
education requirements for long-term licensees.
For the above reasons, I have vetoed Senate Bill 560.
Sincerely,
Parris N. Glendening
Governor
Senate Bill No. 560
AN ACT concerning
Business Occupations and Professions - Real Estate Licenses - Continuing
Education Requirements for Licensure and Renewal
FOR the purpose of requiring an applicant for licensure as a real estate salesperson,
associate real estate broker, or real estate broker to take a course in real estate
ethics; altering the circumstances under which a real estate licensee qualifies for
renewal of a license; authorizing certain licensees holding a license from another
state to substitute certain clock hours of continuing education instruction;
expanding the subject matter for continuing education instruction that is
approved by the State Real Estate Commission; adding a requirement for a
certain course in continuing education instruction to be offered during certain
years, including a discussion of certain practices; adding a provision through
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 4690 -
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
