SB0960 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 08912 SMS 19055 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB0960

Introduced 2/7/2017, by Sen. Neil Anderson

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

225 ILCS 454/1-10
225 ILCS 454/5-10
225 ILCS 454/5-70
225 ILCS 454/5-80
225 ILCS 454/Art. 30 heading
225 ILCS 454/30-5
225 ILCS 454/30-10
225 ILCS 454/30-15
225 ILCS 454/30-20
225 ILCS 454/30-25

Amends the Real Estate License Act of 2000. Creates an education provider license to provides courses in pre-license, post-license, and continuing education subjects related to real estate transactions. Provides the requirements for an education provider license. Makes conforming changes throughout the Act. Creates an education provider instructor license and makes conforming changes throughout the Act. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Real Estate License Act of 2000 is amended by changing Sections 1-10, 5-10, 5-70, 5-80, 30-5, 30-10, 30-15, 30-20, and 30-25 and the heading of Article 30 as follows:

(225 ILCS 454/1-10)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020)

Sec. 1-10. Definitions. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

"Act" means the Real Estate License Act of 2000.

"Address of record" means the designated address recorded by the Department in the applicant's or licensee's application file or license file as maintained by the Department's licensure maintenance unit. It is the duty of the applicant or licensee to inform the Department of any change of address, and those changes must be made either through the Department's website or by contacting the Department.

"Advisory Council" means the Real Estate Education Advisory Council created under Section 30-10 of this Act.

"Agency" means a relationship in which a broker or licensee, whether directly or through an affiliated licensee, represents a consumer by the consumer's consent, whether express or implied, in a real property transaction.

"Applicant" means any person, as defined in this Section, who applies to the Department for a valid license as a managing broker, broker, or leasing agent.

"Blind advertisement" means any real estate advertisement that does not include the sponsoring broker's business name and that is used by any licensee regarding the sale or lease of real estate, including his or her own, licensed activities, or the hiring of any licensee under this Act. The broker's business name in the case of a franchise shall include the franchise affiliation as well as the name of the individual firm.

"Board" means the Real Estate Administration and Disciplinary Board of the Department as created by Section 25-10 of this Act.

"Branch office" means a sponsoring broker's office other than the sponsoring broker's principal office.

"Broker" means an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, or registered limited liability partnership other than a leasing agent who, whether in person or through any media or technology, for another and for compensation, or with the intention or expectation of receiving compensation, either directly or indirectly:

(1) Sells, exchanges, purchases, rents, or leases real estate.

(2) Offers to sell, exchange, purchase, rent, or lease real estate.

(3) Negotiates, offers, attempts, or agrees to negotiate the sale, exchange, purchase, rental, or leasing of real estate.

(4) Lists, offers, attempts, or agrees to list real estate for sale, rent, lease, or exchange.

(5) Buys, sells, offers to buy or sell, or otherwise deals in options on real estate or improvements thereon.

(6) Supervises the collection, offer, attempt, or agreement to collect rent for the use of real estate.

(7) Advertises or represents himself or herself as being engaged in the business of buying, selling, exchanging, renting, or leasing real estate.

(8) Assists or directs in procuring or referring of leads or prospects, intended to result in the sale, exchange, lease, or rental of real estate.

(9) Assists or directs in the negotiation of any transaction intended to result in the sale, exchange, lease, or rental of real estate.

(10) Opens real estate to the public for marketing purposes.

(11) Sells, rents, leases, or offers for sale or lease real estate at auction.

(12) Prepares or provides a broker price opinion or comparative market analysis as those terms are defined in this Act, pursuant to the provisions of Section 10-45 of this Act.

"Brokerage agreement" means a written or oral agreement between a sponsoring broker and a consumer for licensed activities to be provided to a consumer in return for compensation or the right to receive compensation from another. Brokerage agreements may constitute either a bilateral or a unilateral agreement between the broker and the broker's client depending upon the content of the brokerage agreement. All exclusive brokerage agreements shall be in writing.

"Broker price opinion" means an estimate or analysis of the probable selling price of a particular interest in real estate, which may provide a varying level of detail about the property's condition, market, and neighborhood and information on comparable sales. The activities of a real estate broker or managing broker engaging in the ordinary course of business as a broker, as defined in this Section, shall not be considered a broker price opinion if no compensation is paid to the broker or managing broker, other than compensation based upon the sale or rental of real estate.

"Client" means a person who is being represented by a licensee.

"Comparative market analysis" is an analysis or opinion regarding pricing, marketing, or financial aspects relating to a specified interest or interests in real estate that may be based upon an analysis of comparative market data, the expertise of the real estate broker or managing broker, and such other factors as the broker or managing broker may deem appropriate in developing or preparing such analysis or opinion. The activities of a real estate broker or managing broker engaging in the ordinary course of business as a broker, as defined in this Section, shall not be considered a comparative market analysis if no compensation is paid to the broker or managing broker, other than compensation based upon the sale or rental of real estate.

"Compensation" means the valuable consideration given by one person or entity to another person or entity in exchange for the performance of some activity or service. Compensation shall include the transfer of valuable consideration, including without limitation the following:

(1) commissions;

(2) referral fees;

(3) bonuses;

(4) prizes;

(5) merchandise;

(6) finder fees;

(7) performance of services;

(8) coupons or gift certificates;

(9) discounts;

(10) rebates;

(11) a chance to win a raffle, drawing, lottery, or similar game of chance not prohibited by any other law or statute;

(12) retainer fee; or

(13) salary.

"Confidential information" means information obtained by a licensee from a client during the term of a brokerage agreement that (i) was made confidential by the written request or written instruction of the client, (ii) deals with the negotiating position of the client, or (iii) is information the disclosure of which could materially harm the negotiating position of the client, unless at any time:

(1) the client permits the disclosure of information given by that client by word or conduct;

(2) the disclosure is required by law; or

(3) the information becomes public from a source other than the licensee.

"Confidential information" shall not be considered to include material information about the physical condition of the property.

"Consumer" means a person or entity seeking or receiving licensed activities.

"Continuing education school" means any person licensed by the Department as a school for continuing education in accordance with Section 30-15 of this Act.

"Coordinator" means the Coordinator of Real Estate created in Section 25-15 of this Act.

"Credit hour" means 50 minutes of classroom instruction in course work that meets the requirements set forth in rules adopted by the Department.

"Customer" means a consumer who is not being represented by the licensee but for whom the licensee is performing ministerial acts.

"Department" means the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

"Designated agency" means a contractual relationship between a sponsoring broker and a client under Section 15-50 of this Act in which one or more licensees associated with or employed by the broker are designated as agent of the client.

"Designated agent" means a sponsored licensee named by a sponsoring broker as the legal agent of a client, as provided for in Section 15-50 of this Act.

"Dual agency" means an agency relationship in which a licensee is representing both buyer and seller or both landlord and tenant in the same transaction. When the agency relationship is a designated agency, the question of whether there is a dual agency shall be determined by the agency relationships of the designated agent of the parties and not of the sponsoring broker.

"Education provider" means a school licensed by the Department to offer courses in pre-license, post-license, or continuing education subjects related to real estate transactions, including the subjects upon which an applicant is examined in determining fitness to receive a license.

"Employee" or other derivative of the word "employee", when used to refer to, describe, or delineate the relationship between a sponsoring broker and a managing broker, broker, or a leasing agent, shall be construed to include an independent contractor relationship, provided that a written agreement exists that clearly establishes and states the relationship. All responsibilities of a broker shall remain.

"Escrow moneys" means all moneys, promissory notes or any other type or manner of legal tender or financial consideration deposited with any person for the benefit of the parties to the transaction. A transaction exists once an agreement has been reached and an accepted real estate contract signed or lease agreed to by the parties. Escrow moneys includes without limitation earnest moneys and security deposits, except those security deposits in which the person holding the security deposit is also the sole owner of the property being leased and for which the security deposit is being held.

"Electronic means of proctoring" means a methodology providing assurance that the person taking a test and completing the answers to questions is the person seeking licensure or credit for continuing education and is doing so without the aid of a third party or other device.

"Exclusive brokerage agreement" means a written brokerage agreement that provides that the sponsoring broker has the sole right, through one or more sponsored licensees, to act as the exclusive designated agent or representative of the client and that meets the requirements of Section 15-75 of this Act.

"Inoperative" means a status of licensure where the licensee holds a current license under this Act, but the licensee is prohibited from engaging in licensed activities because the licensee is unsponsored or the license of the sponsoring broker with whom the licensee is associated or by whom he or she is employed is currently expired, revoked, suspended, or otherwise rendered invalid under this Act.

"Interactive delivery method" means delivery of a course by an instructor through a medium allowing for 2-way communication between the instructor and a student in which either can initiate or respond to questions.

"Leads" means the name or names of a potential buyer, seller, lessor, lessee, or client of a licensee.

"Leasing Agent" means a person who is employed by a broker to engage in licensed activities limited to leasing residential real estate who has obtained a license as provided for in Section 5-5 of this Act.

"License" means the document issued by the Department certifying that the person named thereon has fulfilled all requirements prerequisite to licensure under this Act.

"Licensed activities" means those activities listed in the definition of "broker" under this Section.

"Licensee" means any person, as defined in this Section, who holds a valid unexpired license as a managing broker, broker, or leasing agent.

"Listing presentation" means a communication between a managing broker or broker and a consumer in which the licensee is attempting to secure a brokerage agreement with the consumer to market the consumer's real estate for sale or lease.

"Managing broker" means a broker who has supervisory responsibilities for licensees in one or, in the case of a multi-office company, more than one office and who has been appointed as such by the sponsoring broker.

"Medium of advertising" means any method of communication intended to influence the general public to use or purchase a particular good or service or real estate.

"Ministerial acts" means those acts that a licensee may perform for a consumer that are informative or clerical in nature and do not rise to the level of active representation on behalf of a consumer. Examples of these acts include without limitation (i) responding to phone inquiries by consumers as to the availability and pricing of brokerage services, (ii) responding to phone inquiries from a consumer concerning the price or location of property, (iii) attending an open house and responding to questions about the property from a consumer, (iv) setting an appointment to view property, (v) responding to questions of consumers walking into a licensee's office concerning brokerage services offered or particular properties, (vi) accompanying an appraiser, inspector, contractor, or similar third party on a visit to a property, (vii) describing a property or the property's condition in response to a consumer's inquiry, (viii) completing business or factual information for a consumer on an offer or contract to purchase on behalf of a client, (ix) showing a client through a property being sold by an owner on his or her own behalf, or (x) referral to another broker or service provider.

"Office" means a broker's place of business where the general public is invited to transact business and where records may be maintained and licenses displayed, whether or not it is the broker's principal place of business.

"Person" means and includes individuals, entities, corporations, limited liability companies, registered limited liability partnerships, and partnerships, foreign or domestic, except that when the context otherwise requires, the term may refer to a single individual or other described entity.

"Personal assistant" means a licensed or unlicensed person who has been hired for the purpose of aiding or assisting a sponsored licensee in the performance of the sponsored licensee's job.

"Pocket card" means the card issued by the Department to signify that the person named on the card is currently licensed under this Act.

"Pre-license school" means a school licensed by the Department offering courses in subjects related to real estate transactions, including the subjects upon which an applicant is examined in determining fitness to receive a license.

"Pre-renewal period" means the period between the date of issue of a currently valid license and the license's expiration date.

"Proctor" means any person, including, but not limited to, an instructor, who has a written agreement to administer examinations fairly and impartially with a licensed education provider pre-license school or a licensed continuing education school.

"Real estate" means and includes leaseholds as well as any other interest or estate in land, whether corporeal, incorporeal, freehold, or non-freehold, including timeshare interests, and whether the real estate is situated in this State or elsewhere.

"Regular employee" means a person working an average of 20 hours per week for a person or entity who would be considered as an employee under the Internal Revenue Service eleven main tests in three categories being behavioral control, financial control and the type of relationship of the parties, formerly the twenty factor test.

"Secretary" means the Secretary of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, or a person authorized by the Secretary to act in the Secretary's stead.

"Sponsoring broker" means the broker who has issued a sponsor card to a licensed managing broker, broker, or a leasing agent.

"Sponsor card" means the temporary permit issued by the sponsoring broker certifying that the managing broker, broker, or leasing agent named thereon is employed by or associated by written agreement with the sponsoring broker, as provided for in Section 5-40 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-531, eff. 8-23-13; 98-1109, eff. 1-1-15; 99-227, eff. 8-3-15.)

(225 ILCS 454/5-10)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020)

Sec. 5-10. Requirements for license as leasing agent.

(a) Every applicant for licensure as a leasing agent must meet the following qualifications:

(1) be at least 18 years of age;

(2) be of good moral character;

(3) successfully complete a 4-year course of study in a high school or secondary school or an equivalent course of study approved by the Illinois State Board of Education;

(4) personally take and pass a written examination authorized by the Department sufficient to demonstrate the applicant's knowledge of the provisions of this Act relating to leasing agents and the applicant's competence to engage in the activities of a licensed leasing agent;

(5) provide satisfactory evidence of having completed 15 hours of instruction in an approved course of study relating to the leasing of residential real property. The course of study shall, among other topics, cover the provisions of this Act applicable to leasing agents; fair housing issues relating to residential leasing; advertising and marketing issues; leases, applications, and credit reports; owner-tenant relationships and owner-tenant laws; the handling of funds; and environmental issues relating to residential real property;

(6) complete any other requirements as set forth by rule; and

(7) present a valid application for issuance of an initial license accompanied by a sponsor card and the fees specified by rule.

(b) No applicant shall engage in any of the activities covered by this Act until a valid sponsor card has been issued to such applicant. The sponsor card shall be valid for a maximum period of 45 days after the date of issuance unless extended for good cause as provided by rule.

(c) Successfully completed course work, completed pursuant to the requirements of this Section, may be applied to the course work requirements to obtain a managing broker's or broker's license as provided by rule. The Advisory Council may recommend through the Board to the Department and the Department may adopt requirements for approved courses, course content, and the approval of courses, instructors, and education providers schools, as well as education provider school and instructor fees. The Department may establish continuing education requirements for licensed leasing agents, by rule, with the advice of the Advisory Council and Board.

(Source: P.A. 99-227, eff. 8-3-15.)

(225 ILCS 454/5-70)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020)

Sec. 5-70. Continuing education requirement; managing broker or broker.

(a) The requirements of this Section apply to all managing brokers and brokers.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, each person who applies for renewal of his or her license as a managing broker or broker must successfully complete 6 hours of real estate continuing education courses approved by the Advisory Council for each year of the pre-renewal period. In addition, beginning with the pre-renewal period for managing broker licensees that begins after the effective date of this Act, those licensees renewing or obtaining a managing broker's license must successfully complete a 12-hour broker management continuing education course approved by the Department each pre-renewal period. The broker management continuing education course must be completed in the classroom or by other interactive delivery method between the instructor and the students. Successful completion of the course shall include achieving a passing score as provided by rule on a test developed and administered in accordance with rules adopted by the Department. No license may be renewed except upon the successful completion of the required courses or their equivalent or upon a waiver of those requirements for good cause shown as determined by the Secretary with the recommendation of the Advisory Council. The requirements of this Article are applicable to all managing brokers and brokers except those managing brokers and brokers who, during the pre-renewal period:

(1) serve in the armed services of the United States;

(2) serve as an elected State or federal official;

(3) serve as a full-time employee of the Department; or

(4) are admitted to practice law pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court rule.

(c) (Blank).

(d) A person receiving an initial license during the 90 days before the renewal date shall not be required to complete the continuing education courses provided for in subsection (b) of this Section as a condition of initial license renewal.

(e) The continuing education requirement for brokers and managing brokers shall consist of a core curriculum and an elective curriculum, to be established by the Advisory Council. In meeting the continuing education requirements of this Act, at least 3 hours per year or their equivalent, 6 hours for each two-year pre-renewal period, shall be required to be completed in the core curriculum. In establishing the core curriculum, the Advisory Council shall consider subjects that will educate licensees on recent changes in applicable laws and new laws and refresh the licensee on areas of the license law and the Department policy that the Advisory Council deems appropriate, and any other areas that the Advisory Council deems timely and applicable in order to prevent violations of this Act and to protect the public. In establishing the elective curriculum, the Advisory Council shall consider subjects that cover the various aspects of the practice of real estate that are covered under the scope of this Act. However, the elective curriculum shall not include any offerings referred to in Section 5-85 of this Act.

(f) The subject areas of continuing education courses approved by the Advisory Council may include without limitation the following:

(1) license law and escrow;

(2) antitrust;

(3) fair housing;

(4) agency;

(5) appraisal;

(6) property management;

(7) residential brokerage;

(8) farm property management;

(9) rights and duties of sellers, buyers, and brokers;

(10) commercial brokerage and leasing; and

(11) real estate financing.

(g) In lieu of credit for those courses listed in subsection (f) of this Section, credit may be earned for serving as a licensed instructor in an approved course of continuing education. The amount of credit earned for teaching a course shall be the amount of continuing education credit for which the course is approved for licensees taking the course.

(h) Credit hours may be earned for self-study programs approved by the Advisory Council.

(i) A managing broker or broker may earn credit for a specific continuing education course only once during the prerenewal period.

(j) No more than 6 hours of continuing education credit may be taken in one calendar day.

(k) To promote the offering of a uniform and consistent course content, the Department may provide for the development of a single broker management course to be offered by all continuing education providers who choose to offer the broker management continuing education course. The Department may contract for the development of the 12-hour broker management continuing education course with an outside vendor or consultant and, if the course is developed in this manner, the Department or the outside consultant shall license the use of that course to all approved continuing education providers who wish to provide the course.

(l) Except as specifically provided in this Act, continuing education credit hours may not be earned for completion of pre or post-license courses. The approved 30-hour post-license course for broker licensees shall satisfy the continuing education requirement for the pre-renewal period in which the course is taken. The approved 45-hour brokerage administration and management course shall satisfy the 12-hour broker management continuing education requirement for the pre-renewal period in which the course is taken.

(Source: P.A. 98-531, eff. 8-23-13; 99-227, eff. 8-3-15; 99-728, eff. 1-1-17.)

(225 ILCS 454/5-80)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020)

Sec. 5-80. Evidence of compliance with continuing education requirements.

(a) Each renewal applicant shall certify, on his or her renewal application, full compliance with continuing education requirements set forth in Section 5-70. The continuing education provider school shall retain and submit to the Department after the completion of each course evidence of those successfully completing the course as provided by rule.

(b) The Department may require additional evidence demonstrating compliance with the continuing education requirements. The renewal applicant shall retain and produce the evidence of compliance upon request of the Department.

(Source: P.A. 96-856, eff. 12-31-09.)

(225 ILCS 454/Art. 30 heading)

ARTICLE 30. EDUCATION PROVIDERS SCHOOLS AND INSTRUCTORS

(225 ILCS 454/30-5)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020)

Sec. 30-5. Licensing of education providers pre-license schools, school branches, and instructors.

(a) No person shall operate an education provider entity without possessing a valid and active license issued by the Department. Only education providers in possession of a valid education provider license may provide real estate pre-license, post-license, or continuing education courses that will satisfy the requirements of this Act. Every person that desires to obtain an education provider license shall make application to the Department in writing on forms prescribed by the Department and pay the fee prescribed by rule. In addition to any other information required to be contained in the application as prescribed by rule, every application for an original or renewed license shall include the applicant's Social Security number.

(b) The criteria for an education provider license shall include the following:

(1) A sound financial base for establishing, promoting, and delivering the necessary courses. Budget planning for the school's courses should be clearly projected.

(2) A sufficient number of qualified, licensed instructors as provided by rule.

(3) Adequate support personnel to assist with administrative matters and technical assistance.

(4) Maintenance and availability of records of participation for licensees.

(5) The ability to provide each participant who successfully completes an approved program with a certificate of completion signed by the administrator of the licensed education provider on forms provided by the Department.

(6) The education provider must have a written policy dealing with procedures for the management of grievances and fee refunds.

(7) The education provider shall maintain lesson plans and examinations for each course.

(8) The education provider shall require a 70% passing grade for successful completion of any continuing education course.

(9) The education provider shall identify and use instructors who will teach in a planned program. Suggested criteria for instructor selections include:

(A) appropriate credentials;

(B) competence as a teacher;

(C) knowledge of content area; and

(D) qualification by experience.

(10) The education provider shall provide a proctor or an electronic means of proctoring for each examination. The education provider shall be responsible for the conduct of the proctor. The duties and responsibilities of a proctor shall be established by rule.

(11) The education provider must provide for closed book examinations for each course unless the Advisory Council excuses this requirement based on the complexity of the course material.

(c) Advertising and promotion of education activities must be carried out in a responsible fashion, clearly showing the educational objectives of the activity, the nature of the audience that may benefit from the activity, the cost of the activity to the participant and the items covered by the cost, the amount of credit that can be earned, and the credentials of the faculty.

(d) The Department may or, upon request of the Advisory Council, shall, after notice, cause an education provider to attend an informal conference before the Advisory Council for failure to comply with any requirement for licensure or for failure to comply with any provision of this Act or the rules for the administration of this Act. The Advisory Council shall make a recommendation to the Board as a result of its findings at the conclusion of any such informal conference.

(e) All education providers shall maintain the minimum criteria and pay the required fee in order to retain their education provider license.

(f) The Department is authorized to adopt any administrative rule that may be necessary for the implementation and enforcement of this Section.

(a) No person shall operate a pre-license school or school branch without possessing a valid pre-license school or school branch license issued by the Department. No person shall act as a pre-license instructor at a pre-license school or school branch without possessing a valid pre-license instructor license issued by the Department. Every person who desires to obtain a pre-license school, school branch, or pre-license instructor license shall make application to the Department in writing in form and substance satisfactory to the Department and pay the required fees prescribed by rule. In addition to any other information required to be contained in the application, every application for an original license shall include the applicant's Social Security number, which shall be retained in the agency's records pertaining to the license. As soon as practical, the Department shall assign a customer's identification number to each applicant for a license.

Every application for a renewal or restored license shall require the applicant's customer identification number.

The Department shall issue a pre-license school, school branch, or pre-license instructor license to applicants who meet qualification criteria established by rule. The Department may refuse to issue, suspend, revoke, or otherwise discipline a pre-license school, school branch, or pre-license instructor license or may withdraw approval of a course offered by a pre-license school for good cause. Disciplinary proceedings shall be conducted by the Board in the same manner as other disciplinary proceedings under this Act.

(b) All pre-license instructors must teach at least one course within the period of licensure or take an instructor training program approved by the Department in lieu thereof. A pre-license instructor may teach at more than one licensed pre-license school.

(c) The term of license for pre-license schools, branches, and instructors shall be 2 years as established by rule.

(d) The Department or the Advisory Council may, after notice, cause a pre-license school to attend an informal conference before the Advisory Council for failure to comply with any requirement for licensure or for failure to comply with any provision of this Act or the rules for the administration of this Act. The Advisory Council shall make a recommendation to the Board as a result of its findings at the conclusion of any such informal conference.

(e) For purposes of this Section, the term "pre-license" shall also include the 30-hour post-license course required to be taken to retain a broker's license.

(Source: P.A. 96-856, eff. 12-31-09; 97-400, eff. 1-1-12.)

(225 ILCS 454/30-10)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020)

Sec. 30-10. Advisory Council; powers and duties. There is created within the Department an Advisory Council to be comprised of 5 members appointed by the Governor. The members' terms shall be 4 years or until their successor is appointed and the expiration of their terms shall be staggered. No member shall be reappointed to the Advisory Council for a term that would cause his or her service on the Advisory Council to be longer than 12 years in a lifetime. Two of the members shall be licensees who are current members of the Board, one member shall be a representative of an Illinois real estate trade organization who is not a member of the Board, one member shall be a representative of a licensed education provider pre-license school or continuing education school, and one member shall be a representative of an institution of higher education that offers pre-license and continuing education courses. The Real Estate Coordinator shall serve as the chairman of the Advisory Council, ex officio, without vote. Three Advisory Council members shall constitute a quorum. A quorum is required for all Advisory Council decisions. The Advisory Council shall recommend criteria for the licensing and renewal of education providers, and pre-license schools, pre-license instructors, continuing education schools, and continuing education instructors; review applications for these licenses to determine if the applicants meet the qualifications for licensure established in this Act and by rule; approve education provider pre-license school and continuing education curricula; and make recommendations to the Board regarding rules to be adopted for the conduct of education providers schools and instructors and the administration of the education provisions of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 96-856, eff. 12-31-09.)

(225 ILCS 454/30-15)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020)

Sec. 30-15. Approval Licensing of continuing education schools; approval of courses.

(a) (Blank). Only continuing education schools in possession of a valid continuing education school license may provide real estate continuing education courses that will satisfy the requirements of this Act. Pre-license schools licensed to offer pre-license education courses for brokers, managing brokers, or leasing agents shall qualify for a continuing education school license upon completion of an application and the submission of the required fee. Every entity that desires to obtain a continuing education school license shall make application to the Department in writing in forms prescribed by the Department and pay the fee prescribed by rule. In addition to any other information required to be contained in the application, every application for an original or renewed license shall include the applicant's Social Security number.

(b) (Blank). The criteria for a continuing education license shall include the following:

(1) A sound financial base for establishing, promoting, and delivering the necessary courses. Budget planning for the School's courses should be clearly projected.

(2) A sufficient number of qualified, licensed instructors as provided by rule.

(3) Adequate support personnel to assist with administrative matters and technical assistance.

(4) Maintenance and availability of records of participation for licensees.

(5) The ability to provide each participant who successfully completes an approved program with a certificate of completion signed by the administrator of a licensed continuing education school on forms provided by the Department.

(6) The continuing education school must have a written policy dealing with procedures for the management of grievances and fee refunds.

(7) The continuing education school shall maintain lesson plans and examinations for each course.

(8) The continuing education school shall require a 70% passing grade for successful completion of any continuing education course.

(9) The continuing education school shall identify and use instructors who will teach in a planned program. Suggested criteria for instructor selections include:

(A) appropriate credentials;

(B) competence as a teacher;

(C) knowledge of content area; and

(D) qualification by experience.

(10) The continuing education school shall provide a proctor or an electronic means of proctoring for each examination. The continuing education school shall be responsible for the conduct of the proctor. The duties and responsibilities of a proctor shall be established by rule.

(11) The continuing education school must provide for closed book examinations for each course unless the Advisory Council excuses this requirement based on the complexity of the course material.

(c) (Blank). Advertising and promotion of continuing education activities must be carried out in a responsible fashion, clearly showing the educational objectives of the activity, the nature of the audience that may benefit from the activity, the cost of the activity to the participant and the items covered by the cost, the amount of credit that can be earned, and the credentials of the faculty.

(d) (Blank). The Department may or upon request of the Advisory Council shall, after notice, cause a continuing education school to attend an informal conference before the Advisory Council for failure to comply with any requirement for licensure or for failure to comply with any provision of this Act or the rules for the administration of this Act. The Advisory Council shall make a recommendation to the Board as a result of its findings at the conclusion of any such informal conference.

(e) (Blank). All continuing education schools shall maintain these minimum criteria and pay the required fee in order to retain their continuing education school license.

(f) All education providers continuing education schools shall submit, at the time of initial application and with each license renewal, a list of courses with course materials to be offered by the education provider continuing education school. The Department, however, shall establish a mechanism whereby the education provider continuing education schools may apply for and obtain approval for pre-license, post-license, or continuing education courses that are submitted after the time of initial application or renewal. The Department shall provide to each education provider continuing education school a certificate for each approved pre-license, post-license, or continuing education course. All pre-license, post-license, or continuing education courses shall be valid for the period coinciding with the term of license of the education provider continuing education school. All education providers continuing education schools shall provide a copy of the certificate of the pre-license, post-license, or continuing education course within the course materials given to each student or shall display a copy of the certificate of the pre-license, post-license, or continuing education course in a conspicuous place at the location of the class.

(g) Each education provider continuing education school shall provide to the Department a monthly report in a format determined by the Department, with information concerning students who successfully completed all approved pre-license, post-license, or continuing education courses offered by the education provider continuing education school for the prior month.

(h) The Department, upon the recommendation of the Advisory Council, may temporarily suspend a licensed education provider's continuing education school's approved courses without hearing and refuse to accept successful completion of or participation in any of these pre-license, post-license, or continuing education courses for continuing education credit from that education provider school upon the failure of that education provider continuing education school to comply with the provisions of this Act or the rules for the administration of this Act, until such time as the Department receives satisfactory assurance of compliance. The Department shall notify the education provider continuing education school of the noncompliance and may initiate disciplinary proceedings pursuant to this Act. The Department may refuse to issue, suspend, revoke, or otherwise discipline the license of an education provider a continuing education school or may withdraw approval of a pre-license, post-license, or continuing education course for good cause. Failure to comply with the requirements of this Section or any other requirements established by rule shall be deemed to be good cause. Disciplinary proceedings shall be conducted by the Board in the same manner as other disciplinary proceedings under this Act.

(i) The Department is authorized to adopt any administrative rule that may be necessary for the implementation and enforcement of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 99-227, eff. 8-3-15.)

(225 ILCS 454/30-20)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020)

Sec. 30-20. Fees for education provider continuing education school license; renewal; term. All applications for an education provider a continuing education school license shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee in an amount established by rule. All education providers continuing education schools shall be required to submit a renewal application, the required fee as established by rule, and a listing of the courses to be offered during the year in order to renew their education provider continuing education school licenses. The term for an education provider a continuing education school license shall be 2 years and as established by rule. The fees collected under this Article 30 shall be deposited in the Real Estate License Administration Fund and shall be used to defray the cost of administration of the program and per diem of the Advisory Council as determined by the Secretary.

(Source: P.A. 96-856, eff. 12-31-09.)

(225 ILCS 454/30-25)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020)

Sec. 30-25. Licensing of education provider continuing education instructors.

(a) No such person shall act as an education provider a continuing education instructor at a continuing education school or branch without possessing a valid education provider continuing education instructor license and satisfying any other qualification criteria established by the Department by rule.

(b) After the effective date of this Act, every person who desires to obtain an education provider instructor a continuing education instructor's license shall attend and successfully complete a one-day instructor development workshop, as approved by the Department. The term of licensure for an education provider a continuing education instructor shall be 2 years and as established by rule. Every person who desires to obtain an educator provider a continuing education instructor license shall make application to the Department in writing on forms prescribed by the Department Office, accompanied by the fee prescribed by rule. In addition to any other information required to be contained in the application, every application for an original license shall include the applicant's Social Security number, which shall be retained in the agency's records pertaining to the license. As soon as practical, the Department shall assign a customer's identification number to each applicant for a license.

Every application for a renewal or restored license shall require the applicant's customer identification number.

The Department shall issue an education provider a continuing education instructor license to applicants who meet qualification criteria established by this Act or rule.

(c) The Department may refuse to issue, suspend, revoke, or otherwise discipline an education provider a continuing education instructor for good cause. Disciplinary proceedings shall be conducted by the Board in the same manner as other disciplinary proceedings under this Act. All continuing education provider instructors must teach at least one course within the period of licensure or take an instructor training program approved by the Department in lieu thereof.

(d) An education provider instructor may teach at more than one licensed education provider.

(e) The Department is authorized to adopt any administrative rule that may be necessary for the implementation and enforcement of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 96-856, eff. 12-31-09; 97-400, eff. 1-1-12.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.