97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB5359

 

Introduced 2/15/2012, by Rep. Robert Rita

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
225 ILCS 454/5-70
225 ILCS 454/10-30
225 ILCS 454/20-20
225 ILCS 454/20-78 new
225 ILCS 454/20-90
225 ILCS 454/20-95
225 ILCS 454/20-115

    Amends the Real Estate License Act of 2000. Creates a provision concerning the confidentiality of all information collected by the Department in the course of an examination or investigation of a licensee or applicant. Removes language that provides that when any aggrieved party commences action for a judgment that may result in collection from the Real Estate Recovery Fund, the aggrieved person must notify the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation in writing to this effect within 7 days of the commencement of the action. Provides that an aggrieved party, in an action that may result in a judgment that may result in the collection from the Real Estate Recovery Fund, shall give written notice to the Department within 30 days after entry of the judgment and provide the Department with copies of the pleadings upon which the default judgment was entered and of the default judgment order. Provides that the Department shall file a written response with the court stating that the Department has no objection to a claim on the Real Estate Recovery Fund by the aggrieved party or that the Department objects to such claim stating the basis for such objection. Provides that there is no limitation as to when an action against a person for violating the terms of the Act or its rules may be taken by the Department if it is alleged that an initial application for licensure contains false or misleading information. Also makes changes in provisions concerning continuing education requirements; managing brokers, brokers, or salespersons; advertising; grounds for discipline; and power of the Department to defend. Effective immediately.


LRB097 19406 CEL 64659 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5359LRB097 19406 CEL 64659 b

1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Real Estate License Act of 2000 is amended
5by changing Sections 5-70, 10-30, 20-20, 20-90, 20-95, and
620-115 and by adding Section 20-78 as follows:
 
7    (225 ILCS 454/5-70)
8    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020)
9    Sec. 5-70. Continuing education requirement; managing
10broker, broker, or salesperson.
11    (a) The requirements of this Section apply to all managing
12brokers, brokers, and salespersons.
13    (b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, each
14person who applies for renewal of his or her license as a
15managing broker, real estate broker, or real estate salesperson
16must successfully complete 6 hours of real estate continuing
17education courses approved by the Advisory Council for each
18year of the pre-renewal period. Broker licensees must
19successfully complete a 6-hour broker management continuing
20education course approved by the Department for the pre-renewal
21period ending April 30, 2010. In addition, beginning with the
22pre-renewal period for managing broker licensees that begins
23after the effective date of this Act, those licensees renewing

 

 

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1or obtaining a managing broker's license must successfully
2complete a 12-hour broker management continuing education
3course approved by the Department each pre-renewal period. The
4broker management continuing education course must be
5completed in the classroom or by other interactive delivery
6method presenting instruction and real time discussion between
7the instructor and the students. Successful completion of the
8course shall include achieving a passing score as provided by
9rule on a test developed and administered in accordance with
10rules adopted by the Department. No license may be renewed
11except upon the successful completion of the required courses
12or their equivalent or upon a waiver of those requirements for
13good cause shown as determined by the Secretary with the
14recommendation of the Advisory Council. The requirements of
15this Article are applicable to all managing brokers, brokers,
16and salespersons except those brokers and salespersons who,
17during the pre-renewal period:
18        (1) serve in the armed services of the United States;
19        (2) serve as an elected State or federal official;
20        (3) serve as a full-time employee of the Department; or
21        (4) are admitted to practice law pursuant to Illinois
22    Supreme Court rule.
23    (c) A person licensed as a salesperson as of April 30, 2011
24shall not be required to complete the 18 hours of continuing
25education for the pre-renewal period ending April 30, 2012 if
26that person takes the 30-hour post-licensing course to obtain a

 

 

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1broker's license. A person licensed as a broker as of April 30,
22011 shall not be required to complete the 12 hours of broker
3management continuing education for the pre-renewal period
4ending April 30, 2012, unless that person passes the
5proficiency exam provided for in Section 5-47 of this Act to
6qualify for a managing broker's license.
7    (d) A person receiving an initial license during the 90
8days before the renewal date shall not be required to complete
9the continuing education courses provided for in subsection (b)
10of this Section as a condition of initial license renewal.
11    (e) The continuing education requirement for salespersons,
12brokers and managing brokers shall consist of a core curriculum
13and an elective curriculum, to be established by the Advisory
14Council. In meeting the continuing education requirements of
15this Act, at least 3 hours per year or their equivalent, 6
16hours for each two-year pre-renewal period, shall be required
17to be completed in the core curriculum. In establishing the
18core curriculum, the Advisory Council shall consider subjects
19that will educate licensees on recent changes in applicable
20laws and new laws and refresh the licensee on areas of the
21license law and the Department policy that the Advisory Council
22deems appropriate, and any other areas that the Advisory
23Council deems timely and applicable in order to prevent
24violations of this Act and to protect the public. In
25establishing the elective curriculum, the Advisory Council
26shall consider subjects that cover the various aspects of the

 

 

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1practice of real estate that are covered under the scope of
2this Act. However, the elective curriculum shall not include
3any offerings referred to in Section 5-85 of this Act.
4    (f) The subject areas of continuing education courses
5approved by the Advisory Council may include without limitation
6the following:
7        (1) license law and escrow;
8        (2) antitrust;
9        (3) fair housing;
10        (4) agency;
11        (5) appraisal;
12        (6) property management;
13        (7) residential brokerage;
14        (8) farm property management;
15        (9) rights and duties of sellers, buyers, and brokers;
16        (10) commercial brokerage and leasing; and
17        (11) real estate financing.
18    (g) In lieu of credit for those courses listed in
19subsection (f) of this Section, credit may be earned for
20serving as a licensed instructor in an approved course of
21continuing education. The amount of credit earned for teaching
22a course shall be the amount of continuing education credit for
23which the course is approved for licensees taking the course.
24    (h) Credit hours may be earned for self-study programs
25approved by the Advisory Council.
26    (i) A broker or salesperson may earn credit for a specific

 

 

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1continuing education course only once during the prerenewal
2period.
3    (j) No more than 6 hours of continuing education credit may
4be taken or earned in one calendar day.
5    (k) To promote the offering of a uniform and consistent
6course content, the Department may provide for the development
7of a single broker management course to be offered by all
8continuing education providers who choose to offer the broker
9management continuing education course. The Department may
10contract for the development of the 12-hour 6-hour broker
11management continuing education course with an outside vendor
12or consultant and, if the course is developed in this manner,
13the Department or the outside consultant shall license the use
14of that course to all approved continuing education providers
15who wish to provide the course.
16    (l) Except as specifically provided in this Act, continuing
17education credit hours may not be earned for completion of pre
18or post-license courses. The approved 30-hour post-license
19course for broker licensees shall satisfy the continuing
20education requirement for the pre-renewal period in which the
21course is taken. The approved 45-hour brokerage administration
22and management course shall satisfy the 12-hour broker
23management continuing education requirement for the
24pre-renewal period in which the course is taken.
25(Source: P.A. 96-856, eff. 12-31-09.)
 

 

 

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1    (225 ILCS 454/10-30)
2    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020)
3    Sec. 10-30. Advertising.
4    (a) No advertising, whether in print, via the Internet, or
5through any other media, shall be fraudulent, deceptive,
6inherently misleading, or proven to be misleading in practice.
7Advertising shall be considered misleading or untruthful if,
8when taken as a whole, there is a distinct and reasonable
9possibility that it will be misunderstood or will deceive the
10ordinary purchaser, seller, lessee, lessor, or owner.
11Advertising shall contain all information necessary to
12communicate the information contained therein to the public in
13an accurate, direct, and readily comprehensible manner.
14    (b) No blind advertisements may be used by any licensee, in
15any media, except as provided for in this Section.
16    (c) A licensee shall disclose, in writing, to all parties
17in a transaction his or her status as a licensee and any and
18all interest the licensee has or may have in the real estate
19constituting the subject matter thereof, directly or
20indirectly, according to the following guidelines:
21        (1) On broker yard signs or in broker advertisements,
22    no disclosure of ownership is necessary. However, the
23    ownership shall be indicated on any property data form and
24    disclosed to persons responding to any advertisement or any
25    sign. The term "broker owned" or "agent owned" is
26    sufficient disclosure.

 

 

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1        (2) A sponsored or inoperative licensee selling or
2    leasing property, owned solely by the sponsored or
3    inoperative licensee, without utilizing brokerage services
4    of their sponsoring broker or any other licensee, may
5    advertise "By Owner". For purposes of this Section,
6    property is "solely owned" by a sponsored or inoperative
7    licensee if he or she (i) has a 100% ownership interest
8    alone, (ii) has ownership as a joint tenant or tenant by
9    the entirety, or (iii) holds a 100% beneficial interest in
10    a land trust. Sponsored or inoperative licensees selling or
11    leasing "By Owner" shall comply with the following if
12    advertising by owner:
13            (A) On "By Owner" yard signs, the sponsored or
14        inoperative licensee shall indicate "broker owned" or
15        "agent owned." "By Owner" advertisements used in any
16        medium of advertising shall include the term "broker
17        owned" or "agent owned."
18            (B) If a sponsored or inoperative licensee runs
19        advertisements, for the purpose of purchasing or
20        leasing real estate, he or she shall disclose in the
21        advertisements his or her status as a licensee.
22            (C) A sponsored or inoperative licensee shall not
23        use the sponsoring broker's name or the sponsoring
24        broker's company name in connection with the sale,
25        lease, or advertisement of the property nor utilize the
26        sponsoring broker's or company's name in connection

 

 

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1        with the sale, lease, or advertising of the property in
2        a manner likely to create confusion among the public as
3        to whether or not the services of a real estate company
4        are being utilized or whether or not a real estate
5        company has an ownership interest in the property.
6    (d) A sponsored licensee may not advertise under his or her
7own name. Advertising in any media shall be under the direct
8supervision of the sponsoring or managing broker and in the
9sponsoring broker's business name, which in the case of a
10franchise shall include the franchise affiliation as well as
11the name of the individual firm. This provision does not apply
12under the following circumstances:
13        (1) When a licensee enters into a brokerage agreement
14    relating to his or her own real estate, or real estate in
15    which he or she has an ownership interest, with another
16    licensed broker; or
17        (2) When a licensee is selling or leasing his or her
18    own real estate or buying or leasing real estate for
19    himself or herself, after providing the appropriate
20    written disclosure of his or her ownership interest as
21    required in paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of this
22    Section.
23    (e) No licensee shall list his or her name under the
24heading or title "Real Estate" in the telephone directory or
25otherwise advertise in his or her own name to the general
26public through any medium of advertising as being in the real

 

 

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1estate business without listing his or her sponsoring broker's
2business name.
3    (f) The sponsoring broker's business name and the name of
4the licensee must appear in all advertisements, including
5business cards. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
6require specific print size as between the broker's business
7name and the name of the licensee.
8    (g) Those individuals licensed as a managing broker and
9designated with the Department as a managing broker by their
10sponsoring broker shall identify themselves to the public in
11advertising, except on "For Sale" or similar signs, as a
12managing broker. No other individuals holding a managing
13broker's license may hold themselves out to the public or other
14licensees as a managing broker.
15(Source: P.A. 96-856, eff. 12-31-09.)
 
16    (225 ILCS 454/20-20)
17    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020)
18    Sec. 20-20. Grounds for discipline.
19    (a) The Department may refuse to issue or renew a license,
20may place on probation, suspend, or revoke any license,
21reprimand, or take any other disciplinary or non-disciplinary
22action as the Department may deem proper and or impose a fine
23not to exceed $25,000 upon any licensee or applicant under this
24Act or any person who holds himself or herself out as an
25applicant or licensee or against a licensee in handling his or

 

 

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1her own property, whether held by deed, option, or otherwise,
2for any one or any combination of the following causes:
3        (1) Fraud or misrepresentation in applying for, or
4    procuring, a license under this Act or in connection with
5    applying for renewal of a license under this Act.
6        (2) The entry of an administrative sanction,
7    conviction of or plea of guilty or plea of nolo contendere
8    in this State or any other jurisdiction to: (A) conviction
9    of, plea of guilty or plea of nolo contendre to a felony or
10    (B) a misdemeanor or a finding by an administrative body,
11    an essential element of which is dishonesty or fraud or
12    larceny, embezzlement, or obtaining money, property, or
13    credit by false pretenses or by means of a confidence game,
14    in this State, or any other jurisdiction.
15        (3) Inability to practice the profession with
16    reasonable judgment, skill, or safety as a result of a
17    physical illness, including, but not limited to,
18    deterioration through the aging process or loss of motor
19    skill, or a mental illness or disability.
20        (4) Practice under this Act as a licensee in a retail
21    sales establishment from an office, desk, or space that is
22    not separated from the main retail business by a separate
23    and distinct area within the establishment.
24        (5) Having been disciplined by another state, the
25    District of Columbia, a territory, a foreign nation, a
26    governmental agency, or any other entity authorized to

 

 

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1    impose discipline Disciplinary action of another state or
2    jurisdiction against the license or other authorization to
3    practice as a managing broker, broker, salesperson, or
4    leasing agent if at least one of the grounds for that
5    discipline is the same as or the equivalent of one of the
6    grounds for which a licensee may be disciplined under
7    discipline set forth in this Act. A certified copy of the
8    record of the action by the other state or jurisdiction
9    shall be prima facie evidence thereof.
10        (6) Engaging in the practice of real estate brokerage
11    without a license or after the licensee's license was
12    expired or while the license was inoperative.
13        (7) Cheating on or attempting to subvert the Real
14    Estate License Exam or continuing education exam.
15        (8) Aiding or abetting an applicant to subvert or cheat
16    on the Real Estate License Exam or continuing education
17    exam administered pursuant to this Act.
18        (9) Advertising that is inaccurate, misleading, or
19    contrary to the provisions of the Act.
20        (10) Making any substantial misrepresentation or
21    untruthful advertising.
22        (11) Making any false promises of a character likely to
23    influence, persuade, or induce.
24        (12) Pursuing a continued and flagrant course of
25    misrepresentation or the making of false promises through
26    licensees, employees, agents, advertising, or otherwise.

 

 

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1        (13) Any misleading or untruthful advertising, or
2    using any trade name or insignia of membership in any real
3    estate organization of which the licensee is not a member.
4        (14) Acting for more than one party in a transaction
5    without providing written notice to all parties for whom
6    the licensee acts.
7        (15) Representing or attempting to represent a broker
8    other than the sponsoring broker.
9        (16) Failure to account for or to remit any moneys or
10    documents coming into his or her possession that belong to
11    others.
12        (17) Failure to maintain and deposit in a special
13    account, separate and apart from personal and other
14    business accounts, all escrow moneys belonging to others
15    entrusted to a licensee while acting as a real estate
16    broker, escrow agent, or temporary custodian of the funds
17    of others or failure to maintain all escrow moneys on
18    deposit in the account until the transactions are
19    consummated or terminated, except to the extent that the
20    moneys, or any part thereof, shall be:
21            (A) disbursed prior to the consummation or
22        termination (i) in accordance with the written
23        direction of the principals to the transaction or their
24        duly authorized agents, (ii) in accordance with
25        directions providing for the release, payment, or
26        distribution of escrow moneys contained in any written

 

 

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1        contract signed by the principals to the transaction or
2        their duly authorized agents, or (iii) pursuant to an
3        order of a court of competent jurisdiction; or
4            (B) deemed abandoned and transferred to the Office
5        of the State Treasurer to be handled as unclaimed
6        property pursuant to the Uniform Disposition of
7        Unclaimed Property Act. Escrow moneys may be deemed
8        abandoned under this subparagraph (B) only: (i) in the
9        absence of disbursement under subparagraph (A); (ii)
10        in the absence of notice of the filing of any claim in
11        a court of competent jurisdiction; and (iii) if 6
12        months have elapsed after the receipt of a written
13        demand for the escrow moneys from one of the principals
14        to the transaction or the principal's duly authorized
15        agent.
16    The account shall be noninterest bearing, unless the
17    character of the deposit is such that payment of interest
18    thereon is otherwise required by law or unless the
19    principals to the transaction specifically require, in
20    writing, that the deposit be placed in an interest bearing
21    account.
22        (18) Failure to make available to the Department all
23    escrow records and related documents maintained in
24    connection with the practice of real estate within 24 hours
25    of a request for those documents by Department personnel.
26        (19) Failing to furnish copies upon request of

 

 

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1    documents relating to a real estate transaction to a party
2    who has executed that document.
3        (20) Failure of a sponsoring broker to timely provide
4    information, sponsor cards, or termination of licenses to
5    the Department.
6        (21) Engaging in dishonorable, unethical, or
7    unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive,
8    defraud, or harm the public.
9        (22) Commingling the money or property of others with
10    his or her own money or property.
11        (23) Employing any person on a purely temporary or
12    single deal basis as a means of evading the law regarding
13    payment of commission to nonlicensees on some contemplated
14    transactions.
15        (24) Permitting the use of his or her license as a
16    broker to enable a salesperson or unlicensed person to
17    operate a real estate business without actual
18    participation therein and control thereof by the broker.
19        (25) Any other conduct, whether of the same or a
20    different character from that specified in this Section,
21    that constitutes dishonest dealing.
22        (26) Displaying a "for rent" or "for sale" sign on any
23    property without the written consent of an owner or his or
24    her duly authorized agent or advertising by any means that
25    any property is for sale or for rent without the written
26    consent of the owner or his or her authorized agent.

 

 

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1        (27) Failing to provide information requested by the
2    Department, or otherwise respond to that request, within 30
3    days of the request.
4        (28) Advertising by means of a blind advertisement,
5    except as otherwise permitted in Section 10-30 of this Act.
6        (29) Offering guaranteed sales plans, as defined in
7    clause (A) of this subdivision (29), except to the extent
8    hereinafter set forth:
9            (A) A "guaranteed sales plan" is any real estate
10        purchase or sales plan whereby a licensee enters into a
11        conditional or unconditional written contract with a
12        seller, prior to entering into a brokerage agreement
13        with the seller, by the terms of which a licensee
14        agrees to purchase a property of the seller within a
15        specified period of time at a specific price in the
16        event the property is not sold in accordance with the
17        terms of a brokerage agreement to be entered into
18        between the sponsoring broker and the seller.
19            (B) A licensee offering a guaranteed sales plan
20        shall provide the details and conditions of the plan in
21        writing to the party to whom the plan is offered.
22            (C) A licensee offering a guaranteed sales plan
23        shall provide to the party to whom the plan is offered
24        evidence of sufficient financial resources to satisfy
25        the commitment to purchase undertaken by the broker in
26        the plan.

 

 

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1            (D) Any licensee offering a guaranteed sales plan
2        shall undertake to market the property of the seller
3        subject to the plan in the same manner in which the
4        broker would market any other property, unless the
5        agreement with the seller provides otherwise.
6            (E) The licensee cannot purchase seller's property
7        until the brokerage agreement has ended according to
8        its terms or is otherwise terminated.
9            (F) Any licensee who fails to perform on a
10        guaranteed sales plan in strict accordance with its
11        terms shall be subject to all the penalties provided in
12        this Act for violations thereof and, in addition, shall
13        be subject to a civil fine payable to the party injured
14        by the default in an amount of up to $25,000.
15        (30) Influencing or attempting to influence, by any
16    words or acts, a prospective seller, purchaser, occupant,
17    landlord, or tenant of real estate, in connection with
18    viewing, buying, or leasing real estate, so as to promote
19    or tend to promote the continuance or maintenance of
20    racially and religiously segregated housing or so as to
21    retard, obstruct, or discourage racially integrated
22    housing on or in any street, block, neighborhood, or
23    community.
24        (31) Engaging in any act that constitutes a violation
25    of any provision of Article 3 of the Illinois Human Rights
26    Act, whether or not a complaint has been filed with or

 

 

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1    adjudicated by the Human Rights Commission.
2        (32) Inducing any party to a contract of sale or lease
3    or brokerage agreement to break the contract of sale or
4    lease or brokerage agreement for the purpose of
5    substituting, in lieu thereof, a new contract for sale or
6    lease or brokerage agreement with a third party.
7        (33) Negotiating a sale, exchange, or lease of real
8    estate directly with any person if the licensee knows that
9    the person has an exclusive brokerage agreement with
10    another broker, unless specifically authorized by that
11    broker.
12        (34) When a licensee is also an attorney, acting as the
13    attorney for either the buyer or the seller in the same
14    transaction in which the licensee is acting or has acted as
15    a broker or salesperson.
16        (35) Advertising or offering merchandise or services
17    as free if any conditions or obligations necessary for
18    receiving the merchandise or services are not disclosed in
19    the same advertisement or offer. These conditions or
20    obligations include without limitation the requirement
21    that the recipient attend a promotional activity or visit a
22    real estate site. As used in this subdivision (35), "free"
23    includes terms such as "award", "prize", "no charge", "free
24    of charge", "without charge", and similar words or phrases
25    that reasonably lead a person to believe that he or she may
26    receive or has been selected to receive something of value,

 

 

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1    without any conditions or obligations on the part of the
2    recipient.
3        (36) Disregarding or violating any provision of the
4    Land Sales Registration Act of 1989, the Illinois Real
5    Estate Time-Share Act, or the published rules promulgated
6    by the Department to enforce those Acts.
7        (37) Violating the terms of a disciplinary order issued
8    by the Department.
9        (38) Paying or failing to disclose compensation in
10    violation of Article 10 of this Act.
11        (39) Requiring a party to a transaction who is not a
12    client of the licensee to allow the licensee to retain a
13    portion of the escrow moneys for payment of the licensee's
14    commission or expenses as a condition for release of the
15    escrow moneys to that party.
16        (40) Disregarding or violating any provision of this
17    Act or the published rules promulgated by the Department to
18    enforce this Act or aiding or abetting any individual,
19    partnership, registered limited liability partnership,
20    limited liability company, or corporation in disregarding
21    any provision of this Act or the published rules
22    promulgated by the Department to enforce this Act.
23        (41) Failing to provide the minimum services required
24    by Section 15-75 of this Act when acting under an exclusive
25    brokerage agreement.
26        (42) Habitual or excessive use or addiction to alcohol,

 

 

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1    narcotics, stimulants, or any other chemical agent or drug
2    that results in a managing broker, broker, salesperson, or
3    leasing agent's inability to practice with reasonable
4    skill or safety.
5    (b) The Department may refuse to issue or renew or may
6suspend the license of any person who fails to file a return,
7pay the tax, penalty or interest shown in a filed return, or
8pay any final assessment of tax, penalty, or interest, as
9required by any tax Act administered by the Department of
10Revenue, until such time as the requirements of that tax Act
11are satisfied in accordance with subsection (g) of Section
122105-15 of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.
13    (c) The Department shall deny a license or renewal
14authorized by this Act to a person who has defaulted on an
15educational loan or scholarship provided or guaranteed by the
16Illinois Student Assistance Commission or any governmental
17agency of this State in accordance with item (5) of subsection
18(g) of Section 2105-15 of the Civil Administrative Code of
19Illinois.
20    (d) In cases where the Department of Healthcare and Family
21Services (formerly Department of Public Aid) has previously
22determined that a licensee or a potential licensee is more than
2330 days delinquent in the payment of child support and has
24subsequently certified the delinquency to the Department may
25refuse to issue or renew or may revoke or suspend that person's
26license or may take other disciplinary action against that

 

 

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1person based solely upon the certification of delinquency made
2by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services in
3accordance with item (5) of subsection (g) of Section 2105-15
4of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.
5    (e) In enforcing this Section, the Department or Board upon
6a showing of a possible violation may compel an individual
7licensed to practice under this Act, or who has applied for
8licensure under this Act, to submit to a mental or physical
9examination, or both, as required by and at the expense of the
10Department. The Department or Board may order the examining
11physician to present testimony concerning the mental or
12physical examination of the licensee or applicant. No
13information shall be excluded by reason of any common law or
14statutory privilege relating to communications between the
15licensee or applicant and the examining physician. The
16examining physicians shall be specifically designated by the
17Board or Department. The individual to be examined may have, at
18his or her own expense, another physician of his or her choice
19present during all aspects of this examination. Failure of an
20individual to submit to a mental or physical examination, when
21directed, shall be grounds for suspension of his or her license
22until the individual submits to the examination if the
23Department finds, after notice and hearing, that the refusal to
24submit to the examination was without reasonable cause.
25    If the Department or Board finds an individual unable to
26practice because of the reasons set forth in this Section, the

 

 

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1Department or Board may require that individual to submit to
2care, counseling, or treatment by physicians approved or
3designated by the Department or Board, as a condition, term, or
4restriction for continued, reinstated, or renewed licensure to
5practice; or, in lieu of care, counseling, or treatment, the
6Department may file, or the Board may recommend to the
7Department to file, a complaint to immediately suspend, revoke,
8or otherwise discipline the license of the individual. An
9individual whose license was granted, continued, reinstated,
10renewed, disciplined or supervised subject to such terms,
11conditions, or restrictions, and who fails to comply with such
12terms, conditions, or restrictions, shall be referred to the
13Secretary for a determination as to whether the individual
14shall have his or her license suspended immediately, pending a
15hearing by the Department.
16    In instances in which the Secretary immediately suspends a
17person's license under this Section, a hearing on that person's
18license must be convened by the Department within 30 days after
19the suspension and completed without appreciable delay. The
20Department and Board shall have the authority to review the
21subject individual's record of treatment and counseling
22regarding the impairment to the extent permitted by applicable
23federal statutes and regulations safeguarding the
24confidentiality of medical records.
25    An individual licensed under this Act and affected under
26this Section shall be afforded an opportunity to demonstrate to

 

 

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1the Department or Board that he or she can resume practice in
2compliance with acceptable and prevailing standards under the
3provisions of his or her license.
4(Source: P.A. 95-851, eff. 1-1-09; 96-856, eff. 12-31-09;
5revised 11-18-11.)
 
6    (225 ILCS 454/20-78 new)
7    Sec. 20-78. Confidentiality. All information collected by
8the Department in the course of an examination or investigation
9of a licensee or applicant, including, but not limited to, any
10complaint against a licensee filed with the Department and
11information collected to investigate any such complaint, shall
12be maintained for the confidential use of the Department and
13shall not be disclosed. The Department may not disclose the
14information to anyone other than law enforcement officials,
15regulatory agencies that have an appropriate regulatory
16interest as determined by the Secretary, or a party presenting
17a lawful subpoena to the Department. Information and documents
18disclosed to a federal, State, county, or local law enforcement
19agency shall not be disclosed by the agency for any purpose to
20any other agency or person. A formal complaint filed against a
21licensee by the Department or any order issued by the
22Department against a licensee or applicant shall be a public
23record, except as otherwise prohibited by law.
 
24    (225 ILCS 454/20-90)

 

 

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1    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020)
2    Sec. 20-90. Collection from Real Estate Recovery Fund;
3procedure.
4    (a) No action for a judgment that subsequently results in
5an order for collection from the Real Estate Recovery Fund
6shall be started later than 2 years after the date on which the
7aggrieved person knew, or through the use of reasonable
8diligence should have known, of the acts or omissions giving
9rise to a right of recovery from the Real Estate Recovery Fund.
10    (b) When any aggrieved person commences action for a
11judgment that may result in collection from the Real Estate
12Recovery Fund, the aggrieved person must name as parties
13defendant to that action any and all individual licensees or
14their employees who allegedly committed or are responsible for
15acts or omissions giving rise to a right of recovery from the
16Real Estate Recovery Fund. Failure to name as parties defendant
17such licensees or their employees shall preclude recovery from
18the Real Estate Recovery Fund of any portion of any judgment
19received in such an action. The aggrieved party may also name
20as additional parties defendant any corporations, limited
21liability companies, partnerships, registered limited
22liability partnership, or other business associations that may
23be responsible for acts giving rise to a right of recovery from
24the Real Estate Recovery Fund.
25    (c) (Blank). When any aggrieved person commences action for
26a judgment that may result in collection from the Real Estate

 

 

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1Recovery Fund, the aggrieved person must notify the Department
2in writing to this effect within 7 days of the commencement of
3the action. Failure to so notify the Department shall preclude
4recovery from the Real Estate Recovery Fund of any portion of
5any judgment received in such an action. After receiving notice
6of the commencement of such an action, the Department upon
7timely application shall be permitted to intervene as a party
8defendant to that action.
9    (d) When any aggrieved person commences action for a
10judgment that may result in collection from the Real Estate
11Recovery Fund, and the aggrieved person is unable to obtain
12legal and proper service upon the defendant under the
13provisions of Illinois law concerning service of process in
14civil actions, the aggrieved person may petition the court
15where the action to obtain judgment was begun for an order to
16allow service of legal process on the Secretary. Service of
17process on the Secretary shall be taken and held in that court
18to be as valid and binding as if due service had been made upon
19the defendant. In case any process mentioned in this Section is
20served upon the Secretary, the Secretary shall forward a copy
21of the process by certified mail to the licensee's last address
22on record with the Department. Any judgment obtained after
23service of process on the Secretary under this Act shall apply
24to and be enforceable against the Real Estate Recovery Fund
25only. The Department OBRE may intervene in and defend any such
26action.

 

 

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1    (e) When an aggrieved party commences action for a judgment
2that may result in collection from the Real Estate Recovery
3Fund, and the court before which that action is commenced
4enters judgment by default against the defendant and in favor
5of the aggrieved party, the aggrieved party shall give written
6notice to the Department within 30 days after the entry of such
7default judgment and provide the Department with copies of the
8pleadings upon which the default judgment was entered and of
9the default judgment order. The the court shall upon motion of
10the Department set aside that judgment by default. After such a
11judgment by default has been set aside, the Department shall
12appear as party defendant to that action, and thereafter the
13court shall require proof of the allegations in the pleadings
14upon which relief is sought.
15    (f) The aggrieved person shall give written notice to the
16Department within 30 days of the entry of any judgment that may
17result in collection from the Real Estate Recovery Fund and
18provide the Department with copies of the pleadings upon which
19the judgment was entered and of the judgment order. Notice
20provided pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section shall
21satisfy this requirement. Within 60 days after the Department
22receives such written notice of the judgment or the court has
23re-entered judgment pursuant to the procedures under
24subsection (e) of this Section, the Department shall file a
25written response with the court stating that the Department has
26no objection to a claim on the Real Estate Recovery Fund by the

 

 

HB5359- 26 -LRB097 19406 CEL 64659 b

1aggrieved party or that the Department objects to such claim
2stating the basis for such objection. The Department, after
3receiving the written notice provided for in this subsection,
4shall be entitled to appear before the court and exercise the
5same rights in the same manner as any party. The aggrieved
6person shall provide the Department OBRE within 20 days prior
7written notice of all supplementary proceedings so as to allow
8the Department to participate in all efforts to collect on the
9judgment.
10    (g) After the Department has filed its response as required
11in subsection (f) of this Section and any supplementary
12proceedings have concluded, When any aggrieved person recovers
13a valid judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction against
14any licensee or an unlicensed employee of any broker, upon the
15grounds of fraud, misrepresentation, discrimination, or
16deceit, the aggrieved person may, upon the termination of all
17proceedings, including review and appeals in connection with
18the judgment, file a verified claim in the court in which the
19judgment was entered and, upon 30 days' written notice to the
20Department, and to the person against whom the judgment was
21obtained, may apply to the court for an order directing payment
22out of the Real Estate Recovery Fund of the amount unpaid upon
23the judgment, not including interest on the judgment, and
24subject to the limitations stated in Section 20-85 of this Act.
25The aggrieved person must set out in that verified claim and at
26an evidentiary hearing to be held by the court upon the

 

 

HB5359- 27 -LRB097 19406 CEL 64659 b

1application that the claim meets all requirements of Section
220-85 and this Section to be eligible for payment from the Real
3Estate Recovery Fund and the aggrieved party shall be required
4to show that the aggrieved person:
5        (1) Is not a spouse of the debtor or the personal
6    representative of such spouse.
7        (2) Has complied with all the requirements of this
8    Section.
9        (3) Has obtained a judgment stating the amount thereof
10    and the amount owing thereon, not including interest
11    thereon, at the date of the application.
12        (4) Has made all reasonable searches and inquiries to
13    ascertain whether the judgment debtor is possessed of real
14    or personal property or other assets, liable to be sold or
15    applied in satisfaction of the judgment.
16        (5) By such search has discovered no personal or real
17    property or other assets liable to be sold or applied, or
18    has discovered certain of them, describing them as owned by
19    the judgment debtor and liable to be so applied and has
20    taken all necessary action and proceedings for the
21    realization thereof, and the amount thereby realized was
22    insufficient to satisfy the judgment, stating the amount so
23    realized and the balance remaining due on the judgment
24    after application of the amount realized.
25        (6) Has diligently pursued all remedies against all the
26    judgment debtors and all other persons liable to the

 

 

HB5359- 28 -LRB097 19406 CEL 64659 b

1    aggrieved person in the transaction for which recovery is
2    sought from the Real Estate Recovery Fund, including the
3    filing of an adversary action to have the debts declared
4    non-dischargeable in any bankruptcy petition matter filed
5    by any judgment debtor or person liable to the aggrieved
6    person.
7    The aggrieved person shall also be required to prove the
8amount of attorney's fees sought to be recovered and the
9reasonableness of those fees up to the maximum allowed pursuant
10to Section 20-85 of this Act.
11    (h) After considering the written response of the
12Department and conducting the evidentiary hearing required
13under this Section, the The court shall make an order directed
14to the Department requiring payment from the Real Estate
15Recovery Fund of whatever sum it finds to be payable upon the
16claim, pursuant to and in accordance with the limitations
17contained in Section 20-85 of this Act, if the court is
18satisfied, upon the hearing, of the truth of all matters
19required to be shown by the aggrieved person under subsection
20(g) of this Section and that the aggrieved person has fully
21pursued and exhausted all remedies available for recovering the
22amount awarded by the judgment of the court.
23    (i) Should the Department pay from the Real Estate Recovery
24Fund any amount in settlement of a claim or toward satisfaction
25of a judgment against a licensed broker or salesperson or an
26unlicensed employee of a broker, the licensee's license shall

 

 

HB5359- 29 -LRB097 19406 CEL 64659 b

1be automatically revoked terminated upon the issuance of a
2court order authorizing payment from the Real Estate Recovery
3Fund. No petition for restoration of a license shall be heard
4until repayment has been made in full, plus interest at the
5rate prescribed in Section 12-109 of the Code of Civil
6Procedure of the amount paid from the Real Estate Recovery Fund
7on their account, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary
8in Section 2105-15 of the Department of Professional Regulation
9Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. A discharge
10in bankruptcy shall not relieve a person from the penalties and
11disabilities provided in this subsection (i).
12    (j) If, at any time, the money deposited in the Real Estate
13Recovery Fund is insufficient to satisfy any duly authorized
14claim or portion thereof, the Department shall, when sufficient
15money has been deposited in the Real Estate Recovery Fund,
16satisfy such unpaid claims or portions thereof, in the order
17that such claims or portions thereof were originally filed,
18plus accumulated interest at the rate prescribed in Section
1912-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
20(Source: P.A. 96-856, eff. 12-31-09.)
 
21    (225 ILCS 454/20-95)
22    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020)
23    Sec. 20-95. Power of the Department to defend. When the
24Department receives any process, notice, order, or other
25document provided for or required under Section 20-90 of this

 

 

HB5359- 30 -LRB097 19406 CEL 64659 b

1Act, it may enter an appearance, file an answer, appear at the
2court hearing, defend the action, or take whatever other action
3it deems appropriate on behalf and in the name of the defendant
4or the Department and take recourse through any appropriate
5method of review on behalf of and in the name of the defendant
6or the Department.
7(Source: P.A. 96-856, eff. 12-31-09.)
 
8    (225 ILCS 454/20-115)
9    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020)
10    Sec. 20-115. Time limit on action. No action may be taken
11by the Department against any person for violation of the terms
12of this Act or its rules unless the action is commenced within
135 years after the occurrence of the alleged violation. This
14limitation shall not apply where it is alleged that an initial
15application for licensure under this Act contains false or
16misleading information.
17(Source: P.A. 96-856, eff. 12-31-09.)
 
18    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
19becoming law.