HBA-DMH H.B. 695 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 695
By: Reyna, Arthur
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
3/4/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Texas Real Estate Commission regulates real estate brokers,
salespersons, inspectors, and other related professionals.  Certain
provisions in The Real Estate License Act make regulating such
professionals inefficient.  House Bill 695 modifies language to facilitate
the administration of provisions relating to The Real Estate License Act. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Real Estate Commission in
SECTION 1 (Section 7, Article 6573a, V.T.C.S.) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 695 amends The Real Estate License Act to authorize the Texas
Real Estate Commission (commission) by rule to limit the number of times a
real estate license applicant may take all or part of the examination that
determines the competency of a real estate broker or salesperson.  The bill
authorizes the commission by rule to set a reasonable waiting period before
a person who fails an examination may file another application.  If the
applicant completes additional specified courses, the commission is
authorized to permit the applicant to file another application without
regard to the waiting period.  The bill authorizes the commission by rule
to prescribe the content of core real estate courses required for a
license, and modifies the number of classroom hours for which an applicant
is required to furnish satisfactory evidence of completion to the
commission to apply for or renew a license. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.  Provisions relating to the modified number of required
classroom hours take effect January 1, 2002, and apply only to an
application for a real estate salesperson license filed on or after January
1, 2002.