The bill HB225 amends the Code of Alabama 1975 to enhance the licensure and regulation of real estate professionals, including brokers and salespersons. Key insertions include definitions for terms such as "accredited school," "continuing education course," and "prelicense course," which clarify educational requirements for obtaining and maintaining real estate licenses. The bill introduces "distance education" and outlines the responsibilities of various types of schools in offering approved courses. It also updates existing language, changing "shall" to "may" in certain contexts, and clarifies the commission's authority to regulate prelicense schools and continuing education courses. Additionally, it establishes a requirement for schools to obtain a surety bond to cover damages related to tuition or fees collected from students, with penalties for failure to maintain the bond.

Further amendments include changes to the licensing process, such as the introduction of new fees for continuing education schools and the requirement for all schools to have an approved administrator. The bill also outlines provisions for inactive licenses, allowing schools, administrators, or instructors to request a status change to inactive, which prohibits them from teaching or offering courses. It specifies that instructors with inactive approvals for three years or less can reactivate their status by completing outstanding continuing education, while those inactive for more than three years must fulfill additional training requirements. The bill also modifies the renewal process for licenses, allowing for the renewal of expired licenses within a 12-month period under certain conditions, and mandates criminal history background checks for all applicants. Overall, HB225 aims to streamline the licensing process while ensuring rigorous educational and ethical standards for real estate professionals in Alabama.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 34-27-6, 34-27-32, 34-27-33, 34-27-34, 34-27-35, 34-27-36
Engrossed: 34-27-6, 34-27-32, 34-27-33, 34-27-34, 34-27-35
Enrolled: 34-27-6, 34-27-32, 34-27-33, 34-27-34, 34-27-35