Bill > S2947

This bill aims to strengthen fair housing practices by requiring the board to annually publish a summary of complaints filed against license holders, the number and types of disciplinary actions taken, and the names of any license holders whose licenses have been revoked. It also expands the definition of entities that can be involved in fair housing law enforcement to include agencies certified by the federal government, and clarifies that such agencies can be referred to as "agencies" in addition to "commissions." Furthermore, the bill mandates that real estate salesman applicants must complete 40 classroom hours of real estate subjects, including at least 4 hours on fair housing law, and that licensed real estate brokers and salesmen must complete 6 to 12 hours of continuing education per renewal period, with a minimum of 2 hours on fair housing law. The bill also introduces mandatory license suspensions for real estate professionals found to have committed unlawful housing discrimination, with a 60-day suspension for a first offense and a 180-day suspension for a repeat offense within two years, and requires agencies like the attorney general's office to make all qualifying referrals for these suspensions.

Senate Committee on Ways and Means (Senate)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2947