Bill Text: IL HB1221 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Real Estate License Act of 2000. Provides that the Department may impose a fine not to exceed $35,000 (up from $25,000) for any one or any combination of the grounds for discipline.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Failed) 2013-01-08 - Session Sine Die [HB1221 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-HB1221-Introduced.html

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97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2011 and 2012 HB1221 Introduced 2/8/2011, by Rep. Michael J. Zalewski SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
225 ILCS 454/20-20
Amends the Real Estate License Act of 2000. Provides that the Department may impose a fine not to exceed $35,000 (up from $25,000) for any one or any combination of the grounds for discipline.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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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 Section 20-20 as follows:
(225 ILCS 454/20-20)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020)
Sec. 20-20. Grounds for discipline.
(a) The Department may refuse to issue or renew a license,
may place on probation, suspend, or revoke any license,
reprimand, or take any other disciplinary or non-disciplinary
action as the Department may deem proper or impose a fine not
to exceed $35,000 $25,000 upon any licensee under this Act or
against a licensee in handling his or her own property, whether
held by deed, option, or otherwise, for any one or any
combination of the following causes:
(1) Fraud or misrepresentation in applying for, or
procuring, a license under this Act or in connection with
applying for renewal of a license under this Act.
(2) The conviction of, plea of guilty or plea of nolo
contendre to a felony or misdemeanor, an essential element
of which is dishonesty or fraud or larceny, embezzlement,
or obtaining money, property, or credit by false pretenses

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or by means of a confidence game, in this State, or any
other jurisdiction.
(3) Inability to practice the profession with
reasonable judgment, skill, or safety as a result of a
physical illness, including, but not limited to,
deterioration through the aging process or loss of motor
skill, or a mental illness or disability.
(4) Practice under this Act as a licensee in a retail
sales establishment from an office, desk, or space that is
not separated from the main retail business by a separate
and distinct area within the establishment.
(5) Disciplinary action of another state or
jurisdiction against the license or other authorization to
practice as a managing broker, broker, salesperson, or
leasing agent if at least one of the grounds for that
discipline is the same as or the equivalent of one of the
grounds for discipline set forth in this Act. A certified
copy of the record of the action by the other state or
jurisdiction shall be prima facie evidence thereof.
(6) Engaging in the practice of real estate brokerage
without a license or after the licensee's license was
expired or while the license was inoperative.
(7) Cheating on or attempting to subvert the Real
Estate License Exam or continuing education exam.
(8) Aiding or abetting an applicant to subvert or cheat
on the Real Estate License Exam or continuing education

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exam administered pursuant to this Act.
(9) Advertising that is inaccurate, misleading, or
contrary to the provisions of the Act.
(10) Making any substantial misrepresentation or
untruthful advertising.
(11) Making any false promises of a character likely to
influence, persuade, or induce.
(12) Pursuing a continued and flagrant course of
misrepresentation or the making of false promises through
licensees, employees, agents, advertising, or otherwise.
(13) Any misleading or untruthful advertising, or
using any trade name or insignia of membership in any real
estate organization of which the licensee is not a member.
(14) Acting for more than one party in a transaction
without providing written notice to all parties for whom
the licensee acts.
(15) Representing or attempting to represent a broker
other than the sponsoring broker.
(16) Failure to account for or to remit any moneys or
documents coming into his or her possession that belong to
others.
(17) Failure to maintain and deposit in a special
account, separate and apart from personal and other
business accounts, all escrow moneys belonging to others
entrusted to a licensee while acting as a real estate
broker, escrow agent, or temporary custodian of the funds

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of others or failure to maintain all escrow moneys on
deposit in the account until the transactions are
consummated or terminated, except to the extent that the
moneys, or any part thereof, shall be:
(A) disbursed prior to the consummation or
termination (i) in accordance with the written
direction of the principals to the transaction or their
duly authorized agents, (ii) in accordance with
directions providing for the release, payment, or
distribution of escrow moneys contained in any written
contract signed by the principals to the transaction or
their duly authorized agents, or (iii) pursuant to an
order of a court of competent jurisdiction; or
(B) deemed abandoned and transferred to the Office
of the State Treasurer to be handled as unclaimed
property pursuant to the Uniform Disposition of
Unclaimed Property Act. Escrow moneys may be deemed
abandoned under this subparagraph (B) only: (i) in the
absence of disbursement under subparagraph (A); (ii)
in the absence of notice of the filing of any claim in
a court of competent jurisdiction; and (iii) if 6
months have elapsed after the receipt of a written
demand for the escrow moneys from one of the principals
to the transaction or the principal's duly authorized
agent.
The account shall be noninterest bearing, unless the

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character of the deposit is such that payment of interest
thereon is otherwise required by law or unless the
principals to the transaction specifically require, in
writing, that the deposit be placed in an interest bearing
account.
(18) Failure to make available to the Department all
escrow records and related documents maintained in
connection with the practice of real estate within 24 hours
of a request for those documents by Department personnel.
(19) Failing to furnish copies upon request of
documents relating to a real estate transaction to a party
who has executed that document.
(20) Failure of a sponsoring broker to timely provide
information, sponsor cards, or termination of licenses to
the Department.
(21) Engaging in dishonorable, unethical, or
unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive,
defraud, or harm the public.
(22) Commingling the money or property of others with
his or her own money or property.
(23) Employing any person on a purely temporary or
single deal basis as a means of evading the law regarding
payment of commission to nonlicensees on some contemplated
transactions.
(24) Permitting the use of his or her license as a
broker to enable a salesperson or unlicensed person to

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operate a real estate business without actual
participation therein and control thereof by the broker.
(25) Any other conduct, whether of the same or a
different character from that specified in this Section,
that constitutes dishonest dealing.
(26) Displaying a "for rent" or "for sale" sign on any
property without the written consent of an owner or his or
her duly authorized agent or advertising by any means that
any property is for sale or for rent without the written
consent of the owner or his or her authorized agent.
(27) Failing to provide information requested by the
Department, or otherwise respond to that request, within 30
days of the request.
(28) Advertising by means of a blind advertisement,
except as otherwise permitted in Section 10-30 of this Act.
(29) Offering guaranteed sales plans, as defined in
clause (A) of this subdivision (29), except to the extent
hereinafter set forth:
(A) A "guaranteed sales plan" is any real estate
purchase or sales plan whereby a licensee enters into a
conditional or unconditional written contract with a
seller, prior to entering into a brokerage agreement
with the seller, by the terms of which a licensee
agrees to purchase a property of the seller within a
specified period of time at a specific price in the
event the property is not sold in accordance with the

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terms of a brokerage agreement to be entered into
between the sponsoring broker and the seller.
(B) A licensee offering a guaranteed sales plan
shall provide the details and conditions of the plan in
writing to the party to whom the plan is offered.
(C) A licensee offering a guaranteed sales plan
shall provide to the party to whom the plan is offered
evidence of sufficient financial resources to satisfy
the commitment to purchase undertaken by the broker in
the plan.
(D) Any licensee offering a guaranteed sales plan
shall undertake to market the property of the seller
subject to the plan in the same manner in which the
broker would market any other property, unless the
agreement with the seller provides otherwise.
(E) The licensee cannot purchase seller's property
until the brokerage agreement has ended according to
its terms or is otherwise terminated.
(F) Any licensee who fails to perform on a
guaranteed sales plan in strict accordance with its
terms shall be subject to all the penalties provided in
this Act for violations thereof and, in addition, shall
be subject to a civil fine payable to the party injured
by the default in an amount of up to $25,000.
(30) Influencing or attempting to influence, by any
words or acts, a prospective seller, purchaser, occupant,

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landlord, or tenant of real estate, in connection with
viewing, buying, or leasing real estate, so as to promote
or tend to promote the continuance or maintenance of
racially and religiously segregated housing or so as to
retard, obstruct, or discourage racially integrated
housing on or in any street, block, neighborhood, or
community.
(31) Engaging in any act that constitutes a violation
of any provision of Article 3 of the Illinois Human Rights
Act, whether or not a complaint has been filed with or
adjudicated by the Human Rights Commission.
(32) Inducing any party to a contract of sale or lease
or brokerage agreement to break the contract of sale or
lease or brokerage agreement for the purpose of
substituting, in lieu thereof, a new contract for sale or
lease or brokerage agreement with a third party.
(33) Negotiating a sale, exchange, or lease of real
estate directly with any person if the licensee knows that
the person has an exclusive brokerage agreement with
another broker, unless specifically authorized by that
broker.
(34) When a licensee is also an attorney, acting as the
attorney for either the buyer or the seller in the same
transaction in which the licensee is acting or has acted as
a broker or salesperson.
(35) Advertising or offering merchandise or services

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as free if any conditions or obligations necessary for
receiving the merchandise or services are not disclosed in
the same advertisement or offer. These conditions or
obligations include without limitation the requirement
that the recipient attend a promotional activity or visit a
real estate site. As used in this subdivision (35), "free"
includes terms such as "award", "prize", "no charge", "free
of charge", "without charge", and similar words or phrases
that reasonably lead a person to believe that he or she may
receive or has been selected to receive something of value,
without any conditions or obligations on the part of the
recipient.
(36) Disregarding or violating any provision of the
Land Sales Registration Act of 1989, the Illinois Real
Estate Time-Share Act, or the published rules promulgated
by the Department to enforce those Acts.
(37) Violating the terms of a disciplinary order issued
by the Department.
(38) Paying or failing to disclose compensation in
violation of Article 10 of this Act.
(39) Requiring a party to a transaction who is not a
client of the licensee to allow the licensee to retain a
portion of the escrow moneys for payment of the licensee's
commission or expenses as a condition for release of the
escrow moneys to that party.
(40) Disregarding or violating any provision of this

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Act or the published rules promulgated by the Department to
enforce this Act or aiding or abetting any individual,
partnership, registered limited liability partnership,
limited liability company, or corporation in disregarding
any provision of this Act or the published rules
promulgated by the Department to enforce this Act.
(41) Failing to provide the minimum services required
by Section 15-75 of this Act when acting under an exclusive
brokerage agreement.
(42) Habitual or excessive use or addiction to alcohol,
narcotics, stimulants, or any other chemical agent or drug
that results in a managing broker, broker, salesperson, or
leasing agent's inability to practice with reasonable
skill or safety.
(b) The Department may refuse to issue or renew or may
suspend the license of any person who fails to file a return,
pay the tax, penalty or interest shown in a filed return, or
pay any final assessment of tax, penalty, or interest, as
required by any tax Act administered by the Department of
Revenue, until such time as the requirements of that tax Act
are satisfied in accordance with subsection (g) of Section
2105-15 of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.
(c) The Department shall deny a license or renewal
authorized by this Act to a person who has defaulted on an
educational loan or scholarship provided or guaranteed by the
Illinois Student Assistance Commission or any governmental

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agency of this State in accordance with item (5) of subsection
(g) of Section 2105-15 of the Civil Administrative Code of
Illinois.
(d) In cases where the Department of Healthcare and Family
Services (formerly Department of Public Aid) has previously
determined that a licensee or a potential licensee is more than
30 days delinquent in the payment of child support and has
subsequently certified the delinquency to the Department may
refuse to issue or renew or may revoke or suspend that person's
license or may take other disciplinary action against that
person based solely upon the certification of delinquency made
by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services in
accordance with item (5) of subsection (g) of Section 2105-15
of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.
(e) In enforcing this Section, the Department or Board upon
a showing of a possible violation may compel an individual
licensed to practice under this Act, or who has applied for
licensure under this Act, to submit to a mental or physical
examination, or both, as required by and at the expense of the
Department. The Department or Board may order the examining
physician to present testimony concerning the mental or
physical examination of the licensee or applicant. No
information shall be excluded by reason of any common law or
statutory privilege relating to communications between the
licensee or applicant and the examining physician. The
examining physicians shall be specifically designated by the

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Board or Department. The individual to be examined may have, at
his or her own expense, another physician of his or her choice
present during all aspects of this examination. Failure of an
individual to submit to a mental or physical examination, when
directed, shall be grounds for suspension of his or her license
until the individual submits to the examination if the
Department finds, after notice and hearing, that the refusal to
submit to the examination was without reasonable cause.
If the Department or Board finds an individual unable to
practice because of the reasons set forth in this Section, the
Department or Board may require that individual to submit to
care, counseling, or treatment by physicians approved or
designated by the Department or Board, as a condition, term, or
restriction for continued, reinstated, or renewed licensure to
practice; or, in lieu of care, counseling, or treatment, the
Department may file, or the Board may recommend to the
Department to file, a complaint to immediately suspend, revoke,
or otherwise discipline the license of the individual. An
individual whose license was granted, continued, reinstated,
renewed, disciplined or supervised subject to such terms,
conditions, or restrictions, and who fails to comply with such
terms, conditions, or restrictions, shall be referred to the
Secretary for a determination as to whether the individual
shall have his or her license suspended immediately, pending a
hearing by the Department.
In instances in which the Secretary immediately suspends a

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person's license under this Section, a hearing on that person's
license must be convened by the Department within 30 days after
the suspension and completed without appreciable delay. The
Department and Board shall have the authority to review the
subject individual's record of treatment and counseling
regarding the impairment to the extent permitted by applicable
federal statutes and regulations safeguarding the
confidentiality of medical records.
An individual licensed under this Act and affected under
this Section shall be afforded an opportunity to demonstrate to
the Department or Board that he or she can resume practice in
compliance with acceptable and prevailing standards under the
provisions of his or her license.
(Source: P.A. 95-851, eff. 1-1-09; 96-856, eff. 12-31-09.)