Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

Arkansas Senate Bill SB443 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
2		-	Act 949 of the Regular Session
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4		-
5		-	State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H4/3/25 1
	2	+	LGL132 03/12/2025 11:31:00 AM LGL132
	3	+	State of Arkansas 1
6	4		95th General Assembly A Bill 2
7	5		Regular Session, 2025 SENATE BILL 443 3
8	6		4
9	7		By: Senator J. Bryant 5
10	8		By: Representative Rose 6
11	9		7
12	10		For An Act To Be Entitled 8
13	11		AN ACT TO AMEND THE DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF 9
14	12		APPRAISERS, ABSTRACTERS, AND HOME INSPECTORS; TO 10
15	13		AMEND THE LAW REGARDING LICENSURE OF ABSTRACTERS; TO 11
16	14		AMEND THE LAW REGARDING LICENSURE OF HOME INSPECTORS; 12
17	15		TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 13
18	16		14
19	17		15
20	18		Subtitle 16
21	19		TO AMEND THE DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD 17
22	20		OF APPRAISERS, ABSTRACTERS, AND HOME 18
23	21		INSPECTORS; TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING 19
24	22		LICENSURE OF ABSTRACTERS; TO AMEND THE 20
25	23		LAW REGARDING LICENSURE OF HOME 21
26	24		INSPECTORS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. 22
27	25		23
28	26		BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 24
29	27		25
30	28		SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 17 -11-301 is amended to read as follows: 26
31	29		17-11-301. Certificate of registration required. 27
32	30		(a)(1) Every person, firm, or private corporation engaged in the 28
33	31		business of abstracting in one (1) county only, shall be or have in its 29
34	32		employ a registered abstracter. 30
35	33		(2) Every person, firm, or private corporation engaged in the 31
36	34		business of abstracting in more than one (1) county in this state shall have 32
37	35		at least one (1) registered abstracter for each county in which it maintains 33
38	36		an abstract office. 34
39	37		(b) No person shall execute an abstract certificate or otherwise 35
40		-	attest to the accuracy of abstracts unless the person is a registered 36 ~~As Engrossed: H4/3/25~~ SB443
	38	+	attest to the accuracy of abstracts unless the person is a registered 36 SB443
41	39
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44		-
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45	41		abstracter as defined in this chapter. 1
46	42		(c)(1) Each person engaged in the business of abstracting who is a 2
47	43		registered abstracter may fulfill the requirements of subsection (a) of this 3
48	44		section in one (1) county only. 4
49	45		(2) No registered abstracter may fulfill the requirements of 5
50	46		subsection (a) of this section for more than one (1) county or more than one 6
51	47		(1) company at any one (1) time. 7
52	48		8
53	49		SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 17 -11-302(d), concerning an application for 9
54	50		to become a registered abstracter, is amended to read as follows: 10
55	51		(d) Thereupon the board shall notify the applicant of the time and 11
56	52		place of the next scheduled examination, and notice of the examination shall 12
57	53		be given to the applicant by mail or email. 13
58	54		14
59	55		SECTION 3. Arkansas Code § 17 -11-305(d), concerning a temporary 15
60	56		certificate of registration as an abstracter, is amended to read as follows: 16
61	57		(d) The board shall notify the applicant by mail or email of the time 17
62	58		and place of the examination. 18
63	59		19
64	60		SECTION 4. Arkansas Code § 17 -11-322(c), concerning renewal notice for 20
65	61		a certificate of registration as an abstracter, is amended to read as 21
66	62		follows: 22
67	63		(c)(1)(A) No more than sixty (60) days nor less than thirty (30) days 23
68	64		before the expiration date of the certificate issued, the board shall cause a 24
69	65		notice of expiration and application for renewal to be mailed or 25
70	66		electronically mailed to each of the holders of the certificates. 26
71	67		(B) The notice and application shall be in a form prepared 27
72	68		by the board. 28
73	69		(2) Upon determination by the board of the applicant's 29
74	70		compliance with this chapter, a renewal certificate of authority shall be 30
75	71		issued to the applicant. 31
76	72		32
77	73		SECTION 5. Arkansas Code § 17 -11-322(d)(1), concerning failure to 33
78	74		renew a certificate of registration as an abstracter, is amended to read as 34
79	75		follows: 35
80		-	(d)(1)(A) If a holder of a certificate of authority fails to apply for 36 ~~As Engrossed: H4/3/25~~ SB443
	76	+	(d)(1)(A) If a holder of a certificate of authority fails to apply for 36 SB443
81	77
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84		-
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85	79		renewal of his or her authority and to pay the fee provided therefor, the 1
86	80		board shall cause to be mailed or emailed to the holder a notice that his or 2
87	81		her certificate has expired and is no longer valid authority for the person 3
88	82		to engage in the business of abstracting. 4
89	83		(B) The notice shall be mailed or emailed not more than 5
90	84		thirty (30) days following the certificate expiration date. 6
91	85		(C) The holder shall be granted an additional period of 7
92	86		sixty (60) days from the date of mailing the notice within which to file his 8
93	87		or her application for renewal. 9
94	88		10
95	89		SECTION 6. Arkansas Code § 17 -11-342 is repealed. 11
96	90		17-11-342. Seal. 12
97	91		Any licensee under this chapter shall provide a seal, which shall have 13
98	92		stamped on the license the name of the licensee, and shall deposit with the 14
99	93		State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors an impression of 15
100	94		the seal and the names of all persons authorized to sign certificates to 16
101	95		abstracts on behalf of the licensee. 17
102	96		18
103	97		SECTION 7. Arkansas Code § 17 -11-343 is repealed. 19
104	98		17-11-343. Abstract as evidence. 20
105	99		An abstract or photostat or verbatim copy of any public record, where 21
106	100		certified by and impressed with the official seal of any licensed abstracter, 22
107	101		shall be admissible in evidence, if otherwise admissible, on behalf of any 23
108	102		party litigant in any court in the State of Arkansas and shall be prima facie 24
109	103		evidence of the facts recited therein. 25
110	104		26
111	105		SECTION 8. Arkansas Code § 17 -11-404 is repealed. 27
112	106		17-11-404. Investigations – Independent or private investigator. 28
113	107		(a) A member of the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home 29
114	108		Inspectors shall not: 30
115	109		(1) Act as an investigator on a matter before the board; or 31
116	110		(2) Perform any investigative task or work required by the 32
117	111		board. 33
118	112		(b)(1)(A) The board shall contract an independent investigator or 34
119	113		private investigator to perform any investigative task or work as needed or 35
120		-	as required by law. 36 ~~As Engrossed: H4/3/25~~ SB443
	114	+	as required by law. 36 SB443
121	115
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125	117		(B) An independent investigator or private investigator 1
126	118		contracted under subdivision (b)(1)(A) of this section shall have expertise 2
127	119		or background in the subject matter in which he or she is being contracted to 3
128	120		investigate. 4
129	121		(2) An appropriation made available for professional fees in the 5
130	122		board's Operations appropriation act shall be made available to the board for 6
131	123		the purpose of contracting under subdivision (b)(1) of this section. 7
132	124		(c)(1) The board shall file a report annually on or before December 1 8
133	125		with the Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs and the 9
134	126		House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs for the Senate 10
135	127		Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs' and the House Committee 11
136	128		on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs' review. 12
137	129		(2) The report shall include: 13
138	130		(A) The number of complaints that have been filed; 14
139	131		(B) A list of who has been investigated and the purported 15
140	132		violation; and 16
141	133		(C) A summary of the findings of each investigation. 17
142	134		18
143	135		SECTION 9. Arkansas Code § 17 -14-103(17), concerning definitions 19
144	136		pertaining to appraisers, is amended to read as follows: 20
145	137		(17)(A) “Real estate appraisal” means an unbiased estimate of 21
146	138		the nature, quality, value, or utility of an interest in, or aspect of, 22
147	139		identified real estate and related personalty .; 23
148	140		(B)(i) A real estate appraisal may be classified by 24
149	141		subject matter into either a valuation or an evaluation. 25
150	142		(ii) Valuation is the process of estimating the 26
151	143		market value, investment value, insurable value, or other properly defined 27
152	144		value of an identified interest or interests in a specific parcel or parcels 28
153	145		of real estate as of a given date. 29
154	146		(iii) Evaluation or analysis is the study of the 30
155	147		nature, quality, or utility of a parcel of real estate, or interests in or 31
156	148		aspects of real property, in which a value estimate is not necessarily 32
157	149		required, i.e., a study of real estate or real property other than estimating 33
158	150		value; 34
159	151		35
160		-	SECTION 10. Arkansas Code § 17 -14-201(a)(3), concerning the 36 ~~As Engrossed: H4/3/25~~ SB443
	152	+	SECTION 10. Arkansas Code § 17 -14-201(a)(3), concerning the 36 SB443
161	153
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165	155		composition of the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home 1
166	156		Inspectors, is amended to read as follows; 2
167	157		(3) One (1) senior and consumer representative; 3
168	158		4
169	159		SECTION 11. Arkansas Code § 17 -14-201(b)(2), concerning the composition 5
170	160		of the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors, is 6
171	161		repealed. 7
172	162		(2) At least four (4) real estate appraiser members appointed to 8
173	163		the board shall be members in good standing of: 9
174	164		(A) A state or regional chapter of a nationally recognized 10
175	165		real estate appraisal organization that requires an individual to have 11
176	166		qualified appraisal experience, education, and testing in order to become a 12
177	167		designated member and to adhere to standards of professional practice in 13
178	168		order to retain such a designation; or 14
179	169		(B) The Association of Consulting Foresters of America, 15
180	170		Inc., Arkansas Chapter. 16
181	171		17
182	172		SECTION 12. Arkansas Code § 17 -14-203(6)(E)(i), the powers and duties 18
183	173		of the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors, is 19
184	174		amended to read as follows: 20
185	175		(E)(i) Every applicant for registering, licensing, and 21
186	176		certifying shall be accompanied by an application fee and a criminal 22
187	177		background check fee that the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and 23
188	178		Home Inspectors may establish by rule. 24
189	179		25
190	180		SECTION 13. Arkansas Code § 17 -14-205(b), concerning disciplinary 26
191	181		hearings conducted by the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home 27
192	182		Inspectors, is repealed. 28
193	183		(b) Disciplinary hearings conducted by the board for the purpose of 29
194	184		determining whether to levy civil penalties under the Arkansas Appraiser 30
195	185		Licensing and Certification Act, § 17-14-101 et seq., § 17-14-201 et seq., 31
196	186		and § 17-14-301 et seq., and for the purpose of determining whether to revoke 32
197	187		or suspend any registration, license, or certificate issued under the 33
198	188		Arkansas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Act, § 17-14-101 et seq., § 34
199	189		17-14-201 et seq., and § 17-14-301 et seq., shall not be deemed open public 35
200		-	meetings but shall be executive sessions conducted as provided for in the 36 ~~As Engrossed: H4/3/25~~ SB443
	190	+	meetings but shall be executive sessions conducted as provided for in the 36 SB443
201	191
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205	193		Freedom of Information Act of 1967, § 25-19-101 et seq. 1
206	194		2
207	195		SECTION 14. Arkansas Code § 17 -14-206(a)(3), concerning disciplinary 3
208	196		action of the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors, is 4
209	197		amended to add an additional subdivision to read as follows: 5
210	198		(3) Conviction of or pleading guilty or nolo contendere to any 6
211	199		offense listed under § 17 -3-102 or § 17-14-203(12)(C) unless the person 7
212	200		requests and the board approves a waiver under § 17 -3-102(b). 8
213	201		9
214	202		SECTION 15. Arkansas Code § 17 -14-305 is amended to read as follows: 10
215	203		17-14-305. Compliance with uniform standards and code of ethics – 11
216	204		Seals – Licensing and certification documents. 12
217	205		(a)(1) Each state-registered appraiser, each state -licensed appraiser, 13
218	206		each registered apprentice appraiser, and each state -certified appraiser 14
219	207		shall comply with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice 15
220	208		and code of ethics adopted by the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and 16
221	209		Home Inspectors and shall authenticate all written appraisal reports with a 17
222	210		seal that shall indicate the registration, license, or certification number 18
223	211		of the appraiser. 19
224	212		(2)(b) The seal and number shall also be used in all statements 20
225	213		of qualifications, contracts, or other instruments used by the registration, 21
226	214		license, or certificate holder when reference is made to his or her status as 22
227	215		a state-registered appraiser, state -licensed appraiser, registered apprentice 23
228	216		appraiser, or state-certified appraiser. 24
229	217		(b) Registration, license, and certificate documents, licenses, 25
230	218		certificates, seals, and pocket cards shall remain the property of the state, 26
231	219		and, upon any suspension, revocation, or other termination of a registration, 27
232	220		license, or certification under the Arkansas Appraiser Licensing and 28
233	221		Certification Act, § 17-14-101 et seq., § 17-14-201 et seq., and § 17-14-29
234	222		301 et seq., the individual holding the related documents shall immediately 30
235	223		return the documents to the board. 31
236	224		32
237	225		SECTION 16. Arkansas Code § 17 -14-409(a)(1), concerning the registry 33
238	226		of applicants for appraisers, is amended to read as follows: 34
239	227		(a)(1) The Executive Director of the State Board of Appraisers, 35
240		-	Abstracters, and Home Inspectors shall keep a register of all applicants for 36 ~~As Engrossed: H4/3/25~~ SB443
	228	+	Abstracters, and Home Inspectors shall keep a register of all applicants for 36 SB443
241	229
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245	231		registration. 1
246	232		2
247	233		SECTION 17. Arkansas Code § 17 -52-303(8), concerning definitions 3
248	234		pertaining to home inspectors, is amended to read as follows: 4
249	235		(8) “Residential unit” means any dwelling from one (1) to four (4) 5
250	236		units in design intended principally for residential purposes by one (1) or 6
251	237		more persons a structure consisting of at least one (1) but no more than four 7
252	238		(4) units designed for occupancy by a single family that is occupied or 8
253	239		unoccupied. 9
254	240		10
255	241		SECTION 18. Arkansas Code § 17 -52-306 is amended to read as follows: 11
256	242		17-52-306. Powers and duties of board. 12
257	243		The State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors may: 13
258	244		(1) Perform the duties and functions appropriate and necessary to 14
259	245		carry out the provisions of this subchapter; 15
260	246		(2) Review, approve, or reject registration applications and issue 16
261	247		registration certificates to applicants; 17
262	248		(3) Establish a mandatory continuing education program designed to 18
263	249		upgrade the professional skills and knowledge of home inspectors practicing 19
264	250		in Arkansas; 20
265	251		(4)(A) Establish administrative procedures for disciplinary 21
266	252		proceedings conducted according to the provisions for this subchapter. 22
267	253		(B) The procedures shall include provisions for the suspension 23
268	254		and revocation of registration and enforcement of civil penalties; 24
269	255		(5) Establish procedures for processing and resolving complaints 25
270	256		against home inspectors conducting home inspections in Arkansas; 26
271	257		(6) Authorize disbursement of the funds collected into the Arkansas 27
272	258		Home Inspectors Registration Fund; 28
273	259		(7) Employ legal counsel to represent it in any proceedings when legal 29
274	260		counsel is required; 30
275	261		(8) Develop competency exams for home inspectors; 31
276	262		(9)(7) Establish a standard of practice and code of ethics for home 32
277	263		inspectors; 33
278	264		(10)(8) Enter into agreements with other states, territories, 34
279	265		districts, or possessions of the United States concerning registration or 35
280		-	licensing requirements acceptable between Arkansas and the other entities; 36 ~~As Engrossed: H4/3/25~~ SB443
	266	+	licensing requirements acceptable between Arkansas and the other entities; 36 SB443
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285	269		(11)(9) Maintain working files as it deems necessary; 1
286	270		(12) Contract for administrative support services and meet financial 2
287	271		obligations of those contracts using moneys from the fund; 3
288	272		(13)(A)(10)(A) Develop and implement a means for conducting internet 4
289	273		board meetings, which may be observed by the public in real time. 5
290	274		(B) Public participation in the meetings may be permitted in 6
291	275		accordance with rules developed by the board; 7
292	276		(14)(11) Establish and maintain a website devoted to home inspection 8
293	277		registration and related subjects; and 9
294	278		(15) [Repealed.] 10
295	279		(16)(12) Establish educational requirements for registration to begin 11
296	280		after July 1, 2004, including the standards and procedures for approval of 12
297	281		educational programs if the maximum number of hours required shall not exceed 13
298	282		ninety (90) classroom hours. 14
299	283		15
300	284		SECTION 19. Arkansas Code § 17 -52-307 is amended to read as follows: 16
301	285		17-52-307. Hearings – Review – Access to records. 17
302	286		(a) As part of an investigation or as a condition of renewal, the 18
303	287		State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors may require a 19
304	288		home inspector to submit in writing home inspection reports and other 20
305	289		documents to be reviewed by the board. 21
306	290		(b) Requests by the board for copies of home inspection reports shall 22
307	291		supersede any contract of client privacy or confidentiality whether written 23
308	292		or oral. 24
309	293		(c) Any documents submitted to the board as part of an investigation 25
310	294		shall: 26
311	295		(1) Be considered as confidential documents; 27
312	296		(2) Be used only for the purpose for which they are requested; 28
313	297		(3) Not be available for public viewing; 29
314	298		(4) Not become part of any official file; and 30
315	299		(5) Not be revealed to any nonboard members. 31
316	300		(d) When the action for which they were requested is completed by the 32
317	301		board, the documents shall be returned to the home inspector at his or her 33
318	302		own expense or destroyed if the home inspector requests that the documents be 34
319	303		destroyed. 35
320		-	(e)(c) In fulfilling its duties under this subchapter, the board shall 36 ~~As Engrossed: H4/3/25~~ SB443
	304	+	(e)(c) In fulfilling its duties under this subchapter, the board shall 36 SB443
321	305
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325	307		comply with the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, § 25-15-201 et seq., 1
326	308		and any person aggrieved by any rule or other actions of the board for which 2
327	309		an appeal is not provided for in the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, § 3
328	310		25-15-201 et seq., may appeal to the Pulaski County Circuit Court. 4
329	311		(f) All work papers submitted to the board for action on complaints 5
330	312		and disciplinary procedures under this subchapter shall not be deemed public 6
331	313		records under the Freedom of Information Act of 1967, § 25-19-101 et seq. 7
332	314		8
333	315		SECTION 20. Arkansas Code § 17 -52-310(e)(1), concerning continuing 9
334	316		education for home inspectors, is amended to read as follows: 10
335	317		(e)(1) Failure to complete continuing education requirements shall may 11
336	318		result in suspension of the home inspector’s registration. 12
337	319		13
338	320		SECTION 21. Arkansas Code § 17 -52-311 is amended to read as follows: 14
339	321		17-52-311. Custodian of records. 15
340	322		(a)(1) The Executive Director of the State Board of Appraisers, 16
341	323		Abstracters, and Home Inspectors shall be the custodian of permanent, 17
342	324		official, home inspector registration files and shall maintain permanent 18
343	325		records of all home inspector registration applications received since the 19
344	326		enactment of this subchapter . 20
345	327		(2) The executive director shall maintain the permanent records 21
346	328		of the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors. 22
347	329		(b) The executive director shall receive and process applications for 23
348	330		initial registration and renewal of registration. 24
349	331		25
350	332		SECTION 22. Arkansas Code § 17 -52-312 is amended to read as follows: 26
351	333		17-52-312. Fund. 27
352	334		(a) There is created in the State Treasury a fund to be known as the 28
353	335		“Arkansas Home Inspectors Registration Fund” “State Board of Appraisers, 29
354	336		Abstracters, and Home Inspectors Fund” . 30
355	337		(b) All funds, fees, charges, costs, and collections accruing to or 31
356	338		collected under the provisions of this subchapter shall be deposited into the 32
357	339		State Treasury to the credit of this fund. 33
358	340		(c) The funds shall be used for the purposes as specified in this 34
359	341		subchapter. 35
360		-	(d)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (d)(2) of this section, 36 ~~As Engrossed: H4/3/25~~ SB443
	342	+	(d)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (d)(2) of this section, 36 SB443
361	343
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365	345		effective with the 2003 registration and under the provisions of this 1
366	346		subchapter, all funds, fees, charges, costs, and collections accruing to or 2
367	347		collected by the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Licensing shall be 3
368	348		deposited quarterly into the fund. 4
369	349		(2) [Repealed.] 5
370	350		(e) The State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors 6
371	351		will process disbursements of those funds as necessary in the administration 7
372	352		of this subchapter. 8
373	353		9
374	354		SECTION 23. Arkansas Code § 17 -52-313 is amended to read as follows: 10
375	355		17-52-313. Disposition of funds. 11
376	356		(a)(1) The Executive Director of the State Board of Appraisers, 12
377	357		Abstracters, and Home Inspectors shall receive, disburse, and account for all 13
378	358		income paid to or received by the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and 14
379	359		Home Inspectors. 15
380	360		(2) The executive director shall institute a system of books and 16
381	361		financial records satisfactory to the Secretary of the Department of Finance 17
382	362		and Administration. 18
383	363		(3)(A) All fees collected on behalf of the board and all 19
384	364		receipts of every kind and nature shall be paid into the State Treasury and 20
385	365		shall be credited to the Arkansas Home Inspectors Registration Fund State 21
386	366		Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors Fund . 22
387	367		(B) The Arkansas Home Inspectors Registration Fund State 23
388	368		Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors Fund shall be for the 24
389	369		general uses of the board, and out of it shall be paid all salaries and all 25
390	370		other expenses necessarily incurred in carrying into effect the provisions of 26
391	371		this subchapter. 27
392	372		(C) Expenditures from the Arkansas Home Inspectors 28
393	373		Registration Fund State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors 29
394	374		Fund shall be substantiated by vouchers and itemized statements at the end of 30
395	375		each fiscal year or at any other time when demand is made by the Department 31
396	376		of Finance and Administration. 32
397	377		(4) The executive director shall deposit all funds of the board 33
398	378		that he or she receives with the State Treasury within forty -eight (48) 34
399	379		hours, excluding holidays and Sundays, after he or she receives the funds. 35
400		-	(b) All fines collected for the violation of any provisions of this 36 ~~As Engrossed: H4/3/25~~ SB443
	380	+	(b) All fines collected for the violation of any provisions of this 36 SB443
401	381
402		-	11 04-03-2025 11:15:06 LGL132
403		-
404		-
	382	+	11 03/12/2025 11:31:00 AM LGL132
405	383		subchapter shall be paid over to the board to be used by it in the same 1
406	384		manner as funds received for the issuance of registration. 2
407	385		(c) The total amount of warrants issued by the board or Auditor of 3
408	386		State in payment of the expenses and compensation provided in this subchapter 4
409	387		shall not exceed the amount of the application, registration, and other fees 5
410	388		collected. 6
411	389		(d)(1) Any surplus funds at the end of the fiscal year may be retained 7
412	390		by the board for future expenditures. 8
413	391		(2) The board shall not be required to pay any surplus into the 9
414	392		General Revenue Fund Account of the State Apportionment Fund. 10
415	393		11
416	394		SECTION 24. Arkansas Code § 17 -52-315(a)(1), concerning an application 12
417	395		for registration as a home inspector, is amended to read as follows: 13
418	396		(1) An application under oath upon a form to be prescribed by 14
419	397		the board; 15
420	398		16
421	399		SECTION 25. Arkansas Code § 17 -52-316(d), concerning registration and 17
422	400		renewal fees set by the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home 18
423	401		Inspectors concerning home inspectors, is amended to read as follows: 19
424	402		(d) Other fees authorized to be assessed by the board are: 20
425	403		(1) Delinquent renewal Late fees not to exceed the amount of the 21
426	404		renewal fee for one year; and 22
427	405		(2) Home inspector training or continuing education provider 23
428	406		fees as follows: 24
429	407		(A) Initial qualifying fees not to exceed two hundred 25
430	408		dollars ($200); 26
431	409		(B) Annual renewal fees not to exceed two hundred dollars 27
432	410		($200); and 28
433	411		(C) Additional course filing fees not to exceed twenty -29
434	412		five dollars ($25.00) ; 30
435	413		(3) Duplicate registration fees not to exceed twenty -five 31
436	414		dollars ($25.00); 32
437	415		(4) Returned check fees not to exceed twenty -five dollars 33
438	416		($25.00); and 34
439	417		(5) Change-of-address fees not to exceed twenty -five dollars 35
440		-	($25.00). 36 ~~As Engrossed: H4/3/25~~ SB443
	418	+	($25.00). 36 SB443
441	419
442		-	12 04-03-2025 11:15:06 LGL132
443		-
444		-
	420	+	12 03/12/2025 11:31:00 AM LGL132
445	421		1
446	422		SECTION 26. Arkansas Code § 17-52-317 is amended to read as follows: 2
447	423		17-52-317. Certificates of registration. 3
448	424		(a)(1) Certificates of registration shall be issued by the State Board 4
449	425		of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors to an applicant after 5
450	426		compliance with the registration or renewal requirements of this subchapter. 6
451	427		(2) Certificates shall be consecutively numbered. 7
452	428		(b) When registration is renewed, that person's registration number 8
453	429		shall be perpetuated. 9
454	430		(c) Certificates of registration of a home inspector shall be issued 10
455	431		for a period of at least one (1) year and shall expire at the end of a period 11
456	432		of up to three (3) years, as may be set by the board expire annually on 12
457	433		December 31. 13
458	434		(d) Notices of upcoming registration expiration and a reminder to 14
459	435		renew shall be mailed or emailed to registered home inspectors no more than 15
460	436		sixty (60) days and no less than forty -five (45) days before the expiration 16
461	437		date of the applicant's registration. 17
462	438		18
463	439		SECTION 27. Arkansas Code § 17 -52-320 is amended to read as follows: 19
464	440		17-52-320. Limitations. 20
465	441		(a) Any cause of action to recover damages suffered by a consumer as a 21
466	442		result of any act or omission of a home inspector relating to a home 22
467		-	inspection report must be commenced within one (1) year from ~~the date the~~ 23
468		-	home inspection report is completed. 24
	443	+	inspection report must be commenced within one (1) year three (3) years from 23
	444	+	the date the home inspection report is completed. 24
469	445		(b) Disciplinary action taken against a home inspector by the State 25
470	446		Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors shall not in and of 26
471	447		itself be the basis for civil or criminal action. 27
472	448		28
473	449		SECTION 28. Arkansas Code § 19 -6-301(93), concerning the abstracter’s 29
474	450		examining licenses and fees, is repealed. 30
475	451		(93) Abstracter's examining licenses and fees, as enacted by 31
476	452		Acts 1969, No. 109, as amended, known as the “Abstracters' Licensing Law of 32
477	453		1969”, § 17-11-101 et seq.; 33
478	454		34
479	455		SECTION 29. Arkansas Code § 19 -6-415 is repealed. 35
480		-	19-6-415. Arkansas Abstracters’ Board Fund. 36 ~~As Engrossed: H4/3/25~~ SB443
	456	+	19-6-415. Arkansas Abstracters’ Board Fund. 36 SB443
481	457
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483		-
484		-
	458	+	13 03/12/2025 11:31:00 AM LGL132
485	459		The Arkansas Abstracters' Board Fund shall consist of those special 1
486	460		revenues as specified in § 19-6-301(93), there to be used for the 2
487	461		maintenance, operation, and improvement of the State Board of Appraisers, 3
488	462		Abstracters, and Home Inspectors. 4
489	463		5
490	464		SECTION 30. DO NOT CODIFY. Abolition of the Arkansas Abstracters’ 6
491	465		Board Fund. 7
492	466		The Arkansas Abstracters’ Board Fund is abolished, and all funds are 8
493	467		transferred to the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home 9
494	468		Inspectors Fund. 10
495	469		11
496	470		SECTION 31. DO NOT CODIFY. Abolition of the Arkansas Home Inspectors 12
497	471		Registration Fund. 13
498	472		The Arkansas Home Inspectors Registration Fund is abolished, and all 14
499	473		funds are transferred to the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home 15
500	474		Inspectors Fund. 16
501	475		17
502	476		SECTION 7. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the 18
503	477		General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the State Board of Appraisers, 19
504	478		Abstracters, and Home Inspectors preserves the public peace, health, and 20
505	479		safety by providing needed funds and services for Arkansas; that this act 21
506	480		provides for the abolition and transfer of the Arkansas Abstracters' Board 22
507	481		Fund and the Arkansas Home Inspectors Registration Fund to the State Board of 23
508	482		Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors Fund; and that this act should 24
509	483		become effective on July 1, 2025, to coincide with the appropriation bill of 25
510	484		the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors and ensure 26
511	485		that the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors 27
512	486		continues to provide its vital services as the transfer is implemented and 28
513	487		does not experience any issues with funding under the transfer. Therefore, an 29
514	488		emergency is declared to exist, and this act being necessary for the 30
515	489		preservation of the public peace, health, and safety shall become effective 31
516	490		on July 1, 2025. 32
517	491		33
518		-	~~/s/J. Bryant~~ 34
519		-	~~APPROVED: 4/21/25~~ 35
	492	+	34
	493	+	35
520	494		36