ENROLLED Page 1 of 5 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. Regular Session, 2012 HOUSE BILL NO. 823 BY REPRESENTATIVE GREENE AN ACT1 To amend and reenact R.S. 37:3415.3(B)(10) and (11), 3415.13, and 3415.21 and to enact2 R.S. 37:3415.2(11), (12), and (13), 3415.3(C) and (D), and 3415.15, relative to real3 estate appraisals; to define certain terms; to require an appraiser's license to perform4 appraisal reviews; to provide that administrative reviews of an appraisal do not5 require an appraiser's license; to require a surety bond; to provide for the competency6 of appraisers; to provide for customary and reasonable fees for appraisers; to provide7 for disclosure of fees paid to appraisers by appraisal management companies; to8 provide for the disclosure of administration fees charged by appraisal management9 companies; to require that administrative rules receive affirmative approval from the10 Louisiana Legislature; to repeal an outdated grandfathering clause; to provide for11 applicability; and to provide for related matters.12 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:13 Section 1. R.S. 37:3415.3(B)(10) and (11), 3415.13, and 3415.21 are hereby14 amended and reenacted and R.S. 37:3415.2(11), (12), and (13), 3415.3(C) and (D), and15 3415.15 are hereby enacted to read as follows: 16 §3415.2. Definitions17 As used in this Chapter, the following words have the meaning ascribed to18 them in this Section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:19 * * *20 (11) "Administrative review", "compliance review", "quality check", or21 "QC" means a process that checks an appraisal report for compliance with the22 ENROLLEDHB NO. 823 Page 2 of 5 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice or other stipulated1 requirements.2 (12) "Appraisal review" means the act or process of developing and3 communicating an opinion about the quality of another appraiser's work that was4 performed as part of an appraisal assignment. The term shall not include an5 examination of an appraisal for grammatical, typographical, mathematical, or other6 similar administrative errors that do not involve the appraiser's professional7 judgment, including compliance with the elements of the client's statement of work.8 (13) "Fee appraiser" means a person who is not an employee of the mortgage9 loan originator or appraisal management company engaging the appraiser and is one10 of the following:11 (a) A state-licensed or certified appraiser who receives a fee for performing12 an appraisal and certifies that the appraisal has been prepared in accordance with the13 Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.14 (b) A company not subject to the requirements of §1124 of the Financial15 Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989, 12 U.S.C. 3331 et16 seq., that utilizes the services of state-licensed or certified appraisers and receives a17 fee for performing appraisals in accordance with the Uniform Standards of18 Professional Appraisal Practice.19 §3415.3. License required; bond required20 * * *21 B. The license required by Subsection A of this Section shall, at a minimum,22 include the following information:23 * * *24 (10) Proof that the entity has obtained and maintains a surety bond that meets25 the requirements of Subsection D of this Section.26 (11) An irrevocable Uniform Consent to Service of Process, pursuant to this27 Chapter.28 (11) Any other information required by the board.29 ENROLLEDHB NO. 823 Page 3 of 5 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. C.(1) A person who performs an appraisal review for an appraisal1 management company shall be licensed or certified in Louisiana.2 (2) An administrative review may be performed by any individual, including3 a certified appraiser.4 D.(1) Every applicant for a license or the renewal of a license shall obtain5 and maintain a surety bond in the amount of twenty thousand dollars. The surety6 bond shall:7 (a) Be in the form prescribed by the board pursuant to regulations duly8 promulgated by it.9 (b) Accrue to the state for the benefit of a claimant against the registrant to10 secure the faithful performance of the licensee obligations under this Chapter.11 (2) The aggregate liability of the surety shall not exceed the principal sum12 of the bond.13 (3) A party having a claim against the licensee may bring suit directly on the14 surety bond, or the board may bring suit on behalf of the party having a claim against15 the licensee.16 (4) Consumer claims shall be given priority in recovering from the bond.17 (5) A deposit of cash or security may be accepted in lieu of the surety bond.18 (6) If a claim reduces the face amount of the bond, the bond shall be19 annually restored upon renewal of the licensee's registration.20 * * *21 §3415.13. Adherence to standards; competency22 A. Each appraisal management company seeking to be licensed in this state23 shall certify to the board on an annual basis that it has a system in place to review on24 a periodic basis the work of all appraisers that are performing real estate appraisal25 services for the appraisal management company to ensure that the real estate26 appraisal services are being conducted in accordance with Uniform Standards of27 Professional Appraisal Practice.28 B. Before or at the time of making an assignment to an appraiser, an29 appraisal management company shall verify that the appraiser receiving the30 ENROLLEDHB NO. 823 Page 4 of 5 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. assignment satisfies each provision of the competency rule of the Uniform Standards1 of Professional Appraisal Practice for the appraisal being assigned.2 * * *3 §3415.15. Fees; customary and reasonable; disclosure4 A. An appraisal management company shall compensate appraisers at a rate5 that is customary and reasonable for appraisals being performed in the market area6 of the property being appraised, consistent with the presumptions of compliance7 under federal law.8 B. An appraisal management company shall separately state to the client all9 of the following:10 (1) The fees paid to an appraiser for appraisal services.11 (2) The fees charged by the appraisal management company for services12 associated with the management of the appraisal process, including procurement of13 the appraiser's services.14 C.(1) An appraisal management company shall not prohibit any appraiser15 who is part of an appraiser panel from recording the fee that the appraiser was paid16 by the appraisal management company for the performance of the appraisal within17 the appraisal report that is submitted by the appraiser to the appraisal management18 company.19 (2) An appraisal management company shall not include any fees for20 appraisal management services performed by the company in the amount the21 company reports as charges for the actual completion of an appraisal by the22 appraiser.23 * * *24 §3415.21. Rulemaking authority; effective date25 A. The board shall have the power to may adopt any rules and regulations26 in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act necessary for the enforcement27 of this Chapter.28 B. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, these rules shall require the29 affirmative approval by the House of Representatives Committee on Commerce and30 ENROLLEDHB NO. 823 Page 5 of 5 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs.1 If the board submits its proposed rules for affirmative approval and the legislature2 is not in session, the proposed rules shall be deemed affirmatively approved if sixty3 days have elapsed from the date the proposed rules are received by the oversight4 committees and no hearing is held by either committee.5 C. Any appraisal management company doing business in this state at the6 time of passage of this Act, may continue to perform such services without a license7 until the earlier of either such time that the rules and regulations pertaining to this8 Chapter have been approved in accordance with Subsections A and B of this Section9 or January 1, 2011.10 Section 2. The provisions of R.S. 37:3415.3(B)(10) and (C) shall apply to any new11 or renewed license after December 31, 2011, and only upon promulgation of rules by the12 board concerning the provisions of R.S. 37:3415.3(B)(10) and (C).13 SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED: