HBA-DMH H.B. 695 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 695 By: Reyna, Arthur Licensing & Administrative Procedures 3/4/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Texas Real Estate Commission regulates real estate brokers, salespersons, inspectors, and other related professionals. Certain provisions in The Real Estate License Act make regulating such professionals inefficient. House Bill 695 modifies language to facilitate the administration of provisions relating to The Real Estate License Act. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Real Estate Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 7, Article 6573a, V.T.C.S.) of this bill. ANALYSIS House Bill 695 amends The Real Estate License Act to authorize the Texas Real Estate Commission (commission) by rule to limit the number of times a real estate license applicant may take all or part of the examination that determines the competency of a real estate broker or salesperson. The bill authorizes the commission by rule to set a reasonable waiting period before a person who fails an examination may file another application. If the applicant completes additional specified courses, the commission is authorized to permit the applicant to file another application without regard to the waiting period. The bill authorizes the commission by rule to prescribe the content of core real estate courses required for a license, and modifies the number of classroom hours for which an applicant is required to furnish satisfactory evidence of completion to the commission to apply for or renew a license. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001. Provisions relating to the modified number of required classroom hours take effect January 1, 2002, and apply only to an application for a real estate salesperson license filed on or after January 1, 2002.