2015 Wisconsin Act 258

258,142 Section 142. 452.14 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

452.14 (4) If a broker firm is a business entity it shall be sufficient cause for reprimand or for the limitation, suspension, or revocation of a broker's the firm's license that any business representative of the business entity firm, or anyone who has a financial interest in or is in any way connected with the operation of a the firm's brokerage business, has been guilty of any act or omission which that would be cause for refusing a broker's license to such person as an individual.

258,143 Section 143. 452.14 (4m) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

452.14 (4m) (intro.) In addition to or in lieu of a reprimand or a revocation, limitation, or suspension of a license or certificate of registration under sub. (3), the board may do any of the following:

258,144 Section 144. 452.14 (4m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

452.14 (4m) (a) Assess against a person who is licensed or registered under this chapter licensee a forfeiture of not more than $1,000 for each violation enumerated under sub. (3).

258,145 Section 145. 452.14 (4m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

452.14 (4m) (b) Require a licensee to successfully complete education or training, in addition to any education or training required for licensure or registration or for renewal of a license or certificate under this chapter, as a condition of continued licensure or registration or reinstatement of a license or certificate.

258,146 Section 146. 452.14 (4r) of the statutes is amended to read:

452.14 (4r) The board may assess against an individual who is licensed or registered under this chapter a licensee who is an individual a forfeiture of $1,000 for a violation under s. 452.25 (2) (a).

258,147 Section 147. 452.142 of the statutes is created to read:

452.142 Actions concerning licensees. (1) Notwithstanding s. 100.18 (11) (b) 3., 893.43, 893.52, or 893.57, an action concerning any act or omission of a firm or any licensee associated with the firm relating to brokerage services shall be commenced within 2 years after whichever of the following that applies occurs first:

(a) A transaction is completed or closed.

(b) An agency agreement is terminated.

(c) An unconsummated transaction is terminated or expires.

(2) The period of limitation under this section may not be reduced by agreement.

(3) The period of limitation under this section does not apply to disciplinary actions initiated by the board.

258,148 Section 148. 452.15 (1) and (2) of the statutes are amended to read:

452.15 (1) Except as otherwise provided in sub. (2), no license or certificate of registration may be issued under this chapter to any person whose license or certificate under this chapter has been revoked until the expiration of a period determined in each case by the board or, in the case of revocation under s. 452.17 (4) (a) 2., a period determined in each case by the board of not less than 5 years from the date the revocation became finally effective.

(2) Issuance of a license or certificate of registration to an individual whose license or certificate is revoked under s. 452.14 (3) (p) is subject to the provisions in s. 452.25 (1).

258,149 Section 149. 452.17 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

258,150 Section 150. 452.17 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

452.17 (4) (a) (intro.) If the board finds that any broker, salesperson or time-share salesperson licensee has violated s. 452.14 (3) (jm), the board:

1. Shall, for the first offense, suspend the license or registration of the broker, salesperson or time-share salesperson licensee for not less than 90 days.

2. Shall, for the 2nd offense, revoke the license or registration of the broker, salesperson or time-share salesperson licensee.

258,151 Section 151 . 452.17 (4) (a) 1. and 2. of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), are amended to read:

452.17 (4) (a) 1. Shall, for the first offense, suspend the license or registration of the licensee for not less than 90 days.

2. Shall, for the 2nd offense, revoke the license or registration of the licensee.

258,152 Section 152. 452.19 (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

452.19 (title) Fees and commissions.

258,153 Section 153. 452.19 of the statutes is renumbered 452.19 (1) and amended to read:

452.19 (1) No licensed broker licensee may pay a fee or a commission or any part thereof for performing any act specified in this chapter or as compensation for a referral or as a finder's fee to any person who is not licensed or registered under this chapter or who is not regularly and lawfully engaged in the real estate brokerage business in another state, a territory or possession of the United States, or a foreign country.

258,154 Section 154 . 452.19 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

452.19 (1) No licensee may pay a fee or a commission or any part thereof for performing any act specified in this chapter or as compensation for a referral or as a finder's fee to any person who is not licensed or registered under this chapter or who is not regularly and lawfully engaged in the real estate brokerage business in another state, a territory or possession of the United States, or a foreign country.

258,155 Section 155. 452.19 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

452.19 (2) If a licensee is associated with a firm, all fees or commission and any part thereof for performing any act specified in this chapter and all compensation for a referral or as a finder's fee shall be paid to the firm.

258,156 Section 156. 452.20 of the statutes is amended to read:

452.20 Limitation on actions for commissions. No person engaged in the business or acting in the capacity of a broker, or salesperson or time-share salesperson within this state may bring or maintain an action in the courts of this state for the collection of a commission or compensation for the performance of any act mentioned in this chapter without alleging and proving that he or she was a duly licensed broker, or salesperson or registered time-share salesperson at the time the alleged cause of action arose.

258,157 Section 157. 452.21 of the statutes is amended to read:

452.21 Compensation presumed. In any prosecution for violation of this chapter, proof that a person acted as a broker, agent, or salesperson or time-share salesperson is prima facie proof that compensation therefor was received or promised.

258,158 Section 158. 452.22 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

452.22 (2) The certificate of the chairperson of the board or his or her designee to the effect that a specified individual or business entity is not or was not on a specified date the holder of a broker's, or salesperson's, or time-share salesperson's license or registration, or that a specified license or registration was not in effect on a date specified, or as to the issuance, limitation, suspension, or revocation of any license or registration or the reprimand of any license or registration holder licensee, the filing or withdrawal of any application or its existence or nonexistence, is prima facie evidence of the facts stated in the certificate for all purposes in any action or proceedings.

258,159 Section 159. 452.23 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

452.23 (1) A broker or salesperson No licensee may not disclose to any person in connection with the sale, exchange, purchase, or rental of real property information, the disclosure of which constitutes unlawful discrimination in housing under s. 106.50 or unlawful discrimination based on handicap under 42 USC 3604, 3605, 3606, or 3617.

258,160 Section 160. 452.23 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

452.23 (2) (intro.) A broker or salesperson licensee is not required to disclose any of the following to any person in connection with the sale, exchange, purchase, or rental of real property:

258,161 Section 161. 452.23 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

452.23 (2) (b) Except as provided in sub. (3), information relating to the physical condition of the property or any other information relating to the real estate transaction, if a written report that discloses the information has been prepared by a qualified 3rd party and provided to the person. In this paragraph, "qualified 3rd party" means a federal, state, or local governmental agency, or any person whom the broker, salesperson licensee or a party to the real estate transaction reasonably believes has the expertise necessary to meet the industry standards of practice for the type of inspection or investigation that has been conducted by the 3rd party in order to prepare the written report.

258,162 Section 162. 452.23 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

452.23 (3) A broker or salesperson licensee shall disclose to the parties to a real estate transaction any facts known by the broker or salesperson licensee that contradict any information included in a written report described under sub. (2) (b).

258,163 Section 163. 452.23 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

452.23 (4) In performing an investigation or inspection and in making a disclosure in connection with a real estate transaction, a broker or salesperson licensee shall exercise the degree of care expected to be exercised by a reasonably prudent person who has the knowledge, skills, and training required for licensure as a broker or salesperson under this chapter.

258,164 Section 164. 452.24 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

452.24 (2) Notwithstanding sub. (1), the broker or salesperson licensee is immune from liability for any act or omission related to the disclosure of information under sub. (1) if the broker or salesperson licensee in a timely manner provides to the person requesting the information written notice that the person may obtain information about the sex offender registry and persons registered with the registry by contacting the department of corrections. The notice shall include the appropriate telephone number and Internet site of the department of corrections.

258,165 Section 165. 452.25 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

452.25 (1) (a) Notwithstanding ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, and except as provided in pars. (b) to (e), no applicant who is an individual may be issued a broker's or salesperson's license or a time-share salesperson's certificate of registration if the applicant has been convicted of a felony.

258,166 Section 166. 452.25 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

452.25 (1) (b) If an applicant has been convicted of a felony described under par. (a); the applicant has completed the confinement portion of his or her sentence, if the applicant is serving a bifurcated sentence, or has been released from prison to parole or released upon the completion of his or her sentence; and 3 years have elapsed since the date on which the confinement portion was completed or the applicant was released, the applicant may apply to the board for a determination as to whether the applicant is suitable to be granted a license or certificate.

258,167 Section 167. 452.25 (1) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

452.25 (1) (c) 2. Reviewing any supplemental information provided by the applicant bearing upon his or her suitability for licensure as a broker or salesperson or for registration as a time-share salesperson.

258,168 Section 168. 452.25 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

452.25 (1) (d) With respect to a determination under par. (c), the applicant bears the burden of demonstrating his or her suitability for licensure or registration.

258,169 Section 169. 452.25 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

452.25 (1) (e) If the board makes a determination under par. (c) to allow an applicant to be granted a broker's or salesperson's license or a time-share salesperson's certificate of registration, the applicant shall be granted the license or certificate if the applicant satisfies all other requirements for granting the license or certificate of registration.

258,170 Section 170. 452.25 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

452.25 (2) (b) No applicant may be issued an initial broker's or salesperson's license or time-share salesperson's certificate of registration, and no applicant may renew such a license or certificate, if the applicant has violated par. (a) and failed to pay any forfeiture assessed by the board under s. 452.14 (4r) for that violation.

258,171 Section 171. 452.30 of the statutes is created to read:

452.30 Association with firm; independent practice. (1) No licensee may provide brokerage services on behalf of a firm unless all of the following apply:

(a) The licensee is associated with the firm.

(b) The licensee has notified the department that the licensee is associated with the firm.

(2) A licensee may notify the department that the licensee is associated with a firm under sub (1) (b) by doing one of the following:

(a) Providing the notice at the time the licensee first applies for licensure as a broker or salesperson. No separate fee for notifying the department may be required for such a notification under this paragraph.

(b) Notifying the department through the use of a form prescribed by the department and paying the transfer fee specified in s. 440.05 (7).

(3) A licensee who is associated with a firm may notify the department that the licensee has become associated with another firm using the method specified in sub. (2) (b).

(4) (a) A licensee that ceases to be associated with a firm shall, through the use of a form prescribed by the department, send written notice to the department within 10 days after the date on which the licensee ceases to be associated with the firm.

(b) A firm that terminates a licensee from being associated with the firm shall, through the use of a form prescribed by the department, send written notice of that termination to the department within 10 days after the termination.

(6) (a) A broker who is associated with a firm may also engage in independent real estate practice in his or her own name or under the name of a licensed broker business entity, if the broker obtains written approval from and avoids conflicts of interest with each firm with which the broker is associated. The written approval shall specify all of the following:

1. Whether the broker engaging in independent practice may engage other licensees to work under the broker.

2. That the broker engaging in independent practice is responsible for the supervision of any licensees associated with the broker.

(b) Before engaging in independent practice as provided in par. (a), a broker shall notify the department of that fact and of the name under which the broker will engage in independent practice. The broker shall notify the department using any form or other method prescribed by the department for that purpose.

(c) A broker that is engaging in independent practice shall not be considered to be associated with a firm that approved the broker engaging in independent practice under par. (a) with respect to the broker's independent practice activities.

(7) (a) A salesperson may be associated with only one firm at a given time.

(b) A salesperson or time-share salesperson may not engage in independent real estate practice and may engage in real estate practice only when associated with a firm.

258,172 Section 172. 452.30 (7) (b) of the statutes, as created by 2015 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

452.30 (7) (b) A salesperson or time-share salesperson may not engage in independent real estate practice and may engage in real estate practice only when associated with a firm.

258,173 Section 173. 452.34 of the statutes is created to read:

452.34 Unlicensed personal assistants. (1) In this subsection, "unlicensed personal assistant" means an individual, including an individual who is licensed under this chapter, who is employed only to provide services for which a license is not required under this chapter as provided in s. 452.03 (2).

(2) A licensee associated with a firm, prior to retaining an individual to serve as an unlicensed personal assistant, shall enter into a written agreement with the licensee's firm, setting forth the duties of the unlicensed personal assistant, the manner in which the unlicensed personal assistant will be compensated for his or her services, and the responsibilities of the licensee and the firm with respect to supervision of the unlicensed personal assistant's activities.

(3) (a) In this subsection, "open house" means a showing of real estate open to the public for viewing without an individual appointment.