452.24
452.24
Disclosure duty; immunity for providing notice about the sex offender registry. 452.24(1)
(1) If, in connection with the sale, exchange, purchase or rental of real property, a licensee receives a request from a person to whom the licensee is providing brokerage services in connection with the sale, exchange, purchase or rental for information related to whether a particular person is required to register as a sex offender under
s. 301.45 or any other information about the sex offender registry under
s. 301.45, the licensee has a duty to disclose such information, if the licensee has actual knowledge of the information.
452.24(2)
(2) Notwithstanding
sub. (1), the licensee is immune from liability for any act or omission related to the disclosure of information under
sub. (1) if the 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.
452.24 History
History: 1999 a. 89;
2015 a. 258.
452.25
452.25
Criminal convictions and disclosures. 452.25(1)(a)(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 if the applicant has been convicted of a felony.
452.25(1)(b)
(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.
452.25(1)(c)
(c) If an applicant applies for a determination under
par. (b), the board may require the applicant to provide any information that is necessary for the investigation and shall make a determination by doing all of the following:
452.25(1)(c)2.
2. Reviewing any supplemental information provided by the applicant bearing upon his or her suitability for licensure as a broker or salesperson.
452.25(1)(c)3.c.
c. The number or pattern of felonies or other similar incidents that gave rise to the felony conviction.
452.25(1)(c)3.d.
d. The circumstances surrounding the felony that may have a bearing on whether the applicant might repeat the behavior that was the subject of the felony.
452.25(1)(c)3.f.
f. The applicant's activities since the felony, including employment, education, participation in treatment, payment of restitution, and any other factor that may be evidence of rehabilitation.
452.25(1)(d)
(d) With respect to a determination under
par. (c), the applicant bears the burden of demonstrating his or her suitability for licensure.
452.25(1)(e)
(e) If the board makes a determination under
par. (c) to allow an applicant to be granted a broker's or salesperson's license, the applicant shall be granted the license if the applicant satisfies all other requirements for granting the license.
452.25(2)(b)
(b) No applicant may be issued an initial broker's or salesperson's license, and no applicant may renew such a license, 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.
452.25 History
History: 2013 a. 288;
2015 a. 258.
452.30
452.30
Association with firm; independent practice. 452.30(1)(1) No licensee may provide brokerage services on behalf of a firm unless all of the following apply:
452.30(1)(b)
(b) The licensee has notified the department that the licensee is associated with the firm.
452.30(2)
(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:
452.30(2)(a)
(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.
452.30(2)(b)
(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).
452.30(3)
(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).
452.30(4)(a)(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.
452.30(4)(b)
(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.
452.30(5)
(5) No licensee may be associated with a firm if the firm's license has been suspended or revoked during the period of suspension or revocation. The licensee may become associated with another firm, provided the licensee is not a party to the activities causing the suspension or revocation of the firm's license. If the licensee becomes associated with another firm, the licensee may not provide brokerage services on behalf of that firm until
sub. (1) (b) has been satisfied.
452.30(6)(a)(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:
452.30(6)(a)1.
1. Whether the broker engaging in independent practice may engage other licensees to work under the broker.
452.30(6)(a)2.
2. That the broker engaging in independent practice is responsible for the supervision of any licensees associated with the broker.
452.30(6)(b)
(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.
452.30(6)(c)
(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.
452.30(7)(a)(a) A salesperson may be associated with only one firm at a given time.
452.30(7)(b)
(b) A salesperson may not engage in independent real estate practice and may engage in real estate practice only when associated with a firm.
452.30 History
History: 2015 a. 258 ss.
67,
171,
172.
452.34
452.34
Unlicensed personal assistants. 452.34(1)
(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).
452.34(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.
452.34(3)(a)(a) In this subsection, “open house" means a showing of real estate open to the public for viewing without an individual appointment.
452.34(3)(b)
(b) An unlicensed personal assistant may not assist a licensee at an open house for the sale of real estate or a business without the direct, on-premises supervision and presence of a licensee, and may not provide any services at an open house for which a license is required under this chapter.
452.34 History
History: 2015 a. 258.
452.38
452.38
Independent contractor relationship. 452.38(1)(1) Except as otherwise provided in
s. 102.078, a licensee shall not, under
ch. 102,
103,
104, or
109, under
subch. X of ch. 71 or
subch. II of ch. 111, under any other law or rule other than those specified under
sub. (1m), or in any action or proceeding under the common law, be considered an employee of a firm if all of the following are satisfied:
452.38(1)(a)
(a) A written agreement has been entered into with the firm that provides that the licensee shall not be treated as an employee for federal and state tax purposes.
452.38(1)(b)
(b) Seventy-five percent or more of the compensation related to sales or other output, as measured on a calendar year basis, paid to the licensee pursuant to the written agreement referenced under
par. (a) is directly related to the brokerage services performed by the licensee on behalf of the firm.
452.38(1m)
(1m) This section does not apply with respect to
ch. 108 or any rules promulgated thereunder.
452.38(2)(a)(a) Subsection (1) applies notwithstanding the requirements and responsibilities of a firm under
s. 452.132 and any rules promulgated by the board.
452.38(2)(b)
(b) Subsection (1) applies regardless of the licensee's status as a supervising broker under
s. 452.132 and any actions taken by the licensee as a supervising broker under
s. 452.132.
452.38(3)
(3) In the case of an individual who is engaged as both an independent contractor and an employee for the same firm,
sub. (1) applies only with respect to activities covered under the written agreement referenced under
sub. (1) (a).
452.38 History
History: 2015 a. 258.
452.40
452.40
Use of forms; provision of legal advice. 452.40(1)(a)(a) In this subsection, “use a form" means to complete a form by filling in blanks or modifying printed provisions on the form at the instruction of one or more parties with whom a licensee is working or representing in a specific transaction.
452.40(1)(b)
(b) A firm and any licensee associated with the firm may use a form approved by the board under
s. 452.05 (1) (b) in real estate practice.
452.40(2)
(2) A licensee may not provide advice or opinions concerning the legal rights or obligations of parties to a transaction, the legal effect of a specific contract or conveyance, or the state of title to real estate. A licensee may provide a general explanation of the provisions in a form approved by the board under
s. 452.05 (1) (b) to the parties to a transaction at the time of completing the form or when delivering an approved form for the seller's or buyer's acceptance. Reviews conducted by a supervising broker under
s. 452.132 (4) shall not be considered to be the provision of legal advice or opinion.
452.40 History
History: 2015 a. 258.
452.42
452.42
Records retention. 452.42(2)
(2) A licensee shall retain documents or records related to a transaction, as determined by the board, in accordance with any rules promulgated by the board. Records described in this section may be retained in an electronic file format.
452.42 History
History: 2015 a. 258.
