The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC or the commission) proposes amendments to §535.141, regarding Initiation of Investigation; §535.143, regarding Fraudulent Procurement of License; §535.144, regarding When Acquiring or Disposing of Own Property or Property of Spouse, Parent or Child; §535.145, regarding False Promise; §535.146, regarding Failure to Properly Account for Money; Commingling; §535.147, regarding Splitting Fee with Unlicensed Person; §535.148, regarding Receiving an Undisclosed Commission or Rebate; §535.149, regarding Lottery or Deceptive Trade Practice; §535.153, regarding Violating an Exclusive Agency; new §535.154, regarding Advertising; amendments to §535.159, regarding Failing to Properly Deposit Escrow Monies; §535.160, regarding Failing to Properly Disburse Escrow Money; and §535.161, regarding Failing to Provide Information. TREC is simultaneously proposing the amendments and new rule as part of a comprehensive rule review of 22 TAC Chapter 535.

Generally speaking, the amendments and new rule correct typographical errors, reorganize, clarify, and streamline existing rules, and update cites to new laws and codes.

The amendments to §535.141 streamline the section, update the cites and clarify existing subsections; subsection (h) is amended to include advertising in the laundry list activities that a licensee may not engage in while the person's license is under suspension; subsection (i)(3) and (4) are added to include home inspectors; subsection (j) is added to address matters relating to automatic suspension of a license for violating a term or condition of an agreed probated revocation or suspension.

The amendments to §535.144 clarify that a licensee must disclose the information required by §1101.652(a)(3) in writing.

The amendments to §535.146 clarify existing requirements that apply to maintenance of trust accounts, including that a broker is ultimately responsible for compliance with the trust account requirements in the Act and Rules; subsection (h) is amended to require a broker to notify all parties in writing when a broker makes a disbursement to which all parties have not expressly agreed to in writing; new subsection (k) clarifies that a broker may deposit and maintain additional amounts in a trust account to cover bank service fees.

Subsection (a) of §535.147 is deleted and moved to the definitions in §535.1; new subsection (a) clarifies that a licensee may not share a commission with an unlicensed person except as provided by the Act or Rules; new subsection (b) authorizes an unlicensed person to share in the income earned by a licensee as long as the person does not engage in real estate brokerage activity; new subsection (c) clarifies that a broker or salesperson may not share a commission with an unlicensed corporation or limited liability company created by a licensee for the purpose of collecting a commission or fees on behalf of the licensee.

New subsection (c) is added to §535.148 to prohibit a licensee from entering into contracts with service providers which prohibits a licensee from entering into or offering similar service on behalf of a competing service provider; new subsection (d) prohibits contingent fee arrangements where the licensee accepts a fee that is contingent upon a party purchasing a contract or services from a specific service provider; new subsection (e) adopts by a reference RSC-1, Disclosure of Relationship with Residential Service Company which licensees are required to use to disclose compensation for services provided to or on behalf of a residential service company.

The amendments to §535.149 clarify the definition of "lottery" and "deceptive practices."

Proposed new §535.154 replaces existing §535.154. Subsection (a) provides a definition of "advertisement"; subsection (b) clarifies what communications are not considered advertisements for purposes of the Act and Rules; subsection (c) requires salespersons and brokers to clearly and conspicuously, as defined in the subsection, include the broker's name and license number in all advertising placed by or on behalf of the licensee, when the licensee is acting either as an agent or a principal, by a specified effective date; subsection (d) provides a laundry list of types of advertising that are considered deceptive and misleading; subsection (n) prohibits licensees from advertising information regarding service providers that ranks the providers unless the ranking is based on disclosed objective criteria; subsection (o) prohibits licensees from advertising that a licensee offers, sponsors, or conducts commission approved courses unless the licensee is approved to offer the courses; the remaining subsections restate existing advertising rules.

Amendments to §§535.143, 535.145, 535.153, and 535.159 - 535.161 clarify and streamline existing provisions.

Loretta R. DeHay, General Counsel, has determined that for the first five-year period the proposed amendments and new rule are in effect there will be no fiscal implications for the state or for units of local government as a result of enforcing or administering the amendments and new rule. There is no anticipated economic effect on small businesses, micro-businesses, persons, or local or state employment as a result of implementing the amendments and new rule.

Ms. DeHay also has determined that for each year of the first five years the amendments and new rule are in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the amendments and new rule will be more streamlined, consistent and readable rules.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Loretta R. DeHay, General Counsel, Texas Real Estate Commission, P.O. Box 12188, Austin, Texas 78711-2188. The deadline for comments is 30 days after publication in the Texas Register.

The amendments and new rule are proposed under Texas Occupations Code, §1101.151, which authorizes the Texas Real Estate Commission to make and enforce all rules and regulations necessary for the performance of its duties and to establish standards of conduct and ethics for its licensees in keeping with the purpose and intent of the Act to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Act.

The statutes affected by this proposal are Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1101 and Chapter 1102. No other statute, code or article is affected by the proposal.