Francois K. Gregoire
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2002
- Professional Status
- Certified Residential Appraiser
- State
- Florida
Hi All,
Here's a synopsis of the February 6 - 7, 2006 meeting of the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board.
Twenty three applicants appeared before the FREAB. Their applications were considered by the FREAB due to their affirmative answer to background questions on the application. Of these, twelve were approved, eleven were denied.
The FREAB voted to enter into a Mutual Recognition Agreement with the Alabama Real Estate Appraisers Board. The agreement will be negotiated and presented the to FREAB at their April meeting. It is expected to be similar to the agreement with the Georgia Board. It will apply to Certified Residential and Certified General Appraisers only. Florida will recognize the education and experience of non- resident Alabama appraisers. Alabama appraisers will be required to submit an application, answer background questions, submit proof of good standing in Alabama and submit a fingerprint card for a criminal background investigation. Alabama appraisers will not be required to take a Florida examination.
A report was provided on the progress of the House and Senate Bills o amend Chapter 475 Part II. This legislation is necessary to grant rule making authority to the FREAB to adopt the recently adopted AQB Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria which will be effective January 1, 2008. You can view the bill HB 159 CS - Regulation of Real Estate Appraisers at
http://tinyurl.com/as2om
and S 0466C1 - Regulation of Real Estate Appraisers at
http://tinyurl.com/7qqby
Michael Murphy, the Director of the Division of Real Estate reported briefly on the budget proposed by Governor Bush for 2006-2007. The recommendation is for $709,963 additional funding for the Division of Real Estate. The division has regulatory responsibility for over 340,000 real estate agents, appraisers and related entities. The additional funding will improve the quality of the division's services thereby ensuring the integrity of the profession as well as the protection of citizens interacting with real estate
professionals.
The break out of the new full-time positions (salary and benefits, not OPS) would be as follows: 6 investigators, 1 attorney, 1 regulatory specialist. 1 complaint analyst, and 1 Tier-N Licensing specialist (this person would handle licensing questions that are too complex for the Tallahassee call center staff to answer - calls transferred directly to DRE). The budget is a huge document. If you are interested in the specific pages describing the $709,963 in additional funding, use the links below.
http://tinyurl.com/74mlh
http://tinyurl.com/aqyhh
The FREAB and Division of Real Estate Staff are doing their best to get a FREAB Newsletter out to each and every appraisal licensee by the end of March, 2006.
Francois K. Gregoire was elected Chairman of the FREAB for 2006. Gary Rosner was elected Vice Chairman. Frank Gregoire is a State-Certified Residential Appraiser. This is his third term as Chairman. Gary Rosner is an attorney and Consumer Member of the FREAB. This is his first term as Vice Chairman.
There were 29 cases on the Legal Docket. Ten were continued to subsequent meetings. Some were continued due to quorum problems (there are two vacancies on the FREAB) and some were continued for other reasons.
The cases considered covered a wide variety of procedures, violations and penalties. Two recommended orders from Hearing Officers as a result of Formal Hearings held by the Division of Administrative hearings were considered, several informal hearings were held and quite a few proposed Stipulated Agreements were considered.
Here is the short version:
One Administrative Complaint was dismissed as a result of the recommended order from a Hearing Officer (long story and not a nice one).
Six Registrations or Certifications were revoked
Two were suspended; one trainee for 5 years, one certified Residential appraiser for 30 days.
Other penalties included fines ranging from $250.00 to $2,250.00, assessment of the costs of investigation, probation, education and required attendance at future meetings of the FREAB. Some of these were agreed to in Stipulated Penalties negotiated between the DBPR and the Respondent or their counsel. Others were determined as a result of Informal Hearings conducted during the FREAB meeting.
Of the Stipulated Agreements considered by the FREAB, four were accepted and two were rejected.
The next meeting of the FREAB is in Orlando April 3 - 4, 2006. The June meeting is planned for Tallahassee. The FREAB is attempting to arrange for the October meeting to be held in Miami or some place close in South Florida.
Here's a synopsis of the February 6 - 7, 2006 meeting of the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board.
Twenty three applicants appeared before the FREAB. Their applications were considered by the FREAB due to their affirmative answer to background questions on the application. Of these, twelve were approved, eleven were denied.
The FREAB voted to enter into a Mutual Recognition Agreement with the Alabama Real Estate Appraisers Board. The agreement will be negotiated and presented the to FREAB at their April meeting. It is expected to be similar to the agreement with the Georgia Board. It will apply to Certified Residential and Certified General Appraisers only. Florida will recognize the education and experience of non- resident Alabama appraisers. Alabama appraisers will be required to submit an application, answer background questions, submit proof of good standing in Alabama and submit a fingerprint card for a criminal background investigation. Alabama appraisers will not be required to take a Florida examination.
A report was provided on the progress of the House and Senate Bills o amend Chapter 475 Part II. This legislation is necessary to grant rule making authority to the FREAB to adopt the recently adopted AQB Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria which will be effective January 1, 2008. You can view the bill HB 159 CS - Regulation of Real Estate Appraisers at
http://tinyurl.com/as2om
and S 0466C1 - Regulation of Real Estate Appraisers at
http://tinyurl.com/7qqby
Michael Murphy, the Director of the Division of Real Estate reported briefly on the budget proposed by Governor Bush for 2006-2007. The recommendation is for $709,963 additional funding for the Division of Real Estate. The division has regulatory responsibility for over 340,000 real estate agents, appraisers and related entities. The additional funding will improve the quality of the division's services thereby ensuring the integrity of the profession as well as the protection of citizens interacting with real estate
professionals.
The break out of the new full-time positions (salary and benefits, not OPS) would be as follows: 6 investigators, 1 attorney, 1 regulatory specialist. 1 complaint analyst, and 1 Tier-N Licensing specialist (this person would handle licensing questions that are too complex for the Tallahassee call center staff to answer - calls transferred directly to DRE). The budget is a huge document. If you are interested in the specific pages describing the $709,963 in additional funding, use the links below.
http://tinyurl.com/74mlh
http://tinyurl.com/aqyhh
The FREAB and Division of Real Estate Staff are doing their best to get a FREAB Newsletter out to each and every appraisal licensee by the end of March, 2006.
Francois K. Gregoire was elected Chairman of the FREAB for 2006. Gary Rosner was elected Vice Chairman. Frank Gregoire is a State-Certified Residential Appraiser. This is his third term as Chairman. Gary Rosner is an attorney and Consumer Member of the FREAB. This is his first term as Vice Chairman.
There were 29 cases on the Legal Docket. Ten were continued to subsequent meetings. Some were continued due to quorum problems (there are two vacancies on the FREAB) and some were continued for other reasons.
The cases considered covered a wide variety of procedures, violations and penalties. Two recommended orders from Hearing Officers as a result of Formal Hearings held by the Division of Administrative hearings were considered, several informal hearings were held and quite a few proposed Stipulated Agreements were considered.
Here is the short version:
One Administrative Complaint was dismissed as a result of the recommended order from a Hearing Officer (long story and not a nice one).
Six Registrations or Certifications were revoked
Two were suspended; one trainee for 5 years, one certified Residential appraiser for 30 days.
Other penalties included fines ranging from $250.00 to $2,250.00, assessment of the costs of investigation, probation, education and required attendance at future meetings of the FREAB. Some of these were agreed to in Stipulated Penalties negotiated between the DBPR and the Respondent or their counsel. Others were determined as a result of Informal Hearings conducted during the FREAB meeting.
Of the Stipulated Agreements considered by the FREAB, four were accepted and two were rejected.
The next meeting of the FREAB is in Orlando April 3 - 4, 2006. The June meeting is planned for Tallahassee. The FREAB is attempting to arrange for the October meeting to be held in Miami or some place close in South Florida.
