BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 2540
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 7, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                  AB 2540 (Dababneh) - As Amended:  April 23, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                              Business and  
          Professions  Vote:                            14 - 0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill, as proposed to be amended, requires real estate  
          brokers and real estate salespersons to supply the Bureau of  
          Real Estate (BRE) with valid contact information as part of  
          their examination and license applications and to inform the  
          Real Estate Commissioner (Commissioner) of any change in the  
          broker or salesperson's contact information within 30 days.

           FISCAL EFFECT 

          Minor and absorbable costs to the Bureau of Real Estate in the  
          Department of Consumer Affairs.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose  . BRE does not have the legislative authority to  
            require licensees to provide and maintain valid e-mail  
            addresses and telephone numbers.  Thus, all communications are  
            handled by mail. According to the author, this bill empowers  
            BRE to require licensees to supply valid contact information  
            as part of their license application or renewal materials,  
            making it possible for BRE to collect email addresses and  
            telephone numbers. 

            Currently, BRE has less than 15,000 valid e-mail addresses --  
            out of a licensee population of over 400,000.  Due to state  
            budget constraints, the BRE no longer mails out the Real  
            Estate Bulletin to licensees.  Instead, the BRE posts the  
            Bulletin on their website and e-mails it to the few available  
            email addresses.









                                                                  AB 2540
                                                                  Page  2

            This bill is intended to lower BRE's postal mail costs and  
            increase communication efficiency between the licensee and  
            BRE.  Additionally, licensees will benefit from up-to-date  
            knowledge of notices, warnings and other relevant information  
            essential to licensing and business practices.


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081