Commerce, Real Estate

Section R162-2e-402

Administrative Proceedings

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 35915
Filed: 03/06/2012 08:28:29 AM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of this amendment is to provide rules governing administrative proceedings involving appraisal management companies.

Summary of the rule or change:

This filing replicates, within the rules that govern appraisal management companies, the administrative procedures currently in place and used by the appraisal board in matters involving appraisers. The filing is intended to avoid any confusion should the board be required to adjudicate a matter involving an appraisal management company.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Subsection 61-2e-402(1)
• Section 61-2e-103

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

The proposed section is already in place as to matters involving appraisers. This filing clarifies that the board will follow the same rules in adjudicating matters involving appraisal management companies. Therefore, no impact to the state budget is anticipated.

local governments:

Local government is required neither to comply with nor to enforce the proposed rules. Therefore, no fiscal impact to local government is anticipated.

small businesses:

These rules outline procedures that small businesses and the appraisal board must follow in administrative hearings. They do not impose fees, educational costs, or any other requirement that would represent a cost or a savings to small businesses.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

The only person who is required to register as an appraisal management company and, therefore, be subject to these proposed rules is a business. Where no other persons are within the scope of the rules, there are no costs to any other persons.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

To comply, an affected person must adhere to certain procedural rules regarding an administrative hearing. Compliance will require a person to understand the rules and exercise care in terms of meeting deadlines and providing documents where applicable, but compliance is not expected to pose any financial burden to an affected person.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

This filing establishes the procedures that the Division will follow in its adjudicative proceedings as permitted by the Utah Administrative Procedures Act. No fiscal impact to businesses is anticipated.

Francine A. Giani, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Commerce
Real Estate
HEBER M WELLS BLDG
160 E 300 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-2316

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Jennie Jonsson at the above address, by phone at 801-530-6706, by FAX at 801-526-4387, or by Internet E-mail at jjonsson@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

05/01/2012

This rule may become effective on:

05/08/2012

Authorized by:

Jonathan Stewart, Director

R162. Commerce, Real Estate.

R162-2e. Appraisal Management Company Administrative Rules.

R162-2e-402. Administrative Proceedings.

(1) An adjudicative proceeding before the board shall be conducted as an informal adjudicative proceeding.

(2)(a) A hearing before the board will be held in:

(i) a proceeding conducted subsequent to the issuance of a cease and desist order or other emergency order;

(ii) a case where the division seeks to deny an application for original or renewed registration, licensure, or certification for failure of the applicant to meet the criteria of good moral character, honesty, integrity or truthfulness;

(iii) a case where the division seeks disciplinary action pursuant to Sections 61-2e-307 or 61-2e-402(2) against an AMC or an owner or controlling person of an AMC; and

(iv) an appeal from an automatic revocation under Section 61-2e-203(3)(b), if the appellant requests a hearing.

(b) If properly requested by the applicant, a hearing will be held before the board to consider an application that is denied by the division on the grounds that the controlling person's attestation to upstanding moral character is false.

(c) A hearing is not required and will not be held in the following informal adjudicative proceedings:

(i) the issuance, renewal, or reinstatement of an AMC registration by the division;

(ii) the issuance of any interpretation of statute, rule or order, or the issuance of any written opinion or declaratory order determining the applicability of a statute, rule or order, when enforcement or implementation of the statute, rule or order lies within the jurisdiction of the division; and

(iii) the denial of renewal or reinstatement of an AMC registration for incompleteness or for failure to comply with a requirement found in statute or rule.

(3)(a) An application for an AMC registration shall be deemed a request for agency action.

(b) Any other request for agency action shall be in writing, signed by the requestor, and shall contain the following:

(i) the names and addresses of all persons to whom a copy of the request for agency action is being sent;

(ii) the agency's file number or other reference number, if known;

(iii) the date of mailing of the request for agency action;

(iv) a statement of the legal authority and jurisdiction under which the agency action is requested, if known;

(v) a statement of the relief or action sought from the division; and

(vi) a statement of the facts and reasons forming the basis for relief or agency action.

(c) A complaint against an AMC, a controlling person, or an appraiser on the panel of an AMC requesting that the division commence an investigation or a disciplinary action is not a request for agency action.

(4) Procedures for hearings in informal adjudicative proceedings.

(a) All informal adjudicative proceedings shall adhere to procedures as outlined in:

(i) Utah Administrative Procedures Act Title 63G, Chapter 4;

(ii) Utah Administrative Code Rule R151-4 et seq.; and

(iii) the rules promulgated by the division.

(b) Except as provided in Subsection R162-2e-402(5)(b), a party is not required to file a written answer to a notice of agency action from the division in an informal adjudicative proceeding.

(c) In any proceeding under this Subsection R162-2e-402, the board and division may at their discretion delegate a hearing to an administrative law judge or request that an administrative law judge assist the board and the division in conducting the hearing. Any delegation of a hearing to an administrative law judge shall be in writing.

(d)(i) Upon the scheduling of a hearing by the division and at least 30 days prior to the hearing, the division shall, by first class postage-prepaid delivery, mail written notice of the date, time, and place scheduled for the hearing, to the respondent at the address last provided to the division through a registration process.

(ii) The notice shall set forth the matters to be addressed in the hearing.

(e) Formal discovery is prohibited.

(f) The division may issue subpoenas or other orders to compel production of necessary evidence:

(i) on its own behalf; or

(ii) on behalf of a party where the party:

(A) makes a written request;

(B) assumes responsibility for effecting service of the subpoena; and

(C) bears the costs of the service, any witness fee, and any mileage to be paid to a witness.

(g) Upon ordering a person who is registered or required to be registered as an AMC to appear for a hearing, the division shall provide to the person the information that the division will introduce at the hearing.

(h) Intervention is prohibited.

(i) Hearings shall be open to all parties unless the presiding officer closes the hearing pursuant to:

(i) Title 63G, Chapter 4, the Utah Administrative Procedures Act; or

(ii) Title 52, Chapter 4, the Open and Public Meetings Act.

(j) Upon filing a proper entry of appearance with the division pursuant to Utah Administrative Code Section R151-4-110(1)(a), an attorney may represent a party.

(5) Additional procedures for disciplinary proceedings.

(a) The division shall commence a disciplinary proceeding by filing and serving on the respondent:

(i) a notice of agency action;

(ii) a petition setting forth the allegations made by the division;

(iii) a witness list, if applicable; and

(iv) an exhibit list, if applicable.

(b) Answer.

(i) At the time the petition is filed, the presiding officer, upon a determination of good cause, may require the respondent to file an answer to the petition by so ordering in the notice of agency action.

(ii) The respondent may file an answer, even if not ordered to do so in the notice of agency action.

(iii) Any answer shall be filed with the division no later than 30 days following the mailing date of the notice of agency action pursuant to this Subsection (5)(a).

(c) Witness and exhibit lists.

(i) Where applicable, the division shall provide its witness and exhibit lists to the respondent at the time it mails its notice of agency action.

(ii) Any witness list shall contain:

(A) the name, address, and telephone number of each witness; and

(B) a summary of the testimony expected from the witness.

(iii) Any exhibit list:

(A) shall contain an identification of each document or other exhibit that the party intends to use at the hearing; and

(B) shall be accompanied by copies of the exhibits.

(d) Pre-hearing motions.

(i) Any pre-hearing motion permitted under the Administrative Procedures Act or the rules promulgated by the Department of Commerce shall be made in accordance with those rules.

(ii) The division director shall receive and rule upon any pre-hearing motions.

 

KEY: administrative proceedings, appraisal management company, conduct, registration

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [June 22, 2011]2012

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 61-2e-102; 61-2e-103; 61-2e-304; 61-2e-305 ; 61-2e-402(1)