HB2595: Professional and Occupational Regulation, Department of; changes membership of Fair Housing Board.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 54.1-2344 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 54.1-2344. Fair Housing Board; membership; terms; chairman; powers and duties.
A. The Fair Housing Board shall be composed of 11 members, to
be appointed by the Governor, as follows: one representative of local
government, one architect licensed in accordance with Chapter 4 (§ 54.1-400 et
seq.) of this title, one representative of the mortgage lending industry, one
representative of the property and casualty insurance industry, one representative two
representatives of the residential property management industry
not licensed in accordance with Chapter 21 (§ 54.1-2100 et seq.) of this title, at
least one of whom is a member of a property owners'
association or condominium unit owners' association, one
contractor licensed in accordance with Chapter 11 (§ 54.1-1100 et seq.) of this
title, one representative of the disability community, one representative of
the residential land lease industry subject to Chapter 13.3 (§ 55-248.41 et
seq.) of Title 55, and three two
citizen members selected in accordance with § 54.1-107. Initial terms of Board
members shall be as follows: four members shall be appointed for a term of four
years; four members shall be appointed for a term of three years, and three
members shall be appointed for a term of two years. Thereafter, all terms of
Board members shall be for terms of four years.
B. The Board shall elect a chairman from its membership.
C. The Board shall adopt a seal by which it shall authenticate its proceedings.
D. The Board shall be responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Fair Housing Law. However, the Board shall have no authority with respect to a real estate broker, real estate salesperson, real estate brokerage firm licensed in accordance with Chapter 21 (§ 54.1-2100 et seq.), or their agents or employees who have allegedly violated, or who have in fact violated, the Fair Housing Law.
The Board shall have the power and duty to establish, by regulation, an education-based certification or registration program for persons subject to the Fair Housing Law who are involved in the business or activity of selling or renting dwellings. The Board shall have the authority to approve training courses and instructors in furtherance of the provisions of this chapter.
No education-based program established by the Board shall require Board certification or registration where an individual holds a valid license issued by the Real Estate Board. Any courses approved by the Real Estate Board to meet the fair housing requirement of § 54.1-2105 and the instructors approved by the Real Estate Board to teach continuing education courses in accordance with § 54.1-2105 shall not require additional approval by the Fair Housing Board to meet any education requirements in this section and in the regulations of the Fair Housing Board.
2. That this act shall not be construed to affect existing appointments for which the terms have not expired or for which there is no vacancy. However, any new appointments made after July 1, 2007, shall be made in accordance with the provisions of this act.