S 5426: Increases the period of supervision to five years for real estate brokers applying for a license.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 5426 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE February 21, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. SKOUFIS, HINCHEY, MURRAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judici- ary AN ACT to amend the real property law, in relation to increasing the period of supervision required for certain real estate license appli- cations The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 441 of the real 2 property law, as separately amended by sections 6 and 7 of chapter 529 3 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 4 (b) Such further information as the department may reasonably require 5 shall be furnished by the applicant including sufficient proof of having 6 taken and passed a written examination and answered such questions as 7 may be prepared by the department to enable it to determine the trust- 8 worthiness of the applicant if an individual, or of each member of a 9 co-partnership or each member of a limited liability company or each 10 officer of a corporation for whom a license as a broker is asked, and 11 their competency to transact the business of real estate broker in such 12 a manner as to safeguard the interests of the public. In determining 13 competency, the department shall require proof that the person being 14 tested to qualify to apply for a broker's license has a fair knowledge 15 of the English language, a fair understanding of the general purposes 16 and general legal effect of deeds, mortgages, land contracts of sale, 17 and leases, a general and fair understanding of the obligations between 18 principal and agent, has taken a class on cultural competency training, 19 a general and fair understanding of the laws, rules and regulations 20 pertaining to fair housing and discrimination in the sale or rental of 21 real property or an interest in real property, as well as of the 22 provisions of this section. The applicant must also furnish proof that 23 they have attended for at least one hundred fifty-two hours and has EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD09066-01-5 
 S. 5426 2 1 successfully completed a real estate course or courses approved by the 2 secretary of state as to method and content and supervision which 3 approval may be withdrawn if in the opinion of the secretary of state 4 said course or courses are not being conducted properly as to method, 5 content and supervision, and that either the applicant has actively 6 participated in the general real estate brokerage business as a licensed 7 real estate salesperson under the supervision of a licensed real estate 8 broker for a period of not less than [two] five consecutive years or has 9 had the equivalent experience in general real estate business for a 10 period of at least three years, the nature of which experience shall be 11 established by affidavit duly sworn to under oath and/or other and 12 further proof required by the department of state. Computer-based and 13 distance-learning courses may be approved by the department so long as 14 providers demonstrate the ability to monitor and verify participation by 15 the applicant for the specified time period. Notwithstanding the forego- 16 ing authority to approve computer-based and distance-learning courses, 17 the department may prescribe that specified subjects or hours must be 18 presented in a classroom setting. For purposes of this section, cultural 19 competency is defined as understanding cultural norms, preferences and 20 challenges within our diverse communities. 21 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 22 it shall have become a law.