There shall be two (2) classes of auctioneers' licenses, which shall be auctioneer and auction firm. All applicants for a license under this chapter shall possess the following minimum qualifications:
Applicants shall have attained the age of eighteen (18) years by the issuance date of the license.
Applicants shall have obtained at a minimum a high school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent and shall be graduates of an auctioneering school approved by the commission.
Each applicant for a license under this chapter shall demonstrate to the commission that he is of good moral character and worthy of public trust through background information to be provided on his application form and two (2) letters of reference from persons not related to the applicant who have known the applicant at least three (3) years. The commission may require additional information or a personal interview with the applicant to determine if such applicant should be granted a license.
Each applicant for a license under this chapter shall take and successfully complete an examination as prescribed by the commission. The examination shall include questions on ethics, reading comprehension, writing, spelling, elementary arithmetic, elementary principals of land economics, general knowledge of bulk sales law, contracts of sale, agency, leases, brokerage, knowledge of various goods commonly sold at auction, ability to call bids, knowledge of sale preparation and proper sale advertising and sale summary, and knowledge of the provisions of this chapter and the commission's rules and regulations. There shall be separate examinations for auctioneer and auction firm each based upon relevant subject matter appropriate to the license classification as set forth herein. Examinations shall be administered at least once a year and may be administered quarterly at the commission's discretion provided there are at least twenty-five (25) examinees. The commission shall ensure that the various forms of the test remain secure.
In order to defray the cost of administration of the examinations, applicants for the examination shall pay fees as follows:
Auctioneer . . . . .$100.00.
Auctionfirm . . . . .$100.00.
Each applicant desiring to sit for the examination for any license required under this chapter shall be required to furnish to the commission at least thirty (30) days prior to the examination evidence of a surety bond in the following minimum amounts:
Auctioneer . . . . .$10,000.00.
Auction firm . . . . .$10,000.00.
In addition to the bond required herein, applicants for the auction firm license shall furnish the commission with all relevant information concerning the premises to be licensed, to include location, whether the premises are owned or leased, and an affidavit that the proposed use of the premises as an auction firm does not violate zoning or any other use restrictions. A separate license shall be required for each business location of the owner of multiple auction galleries.
Except as provided in Section 33-1-39, all licenses granted pursuant to this chapter shall be for a term of two (2) years and shall expire on the first day of March at the end of such two-year term. The biennial license fees shall be set from time to time by the commission with a maximum fee of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00). License fees shall not be prorated for any portion of a year but shall be paid for the entire biennial period regardless of the date of the application. Individuals failing to submit license renewal fees on or before March 1 of the year for renewal shall be required to successfully pass the next administration of the examination in order to renew a license.
Each application or filing made under this section shall include the social security number(s) of the applicant in accordance with Section 93-11-64, Mississippi Code of 1972.
A licensee shall keep such books, accounts and records as will enable the commission to determine whether such licensee is in compliance with the provisions of this chapter, and rules and regulations made pursuant thereto, and any other law, rule and regulation applicable to the conduct of such business. The commission and its employees or representatives shall have the right to enter and make inspections of any place where the auction business is carried on and inspect and copy any record pertaining to the auction business under this chapter. The commission may conduct or cause to be conducted an examination or audit of the books and records of any licensee at any time the commission deems proper, the cost of the examination or audit to be borne by the licensee. The refusal of access to the books and records shall be cause for the revocation of its license.