(A) No cause of action may arise against an owner of real estate or licensed real estate agent of a party to a transaction for failure to disclose in a transaction:
(1) that the subject real estate is or was occupied by an individual who was infected with a virus or another disease which has been determined by medical evidence as being highly unlikely to be transmitted through occupancy of a dwelling place either presently or previously occupied by the infected individual;
(2) that the death of an occupant of a property has occurred or the manner of the death;
(3) any off-site condition or hazard that does not directly impact the property being transferred; or
(4) any psychological impact that has no material impact on the physical condition of the property being transferred.
(B) Nothing in subsection (A) precludes an action against an owner of real estate or agent of the owner who makes intentional misrepresentations in response to direct inquiry from a buyer or prospective buyer with regard to psychological impacts, offsite conditions, or stigmas associated with the real estate.
(C) The commission shall establish and publish standards relevant to the approval and conduct of education required by this chapter. The commission shall review, approve, and regulate education courses required by this chapter and providers and instructors of these courses including, but not limited to, accredited colleges, universities, private business entities, organizations, schools, associations, and institutions.
(D) The commission may deny, reprimand, fine, suspend, or revoke the approval of an education provider or instructor if the commission finds that the education provider or instructor has violated or failed to satisfy the provisions of this chapter or the regulations and standards promulgated pursuant to this chapter.
(E) An application by a provider who seeks approval to offer and conduct educational instruction or an application by an instructor must be made on a form prescribed by the commission and accompanied by applicable fees not less than sixty days before a course offering and must be approved by the department before it may commence instruction.
(F) If an application for a provider, instructor, or course is not approved, the reason must be detailed and the applicant must be given thirty days to respond.
(G) If the commission approves an application, a certificate must be issued by the commission to a provider or an instructor and for an approved course to be renewed biennially.
(H) An approved course must be taught by an approved instructor who is qualified and has demonstrated knowledge of the subject matter to be taught as well as the ability to teach.
(I) Approved instructors shall attend instructor development workshops sponsored by the commission or provide evidence of equivalent hours of continuing education that increases their knowledge of the subject content in their area of expertise or their teaching techniques.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 24, Section 1; 2004 Act No. 218, Sections 24, 25; 2005 Act No. 141, Section 10; 2008 Act No. 412, Section 3; formerly 1976 Code Section 40-57-180; 2016 Act No. 170 (S.1013), Section 1, eff January 1, 2017.
Effect of Amendment
2016 Act No. 170, Section 1, rewrote the section.