An Act To Improve the Transparency of Real Estate Appraisals
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0239
Committee: Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business
Sponsors: HEPLER
Amends: 5 MRSA §200-M, 32 MRSA §14012

Legislative Document
No. 239
H.P. 169
House of Representatives, January 27, 2021
An Act To Improve the Transparency of Real Estate Appraisals
Received by the Clerk of the House on January 25, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 
and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative HEPLER of Woolwich.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §200-M is enacted to read:
§200-M.  Office of the Advocate for Real Estate Appraisal
1.  Advocate for Real Estate Appraisal.  There is created within the Department of 
the Attorney General the Office of the Advocate for Real Estate Appraisal to assist 
members of the public in understanding their rights regarding real estate appraisals.  The 
Attorney General shall appoint the Advocate for Real Estate Appraisal, referred to in this 
section as "the advocate," to administer the office.  The advocate must be an appraiser 
licensed in accordance with the requirements of Title 32, chapter 124.
2.  Duties.  The advocate shall:
A.  Prepare and make available on a publicly accessible website interpretive and 
educational materials and programs concerning the real estate appraisal process and 
options available to consumers to dispute real estate appraisals and to submit 
complaints regarding licensed appraisers;
B.  Provide individual guidance to members of the public to help them understand their 
rights in disputing real estate appraisals and submitting complaints regarding licensed 
appraisers;
C.  Receive and review inquiries regarding real estate appraisals and determine whether 
the appraisals were completed in accordance with the Uniform Standards of 
Professional Appraisal Practice as defined in Title 32, section 14002, subsection 15; 
and
D.  Receive complaints regarding real estate appraisals and respond with nonbinding 
written findings and recommendations and information regarding the consumers' 
options.
3.  Report.  The advocate shall submit a report not later than January 15th of each year 
to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over consumer affairs.  
The report must include:
A.  The total number of inquiries received pursuant to this section in the previous 
calendar year;
B.  A summary of outcomes of the inquiries received pursuant to this section in the 
previous calendar year; and
C.  Recommendations for future legislation, if any.
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §14012, sub-§8 is enacted to read:
8.  Complaint process.  The board shall establish by rule a process for receiving and 
reviewing complaints regarding licensed real estate appraisers.  The board shall include on 
its publicly accessible website a description of consumer rights in the real estate appraisal 
process and a step-by-step process for the filing of complaints, with links to relevant forms.
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §14012, sub-§9 is enacted to read:
9.  Disciplinary actions.  The board shall include on its publicly accessible website 
searchable information regarding any disciplinary actions as described in section 14014-A, 
including letters of guidance, taken or issued against licensed real estate appraisers.
Sec. 4.  32 MRSA §14012, sub-§10 is enacted to read:
10.  Report.  The board shall submit a report not later than January 15th of each year 
to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over matters related 
to licensing of real estate appraisers.  The report must include:
A.  The total number of complaints received pursuant to subsection 8 in the previous 
calendar year;
B.  A summary of outcomes of the complaints received pursuant to subsection 8 in the 
previous calendar year; and
C.  Recommendations for future legislation, if any.
SUMMARY
This bill creates within the Department of the Attorney General the Office of the 
Advocate for Real Estate Appraisal, the purpose of which is to assist members of the public 
in understanding their rights regarding real estate appraisals.  The office is administered by 
the Advocate for Real Estate Appraisal, who is appointed by the Attorney General and who 
must be a licensed Maine real estate appraiser.  The duties of the advocate include preparing 
and making available on a publicly accessible website interpretive and educational 
materials and programs concerning the real estate appraisal process and options available 
to consumers to dispute real estate appraisals and to submit complaints regarding licensed 
appraisers; providing individual guidance to members of the public to help them understand 
their rights in disputing real estate appraisals and submitting complaints regarding licensed 
appraisers; receiving and reviewing inquiries regarding real estate appraisals and 
determining whether the appraisals were completed in accordance with the Uniform 
Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice; and responding with nonbinding written 
findings and recommendations and information regarding the consumer's options.  The bill 
requires the advocate to submit a report not later than January 15th of each year to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over consumer affairs.  The 
report must include the total number of inquiries received in the previous calendar year; a 
summary of outcomes of the inquiries received; and recommendations for future 
legislation, if any.
The bill also amends the licensing laws for real estate appraisers to require the Board 
of Real Estate Appraisers to establish by rule a process for receiving and reviewing 
complaints regarding licensees.  It requires the board to include on its publicly accessible 
website a description of consumer rights in the real estate appraisal process and a 
step-by-step process for the filing of complaints, with links to relevant forms.  It requires 
the board to include on its publicly accessible website searchable information regarding 
any disciplinary actions, including letters of guidance, taken or issued against licensed 
appraisers.  It requires the board to submit a report not later than January 15th of each year 
to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over matters related 
to licensing of real estate appraisers.  The report must include the total number of 
complaints received in the previous calendar year; a summary of outcomes of the 
complaints received; and recommendations for future legislation, if any.