225 ILCS 454/20-20
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 225 - PROFESSIONS, OCCUPATIONS, AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS|225 ILCS 454/ - Real Estate License Act of 2000.|Article 20 - Disciplinary Provisions

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2030)Sec. 20-20. Nature of and grounds for discipline.(a) The Department may refuse to issue or renew a license, may place on probation, suspend,  or  revoke any  license, reprimand, or take any other disciplinary or non-disciplinary action as the Department may deem proper and impose a  fine not to exceed  $25,000 upon any licensee or applicant under this Act or any person who holds himself or herself out as an applicant or licensee or against a licensee in handling his or her own property, whether held by deed, option, or otherwise, for any one or any combination of the  following causes:(1) Fraud or misrepresentation in applying for, or     procuring, a license under this Act or in connection with applying for renewal of a license under this Act.(2) The licensee's conviction of or plea of guilty or     plea of nolo contendere to: (A) a felony or misdemeanor in this State or any other jurisdiction; or (B) the entry of an administrative sanction by a government agency in this State or any other jurisdiction. Action taken under this paragraph (2) for a misdemeanor or an administrative sanction is limited to a misdemeanor or administrative sanction that has as an essential element dishonesty or fraud or involves larceny, embezzlement, or obtaining money, property, or credit by false pretenses or by means of a confidence game.(3) Inability to practice the profession with     reasonable judgment, skill, or safety as a result of a physical illness, including, but not limited to, deterioration through the aging process or loss of motor skill, or a mental illness or disability.(4) Practice under this Act as a licensee in a retail     sales establishment from an office, desk, or space that is not separated from the main retail business and located within a separate and distinct area within the establishment.(5) Having been disciplined by another state, the     District of Columbia, a territory, a foreign nation, or a governmental agency authorized to impose discipline if at least one of the grounds for that discipline is the same as or the equivalent of one of the grounds for which a licensee may be disciplined under this Act.  A certified copy of the record of the action by the other state or jurisdiction shall be prima facie evidence thereof.(6) Engaging in the practice of real estate brokerage     without a license or after the licensee's license or temporary permit was expired or while the license was inactive, revoked, or suspended.(7) Cheating on or attempting to subvert the Real     Estate License Exam or a continuing education course or examination.(8) Aiding or abetting an applicant to subvert or     cheat on the Real Estate License Exam or continuing education exam administered pursuant to this Act.(9) Advertising that is inaccurate,  misleading, or     contrary to the provisions of the Act.(10) Making any substantial misrepresentation or     untruthful advertising.(11) Making any false promises of a character likely     to influence, persuade, or induce.(12) Pursuing a continued and flagrant course of     misrepresentation or the making of false promises through licensees, employees, agents, advertising, or otherwise.(13) Any misleading or untruthful advertising, or     using any trade name or insignia of membership in any real estate organization of which the licensee is not a member.(14) Acting for more than one party in a transaction     without providing written notice to all parties for whom the licensee acts.(15) Representing or attempting to represent, or     performing licensed activities for, a broker other than the sponsoring broker.(16) Failure to account for or to remit any moneys or     documents coming into his or her possession that belong to others.(17) Failure to maintain and deposit in a special     account, separate and apart from personal and other business accounts, all escrow moneys belonging to others entrusted to a licensee while acting as a broker, escrow agent, or temporary custodian of the funds of others or failure to maintain all escrow moneys on deposit in the account until the transactions are consummated or terminated, except to the extent that the moneys, or any part thereof, shall be:(A) disbursed prior to the consummation or         termination (i) in accordance with the written direction of the principals to the transaction or their duly authorized agents, (ii) in accordance with directions providing for the release, payment, or distribution of escrow moneys contained in any written contract signed by the principals to the transaction or their duly authorized agents, or (iii) pursuant to an order of a court of competent jurisdiction; or(B) deemed abandoned and transferred to the         Office of the State Treasurer to be handled as unclaimed property pursuant to the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.  Escrow moneys may be deemed abandoned under this subparagraph (B) only: (i) in the absence of disbursement under subparagraph (A); (ii) in the absence of notice of the filing of any claim in a court of competent jurisdiction; and (iii) if 6 months have elapsed after the receipt of a written demand for the escrow moneys from one of the principals to the transaction or the principal's duly authorized agent.The account shall be noninterest bearing, unless the     character of the deposit is such that payment of interest thereon is otherwise required by law or unless the principals to the transaction specifically require, in writing, that the deposit be placed in an interest-bearing account.(18) Failure to make available to the Department all     escrow records and related documents maintained in connection with the practice of real estate within 24 hours of a request for those documents by Department personnel.(19) Failing to furnish copies upon request of     documents relating to a real estate transaction to a party who has executed that document.(20) Failure of a sponsoring broker or licensee to     timely provide sponsorship or termination of sponsorship information to the Department.(21) Engaging in dishonorable, unethical, or     unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public, including, but not limited to, conduct set forth in rules adopted by the Department.(22) Commingling the money or property of others with     his or her own money or property.(23) Employing any person on a purely temporary or     single deal basis as a means of evading the law regarding payment of commission to nonlicensees on some contemplated transactions.(24) Permitting the use of his or her license as a     broker to enable a residential leasing agent or unlicensed person to operate a real estate business without actual participation therein and control thereof by the broker.(25) Any other conduct, whether of the same or a     different character from that specified in this Section, that constitutes dishonest dealing.(26) Displaying a "for rent" or "for sale" sign on     any property without the written consent of an owner or his or her duly authorized agent or advertising by any means that any property is for sale or for rent without the written consent of the owner or his or her authorized agent.(27) Failing to provide information requested by the     Department, or otherwise respond to that request, within 30 days of the request.(28) Advertising by means of a blind advertisement,     except as otherwise permitted in Section 10-30 of this Act.(29) A licensee under this Act or an unlicensed     individual offering guaranteed sales plans, as defined in Section 10-50, except to the extent set forth in Section 10-50.(30) Influencing or attempting to influence, by any     words or acts, a prospective seller, purchaser, occupant, landlord, or tenant of real estate, in connection with viewing, buying, or leasing real estate, so as to promote or tend to promote the continuance or maintenance of racially and religiously segregated housing or so as to retard, obstruct, or discourage racially integrated housing on or in any street, block, neighborhood, or community.(31) Engaging in any act that constitutes a violation     of any provision of Article 3 of the Illinois Human Rights Act, whether or not a complaint has been filed with or adjudicated by the Human Rights Commission.(32) Inducing any party to a contract of sale or     lease or brokerage agreement to break the contract of sale or lease or brokerage agreement for the purpose of substituting, in lieu thereof, a new contract for sale or lease or brokerage agreement with a third party.(33) Negotiating a sale, exchange, or lease of real     estate directly with any person if the licensee knows that the person has an exclusive brokerage agreement with another broker, unless specifically authorized by that broker.(34) When a licensee is also an attorney, acting as     the attorney for either the buyer or the seller in the same transaction in which the licensee is acting or has acted as a managing broker or broker.(35) Advertising or offering merchandise or services     as free if any conditions or obligations necessary for receiving the merchandise or services are not disclosed in the same advertisement or offer.  These conditions or obligations include without limitation the requirement that the recipient attend a promotional activity or visit a real estate site.  As used in this subdivision (35), "free" includes terms such as "award", "prize", "no charge", "free of charge", "without charge", and similar words or phrases that reasonably lead a person to believe that he or she may receive or has been selected to receive something of value, without any conditions or obligations on the part of the recipient.(36) (Blank).(37) Violating the terms of a disciplinary order     issued by the Department.(38) Paying or failing to disclose compensation in     violation of Article 10 of this Act.(39) Requiring a party to a transaction who is not a     client of the licensee to allow the licensee to retain a portion of the escrow moneys for payment of the licensee's commission or expenses as a condition for release of the escrow moneys to that party.(40) Disregarding or violating any provision of this     Act or the published rules adopted  by the Department to enforce this Act or aiding or abetting any individual, foreign or domestic partnership, registered limited liability partnership, limited liability company, corporation, or other business entity in disregarding any provision of this Act or the published rules adopted by the Department  to enforce this Act.(41) Failing to provide the minimum services required     by Section 15-75 of this Act when acting under an exclusive brokerage agreement.(42) Habitual or excessive use of or addiction to     alcohol, narcotics, stimulants, or any other chemical agent or drug that results in a managing broker, broker, or residential leasing agent's inability to practice with reasonable skill or safety.(43)  Enabling, aiding, or abetting an auctioneer, as     defined in the Auction License Act, to conduct a real estate auction in a manner that is in violation of this Act.(44) Permitting any residential leasing agent or     temporary residential leasing agent permit holder to engage in activities that require a broker's or managing broker's license.(45) Failing to notify the Department of any criminal     conviction that occurs during the licensee's term of licensure within 30 days after the conviction.(46) A designated managing broker's failure to     provide an appropriate written company policy or failure to perform any of the duties set forth in Section 10-55.(b) The Department may refuse to issue or renew or may suspend the license of any person who fails to file a return, pay the tax, penalty or interest shown in a filed return, or pay any final assessment of tax, penalty, or interest, as required by any tax Act administered by the Department of Revenue, until such time as the requirements of that tax Act are satisfied in accordance with subsection (g) of Section 2105-15 of the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.(c) (Blank).(d) In cases where the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Department of Public Aid) has previously determined that a licensee or a potential licensee is more than 30 days delinquent in the payment of child support and has subsequently certified the delinquency to the Department may refuse to issue or renew or may revoke or suspend that person's license or may take other disciplinary action against that person based solely upon the certification of delinquency made by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services in accordance with item (5) of subsection (a) of Section 2105-15 of the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.(e) In enforcing this Section, the Department or Board upon a showing of a possible violation may compel an individual licensed to practice under this Act, or who has applied for licensure under this Act, to submit to a mental or physical examination, or both, as required by and at the expense of the Department.  The Department or Board may order the examining physician to present testimony concerning the mental or physical examination of the licensee or applicant.  No information shall be excluded by reason of any common law or statutory privilege relating to communications between the licensee or applicant and the examining physician.  The examining physicians shall be specifically designated by the Board or Department.  The individual to be examined may have, at his or her own expense, another physician of his or her choice present during all aspects of this examination.  Failure of an individual to submit to a mental or physical examination, when directed, shall be grounds for suspension of his or her license until the individual submits to the examination if the Department finds, after notice and hearing, that the refusal to submit to the examination was without reasonable cause.If the Department or Board finds an individual unable to practice because of the reasons set forth in this Section, the Department or Board may require that individual to submit to care, counseling, or treatment by physicians approved or designated by the Department or Board, as a condition, term, or restriction for continued, reinstated, or renewed licensure to practice; or, in lieu of care, counseling, or treatment, the Department may file, or the Board may recommend to the Department to file, a complaint to immediately suspend, revoke, or otherwise discipline the license of the individual.  An individual whose license was granted, continued, reinstated, renewed, disciplined or supervised subject to such terms, conditions, or restrictions, and who fails to comply with such terms, conditions, or restrictions, shall be referred to the Secretary for a determination as to whether the individual shall have his or her license suspended immediately, pending a hearing by the Department.In instances in which the Secretary immediately suspends a person's license under this Section, a hearing on that person's license must be convened by the Department within 30 days after the suspension and completed without appreciable delay.  The Department and Board shall have the authority to review the subject individual's record of treatment and counseling regarding the impairment to the extent permitted by applicable federal statutes and regulations safeguarding the confidentiality of medical records.An individual licensed under this Act and affected under this Section shall be afforded an opportunity to demonstrate to the Department or Board that he or she can resume practice in compliance with acceptable and prevailing standards under the provisions of his or her license. (Source: P.A. 100-22, eff. 1-1-18; 100-188, eff. 1-1-18; 100-534, eff. 9-22-17; 100-831, eff. 1-1-19; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18; 100-872, eff. 8-14-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-357, eff. 8-9-19.)