(a) The board may investigate the actions of a licensed real property appraiser on complaint or on its own motion, and may revoke or suspend the license, levy fines as provided in subsection (c), require completion of education courses, or discipline by public and no more than two private reprimands per licensed real property appraiser for any of the following acts or omissions:

Attorney's Note

Under the Alabama Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Violationup to 30 daysup to $200
For details, see Ala. Code § 13A-5-7

Terms Used In Alabama Code 34-27A-20

  • Appraisal: A determination of property value.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • property: includes both real and personal property. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • real property: includes lands, tenements and hereditaments. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(1) Procuring or attempting to procure a license or certificate pursuant to this article by knowingly making a false statement, submitting false information, refusing to provide complete information in response to a question in an application for a license, or through any form of fraud or misrepresentation.
(2) Failing to meet the minimum qualifications established by this article.
(3) Paying money other than authorized by this article to any member or employee of the board to procure a license under this article.
(4) A conviction, including a conviction based upon a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, of a crime which is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, and duties of a person developing real estate appraisals and communicating real estate appraisals to others, or a conviction involving moral turpitude.
(5) An act or omission involving dishonesty, fraud, or misrepresentation with the intent to substantially benefit the certificate holder or another person, or with the intent to substantially injure another person.
(6) Violation of any of the standards for the development or communication of real estate appraisals as provided in this section.
(7) Failure or refusal without good cause to exercise reasonable diligence in developing an appraisal, preparing an appraisal, in preparing an appraisal report, or in communicating an appraisal.
(8) Negligence or incompetence in developing an appraisal, in preparing an appraisal report, or in communicating an appraisal.
(9) Willfully disregarding or violating this article or the regulations of the board for the administration and enforcement of this article.
(10) Accepting an appraisal assignment, as defined in Section 34-27A-24, when the employment itself is contingent upon the appraiser reporting a predetermined estimate, analysis, or opinion, or where the fee to be paid is contingent upon the opinion, conclusions, or valuation reached, or upon the consequences resulting from the appraisal assignment.
(11) Violating the confidential nature of governmental records to which he or she gained access through employment or engagement as an appraiser by a governmental agency.
(12) Entry of a final civil judgment against the person on grounds of fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit in the making of any appraisal of real property.
(13) Presenting to the board, as payment for a fee or fine, a check that is returned unpaid.
(14) Failing to keep for at least five years, a complete record or file of appraisal or specialized assignments regulated under this article, in accordance with Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and Section 34-27A-26.
(15) Failing within a reasonable time to provide information or providing false information in response to a request by the board during an investigation or after a formal complaint has been filed.
(16) Failing to pay by required deadlines, fees or fines levied by the board.
(17) Failing to notify the board within a reasonable time of the filing of any civil action related to the appraisal practice or of any criminal prosecution filed against the appraiser.
(b) In a disciplinary proceeding based upon a civil judgment, the real property appraiser shall be afforded an opportunity to present matters in mitigation and extenuation, but may not collaterally attack the civil judgment.
(c) In addition to the disciplinary powers granted in subsection (a), the board may levy administrative fines for serious violations of this article or the rules and regulations of the board of not more than $500 for each violation.
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