The Missouri House Professional Licensing and Registration Committee met at in Jefferson City on April 5, 2007, to discuss HB 324 and HB 978.

HB 324 is a bill supported by the Missouri Association of Realtors that would allow immunity for a real estate salesperson who concealed the existence of a sex offender in the immediate area of a house they sell, and HB 978 is a bill also supported by the Missouri Association of Realtors that would create a commission - partially staffed with real estate salesmen - to govern home inspectors.

During the public hearing, one of the representatives (who is, himself, a real estate salesmen) suggested that the proposed bill to govern home inspectors would have merit if it included a provision to run background checks on home inspectors in the event that any might be sex offenders. This might be the "emotional kick" necessary to get the public to back this very poor bill.

Why would the Missouri Association of Realtors be pushing one bill to give a real estate salesman the right to conceal the existence of a sex offender while pushing a second bill to supposedly uncover another?

It is obvious that the Missouri Association of Realtors is out of control.

House Bill 324, which would allow immunity for a real estate salesman who chose to conceal his knowledge from you that the house he is selling you is next door to a convicted rapist, needs to be defeated. It is an embarrassment to that profession that it was ever proposed in the first place.

House Bill 978, which would allow the Missouri Association of Realtors to control home inspectors in the state also needs to be voted down. A home inspector is the only party involved in the real estate transaction who has no interest or financial gain in the sale of the home and his report is valued, as unbiased and complete, in that regard. To place him under the control of commissioned salesmen of real estate would be the wrong thing to do.

The Missouri Association of Realtors is a very powerful lobbying group with funds set aside from over 26,000 dues paying members. Missouri citizens need to be alert as to the agenda of this powerful lobby and let their legislators know that they expect to be protected, but not victimized by, laws passed by our legislature.

Say "no" to HB 324 and to HB 978.

Commentary by James H. Bushart
President of the Missouri Chapter of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors
St. Louis, MO

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