Changes to property appraiser law advanced

Lawmakers gave first-round approval March 20 to a bill that would update the Nebraska Real Property Appraiser Act.

Grand Island Sen. Mike Gloor, who introduced LB717 at the request of the Real Property Appraiser Board, said the bill would bring Nebraska law into compliance with new federal real property appraiser qualification criteria that will become effective Jan. 1, 2015.

Updates in the bill primarily would affect qualifications for each level of appraiser credential under the Appraiser Qualifications Board. The provisions also affect reciprocal credentialing and continuing education.

In addition, the bill would:
• establish a fee of no more than $100 for a criminal history record check;
• establish a random fingerprint-based national criminal history record check audit program; and
• specify additional acts and omissions that are considered grounds for disciplinary action or denial of an application by the Real Property Appraiser Board.

Gloor said that if Nebraska falls out of compliance with federal regulations, all the state’s credentialed appraisers would be disqualified to appraise real property in connection with federally related transactions.

“This [would impact] about 80 to 90 percent of all mortgage loans in the state,” he said.

Following the 31-0 adoption of a technical amendment offered by Gloor, lawmakers advanced LB717 on 26-0 vote.