Section 4707.073. Auctioneer: corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or association license

(A) No corporation, limited liability company, general or limited partnership, or unincorporated association shall act or hold itself out as an auctioneer without a valid auctioneer's license issued under this section. This section does not apply to a person who is issued a license under section 4707.071 of the Revised Code.

(B) The department of agriculture may grant an auctioneer's license to a corporation, limited liability company, general or limited partnership, or unincorporated association that is determined to be qualified by the department. Every applicant for a license under this section shall furnish to the department, on forms provided by the department, satisfactory proof that the applicant:

(1) Is in good standing with the secretary of state if the applicant is a corporation;

(2) Is of trustworthy character;

(3) Has provided proof of financial responsibility as required in section 4707.11 of the Revised Code;

(4) Is registered with the secretary of state or a local authority, as applicable, to do business in this state;

(5) Has complied with any other requirement that the director establishes in rules adopted under section 4707.19 of the Revised Code.

(C) An application submitted under this section shall list the names of all of the owners, directors, partners, or members of the applicant, as applicable, and shall indicate those that have an auctioneer's license issued under section 4707.07 of the Revised Code.

(D) The department shall not issue a license under this section unless one of the following applies, as applicable:

(1) If the applicant is a limited liability company or a general or limited partnership, not less than fifty per cent of the members or general partners have a current license issued under section 4707.07 of the Revised Code.

(2) If the applicant is a corporation, not less than fifty per cent of the directors and the president or chief executive have a current license issued under section 4707.07 of the Revised Code.

(3) If the applicant is an unincorporated association, not less than fifty per cent of the members have a current license issued under section 4707.07 of the Revised Code.

Failure of a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or unincorporated association to maintain the applicable requirements of this division after the issuance of a license under this section may be sufficient cause for the revocation of the license under section 4707.15 of the Revised Code.

(E) Upon the issuance of a license under this section, a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or unincorporated association shall designate an individual from among its directors, partners, or members who is licensed under section 4707.07 of the Revised Code as its agent for purposes of communication with the department. If that individual ceases to be the agent, the corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or unincorporated association shall notify the department not later than ten days after the day on which the individual ceases to be the agent. Upon notification to the department, the license of the corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or unincorporated association, as applicable, immediately shall terminate. If the corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or unincorporated association notifies the department of the designation of a new agent in accordance with the requirements of this division and pays a fee in the amount of ten dollars, the department shall issue the corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or unincorporated association a new license.

(F) This section does not preclude a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or unincorporated association from selling real property at auction, provided that the requirements of this section and section 4707.021 and Chapter 4735. of the Revised Code are satisfied.

(G) A person licensed as a real estate broker under Chapter 4735. of the Revised Code shall not be required to obtain a license under this section if the person complies with sections 4707.021 and 4707.22 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.

Effective Date: 05-06-2005