NAA Drafts Sample Auction License Law and Encourages Adoption by State Legislatures

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – In the first effort of its kind in the nation, the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) has begun an effort to encourage state legislatures to adopt a uniform state auction license law the association recently created.

NAA this week distributed to its members a booklet containing the sample law titled, "Uniform Auction and Auctioneer Licensing Act (UAALA)."

The UAALA provides a template for states to consider when drafting state auction and auctioneer laws. In America, no single federal law regulating the conduct of auctions exists. Regulation is left up to individual states legislatures and agencies, many of which have drafted their own regulations to govern auctions. States have differing requirements on licensing, education, bonding, fees and other aspects of conducting an auction. Because there are differences from state to state, burdens are placed on professional auctioneers trying to conduct business in multiple states, and also inconveniences auction attendees.

State officials will find the Act helpful because it addresses all aspects of auctions and establishes reasonable regulations. Some states do not have an auction law and will wish to create one based on this sample.

NAA President William L. Sheridan, CAI, AARE, GPPA, of Mason, Mich.said "This sample law will help serve the public, state governments and auctioneers. We urge each state legislature to examine and consider this law for adoption."

Kurt Bachman, NAA's legal counsel on the Act, said states adopting this "Would help standardize auction procedures, facilitate commerce, and assist bidders that travel to auctions in various states."

NAA has begun efforts to ask its membership to educate state legislatures and agencies on specifics of the Act.

The Act was created with the help of the National Auctioneer License Law Officials Association (NALLOA), which works to improve interstate reciprocity of auctioneers. A problem created by each state having different regulations is that an auctioneer licensed in one state may not be accepted as licensed in a nearby state, although he or she has met extensive regulations and educational requirements in their home state.

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With almost 6,000 members from throughout the world, the National Auctioneers Association is the largest organization of its kind dedicated to promoting the auction method and competitive bidding industry. Member benefits range from federal and state legislative tracking to comprehensive continuing education programs, including coursework to earn the following professional auctioneer designations: Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI), Accredited Auctioneer, Real Estate (AARE), Graduate, Personal Property Appraiser (GPPA) and Certified Estate Specialist (CES). The organization was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Overland Park, Kan. For more information on the NAA and its programs, log on to www.auctioneers.org.