Registration for Auctioneers

This is pretty exciting. I lobbied for licensing for auctioneers in the eighties. I thought I would never see this day. My predecessors had been working on it for decades. This just in:

STATE AUCTIONEERS MOVING AHEAD

Lansing, Michigan - State Capitol - On Friday, December 29th Governor Jennifer Granholm signed into law a set of bills now referred to as Public act 489 and Public act 490 of 2006 respectively. The Auctioneer Registration Bills were introduced by Senator Ron Jelinek of Three Oaks and Representative Hoon-Yung Hopgood of Taylor. Since 1958, the Michigan State Auctioneers Association has struggled to enact legislation to protect the public and to allow the association to form a bond of reciprocity with other states, namely ones which surround Michigan. It is the intent of these bills to help organize the membership of the MSAA in a concerted effort to better serve the public in a professional and lawful manner.

A Few Highlights of the Act include:
• Creates a new voluntary registration program for auctioneers
• Auctioneers would not be required to be registered through this program
• Record keeping requirements imposed on registered auctioneers
• Requires a written contract between a registered auctioneer and client
• Requires a registered auctioneer to establish a trust account
• Includes numerous consumer protection provisions

Chairman of the Legislative Committee of the MSAA, Michael Bliss GPPA of Mt. Pleasant, says “The bills will enable the auctioneers of the state and also of other states to work together in a more uniform manner. It brings more easily regulated consumer protection measures to clients who hire Registered Auctioneers and creates a higher code of conduct to give more assurances to the public.”

Any Auctioneers that wish to know more about the new legislation or becoming members of the Michigan State Auctioneers Association are urged to attend their Annual Conference held at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Lansing the week of January 31 to February 4, 2007. The Conference boasts the MSAA State Bid Calling Championships and several days of educational seminars and classes designed for the aspiring auctioneer. You can also get more info Online at www.msaa.org or by calling the MSAA Office at (616) 785-8288 or by calling Mr. Bliss at (989)772-7066 in Mt. Pleasant.

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With approximately 400 members, the Michigan State Auctioneers Association is one of the leaders in the industry, and is proving to continue in that direction in the future. The Michigan State Auctioneers Association is the largest representation of auctioneers in Michigan. The MSAA represents the interests of the Auctioneers, providing a forum for networking, sharing ideas and experiences. The MSAA expects to grow in membership with the passing of these bills. For more information about the Michigan State Auctioneers Association, the auction industry in Michigan, and to find auctions or auctioneers, log onto www.msaa.org.