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<section article="gbo" article_name="Business Occupations and Professions" number="17-522" title_number="17" title_name="Real Estate Brokers" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous Provisions">
  <level label="a">
    <text>After a public hearing, the Commission may declare an urban area a “real estate conservation area” if the Commission finds that the racial stability of the area is threatened by the volume of real estate transactions.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to the provisions of this subsection, the Commission may suspend, by order, any methods of advertising real estate brokerage services or soliciting listings of houses for the purpose of resale or rental in a real estate conservation area if the Commission determines that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the area would benefit by the suspension;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the suspension would advance a State interest;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>there is a reasonable basis to believe that panic selling, blockbusting, or depressed real estate market values would occur without the suspension; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>there is no less restrictive alternative available.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In determining whether to impose a suspension, the Commission shall base its determination on a preponderance of the evidence.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>When determining whether to impose a suspension, the Commission shall provide information to the community affected, including:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the racial and economic composition of the real estate conservation area;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the number of real estate transactions in the area; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the fair market values of properties affected.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>A suspension under paragraph (1) of this subsection may not:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>apply to advertising in regularly distributed newspapers, magazines, radio, television, or telephone directories; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>exceed 24 months in duration.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to the provisions of this subsection, the Commission may:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>modify a suspension;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>remove a suspension; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>periodically renew a suspension for a period not exceeding 24 months.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In determining whether to modify, remove, or renew a suspension, the Commission shall follow the same requirements for originally imposing a suspension under subsection (b) of this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Any person aggrieved by a suspension may take an appeal to the circuit court of any county.</text>
  </level>
</section>
