LE A D E RSH I P RE S OU R CE S
CITATION POLICY
BAKERSFIELD ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS ® As REALTORS®, in 2013 we had the privilege of celebrating the Centennial Celebration of the adoption of the NAR Code of Ethics. There has never been or may never be a greater opportunity to bring awareness and strive to improve the professionalism of our REALTORS®. Code of Ethics Citation Policy Established January 1, 2014. When a Bakersfield Association REALTOR® is charged with violating certain articles of the Code of Ethics, he/she will have the option of accepting a citation rather than go through the traditional professional standards hearing process. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about the citation policy. Why was the citation policy adopted? In April of 2013 the Association’s leadership team adopted a new Strategic Plan for 2013 – 2017 to guide our Association’s successive
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BAKERSFIELD ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
volunteer leaders, committees and professional staff. Key elements of the plan include a statement of purpose for the Association and a newly adopted vision statement establishing the long term outcome of how the Association should be perceived, which states: “Improving the real estate industry through professionalism and service.” Five goals were established as our core competencies. The first and most important of the five goals is to Educate our members with regard to professionalism and standards. In keeping with that goal and commitment, a combined leadership task force of the Association’s Professional Standards Committee, Grievance Committee, Ombudsman Joe Newton, then President David Knoeb, CEO Linda Jay and Professional Standards Administrators Claudia Bugarin and Karen Huffman, reviewed this model policy and recommended its adoption. This special task force
identified several benefits: 1) Faster resolution for complaints of lesser severity that can be substantiated with documented evidence, completing a process that often takes six months in less than 30 days; 2) Savings of money, Association resources and volunteer time by Bakersfield REALTORS®; 3) Improved compliance with the Code of Ethics. Are all ethics charges eligible for the citation program? No, only those charges relating to specific articles of the Code that can be substantiated with written or otherdocumented evidence, such as a print advertisement that violates Article 12 of the Code. Which articles of the Code are covered by the citation policy? Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 14, and 16. Can a Bakersfield REALTOR® fight a citation? The respondent has the option of accepting the citation or requesting the full due process
