In the first effort of its kind, 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 recently distributed to its members a booklet containing the sample law titled, “Uniform Auction and Auctioneer Licensing Act.”

The act would provide 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.

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

Association 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, the group’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, 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 his home state.

For more information, visit www.auctioneers.org or call 913-541-8084.

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