Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §13003, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 395, Pt. A, §212, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§13003.__License required

1.__Real estate brokerage.__It is unlawful for a person or entity to engage in real estate brokerage without a current real estate brokerage agency license issued under this chapter or a license authorizing the person or entity to engage in brokerage activity on behalf of a brokerage agency.

2.__Real estate rental agent.__It is unlawful for a person or entity to act as a real estate rental agent without a current real estate rental agent license issued under this chapter.

Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §13202 is enacted to read:

§13202.__Real estate rental agent

1.__Definition.__As used in this chapter, "real estate rental agent" or "rental agent" means a person or entity authorized to enter into a rental agreement for residential rental in a building consisting of one to 4 dwelling units on behalf of a lessor or lessee.

2.__Professional qualification.__Each applicant for a rental agent license must meet one of the following qualifications:

A.__The applicant must satisfactorily complete a course of study meeting guidelines established by the commission; or

B.__The applicant must appear at such time and place as the director may designate for the purpose of taking and passing a written rental agent examination.

3.__Acts authorized.__Each rental agent license granted entitles the holder to perform rental services under this chapter that are within the guidelines established by the commission for rental agents.

4.__License term.__Rental agent licenses are issued for 2 years and may be renewed.

5.__Rulemaking.__The commission shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this section and to establish license qualifications, pursuant to section 13065, subsection 4.__Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.