CCAP Legislative Update – April 27, 2010

California Coalition of Appraisal Professionals (CCAP) continues its aggressive outreach campaign to contact and meet congressional and state legislators. Meeting face to face is the best way to explain how the HVCC has caused substantial damage to the appraisal industry. “To make real progress, said Rey Cano (VP Membership), we must meet with elected officials, and there key staff members, to make sure they understand the damage that is really being done.’

Congressman Brad Sherman's Policy Director attended CCAP's March 2010 CCAP Board meeting. Congressman Elton Gallegly's District Chief of Staff attended the April meeting. Meeting participants were able to explain, up close and in person, how bad the situation really is. How small appraisers businesses are being lost and how the consumer is actually being hurt. Additionally, they were able to explain the why the Appraisal Independence Requirements section in HR4173 is vital. Participants also made clear that appraisers continue to support HR3044 which puts an 18 month moratorium on the HVCC.

On the state level CCAP has crafted and distributed to the OREA, and hundreds of interested appraisers, a 7-point document specific to SB237, California’s AMC Registration Bill at Government Affairs. Government Affairs VP David Bereznick noted “we will improve on this kind of activity in the future but we need let people know what we are thinking right now.” “Is there a single appraiser out there who wants to continue the practice of allowing AMC’s to require us to hold them harmless”? “If they want the work let them take the liability” he added.

George St. Johns, CCAP President, will lead a CCAP team to the Association of Appraiser Regulatory Officials (AARO) Conference in San Diego (May 1-3) to meet and strengthen ties with leadership teams from other state coalitions. Appraiser coalition groups are now active in Washington, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Texas, South Dakota, Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts.

Founded in February 2010 California Coalition of Appraisal Professionals (CCAP) is a non-profit advocacy group for California Appraisers.