Fingerprinting

(1) Any initial applicant who is required to submit a complete and legible set of fingerprints for the purpose of obtaining a criminal background check pursuant to T.C.A. § 62-13-303 shall submit said fingerprints in an electronic format. (a) An initial applicant shall be deemed to have supplied the required set of fingerprints if that applicant causes a private company contracted by the State to electronically transmit that applicant’s classifiable prints directly to the TBI and FBI to forward an electronic report based on that applicant’s fingerprints to the Commission. (b) All sets of classifiable fingerprints required by this rule shall be furnished at the expense of the applicant. (c) The applicant shall make the arrangements for the processing of his or her fingerprints with the company contracted by the State to provide electronic fingerprinting services directly and shall be responsible for the payment of any fees associated with processing of fingerprints to the respective agent authorized by the TBI and FBI. (d) Applicants shall in all cases be responsible for paying application fees for licensure as established by the Commission. (e) In addition to new applicants for a broker, affiliate broker, time-share salesperson, or acquisition agent license, the following are considered “initial applicants” for purposes of this rule and, therefore, are required to submit fingerprints in an electronic format for the purpose of obtaining a criminal background check: 1. Any former licensee who must reapply in order to obtain reissuance of his or her license; and 2. Any person who previously held an affiliate broker license but no longer holds said license at the time such person applies for a broker license. This does not include any person who has an affiliate broker license which is inactive or retired at the time of application for a broker license. (2) In the event that an applicant furnishes unclassifiable fingerprints or fingerprints which are unclassifiable in nature, the Commission may refuse to issue the requested license. (a) For the purposes of this rule, “unclassifiable prints” means that the electronic scan or the print of the person’s fingerprints cannot be read, and therefore cannot be used to identify the person. (b) Should an applicant’s fingerprints be rejected by the TBI or FBI, the applicant shall pay any fees assessed by the TBI or FBI for resubmission.