Unlawful referral solicitation - Unlawful retribution for existence of agency relationship

(a) It is unlawful for any person or entity to: (1) Solicit or request a referral fee from a real estate licensee without reasonable cause; or (2) Threaten to reduce or withhold employee relocation benefits or to take other action adverse to the interests of a client of a real estate licensee because of an agency relationship. (b) Reasonable cause allows a real estate licensee to solicit or request a referral fee but does not necessarily mean that the licensee has a legal right to be paid a referral fee. Acts 1999, ch. 160, § 4. (a) It is unlawful for any person or entity to: (1) Solicit or request a referral fee from a real estate licensee without reasonable cause; or (2) Threaten to reduce or withhold employee relocation benefits or to take other action adverse to the interests of a client of a real estate licensee because of an agency relationship. (1) Solicit or request a referral fee from a real estate licensee without reasonable cause; or (2) Threaten to reduce or withhold employee relocation benefits or to take other action adverse to the interests of a client of a real estate licensee because of an agency relationship. (b) Reasonable cause allows a real estate licensee to solicit or request a referral fee but does not necessarily mean that the licensee has a legal right to be paid a referral fee. Acts 1999, ch. 160, § 4.