Auctioneers seek regulation

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Veteran auctioneer Bob Barks says it's easy in Missouri to enter his profession. Too easy.

"All you have to do is go to the county courthouse, give them $50 and get a license," Barks said. "Anyone can do it."

Barks, who owns Barks Auction Service in Jackson, Mo., and other professional auctioneers are hoping lawmakers will establish state licensing and substantive regulation of the trade, which would include mandating professional standards and requiring continuing education to work in the field.

Out-of-state work

The Senate Financial and Governmental Organization Committee held a hearing Monday on a bill sponsored by state Sen. Bill Foster, R-Poplar Bluff, that would give the Missouri Division of Professional Registration oversight of auctioneers.

While Barks, who is president-elect of the Missouri Professional Auctioneers Association and attended the hearing, said having recognized and enforceable standards is important, the primary reason his group is pushing for the law is to more easily allow Missouri-based auctioneers to work in other states.

At present, individual counties license auctioneers -- a process that involves no more than paying a fee. Surrounding states that have more stringent regulations don't recognize the county licenses. As such, Missouri auctioneers must get licensed in another state to do business there. If Missouri had a statewide licensing system, other states would provide reciprocity.

"This would give us the privilege to go into other states," said Barks, who is licensed in Illinois.

Foster said lack of reciprocity is of major concern to auctioneers in his legislative district, which borders Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Board of auctioneers

"Those states will not accept Missouri auctioneers because there is no state licensing," Foster said.

Because they are licensed at the county level, Foster said there is no easy way to determine the number of licensed auctioneers in Missouri. However, he said there are about 1,200 such auctioneers who hold licenses, according to best available estimates. Barks said the auctioneers association has about 375 dues-paying members.

Foster's bill would establish a five-member Board of Auctioneers within the Division of Professional Registration. The board would establish and administer standards for the profession.

Minimum qualifications for a license would include being at least 18 years old, a high school graduate, having a diploma from a recognized auction school or proof of completion of an apprenticeship, and being "a person of good moral character."

Applicants would also have to pass an examination on skills and standards related to the trade. The board could deny new licenses or revoke existing ones on evidence of fraud, incompetence, dishonesty and for use or possession of a controlled substance.

Earle Conner of Sugar Creek, Mo., manages an auction house in Blue Springs, Mo. He said licensing will help protect the public from unethical or unqualified auction operators.

"If I am challenged with dispensing the life assets of you or your family, I should be held to a higher standard personally than I am in the state of Missouri now," Conner said.

State Sen. John Cauthorn, R-Mexico, said in rural areas "auctioneers provide as much community service as anybody," donating their time and skills for charity auctions and similar activities.

There was no opposition to the measure, on which the committee is expected to act next week.

The bill is SB 1088.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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