(A) An oil and gas land professional who is not otherwise permitted to engage in the activities described in division (A) of section 4735.01 of the Revised Code may perform such activities, if the oil and gas land professional does all of the following:

(1)

(a) Registers on an annual basis as an oil and gas land professional with the superintendent of real estate by such date specified and on a form approved by the superintendent, which form includes both of the following:

(i) The name and address of the oil and gas land professional;

(ii) Evidence of the oil and gas land professional's membership in good standing in a national, state, or local professional organization that has been in existence for at least three years and has, as part of its mission, developed a set of standards of performance and ethics for oil and gas land professionals.

(b) Pays an annual fee, established by the superintendent in an amount not to exceed one hundred dollars, which shall accompany the registration.

(2) At or prior to first contacting any landowner or other person with an interest in real estate for the purpose of engaging in the activities of an oil and gas land professional, and on a form approved by the superintendent, discloses to the landowner or other person all of the following:

(a) The oil and gas land professional's name and address as registered with the superintendent;

(b) That the oil and gas land professional is registered as such with the superintendent and is a member in good standing in a national, state, or local professional organization that has been in existence for at least three years and has, as part of its mission, developed a set of standards of performance and ethics for oil and gas land professionals;

(c) That the oil and gas land professional is not a licensed real estate broker or real estate salesperson under Chapter 4735. of the Revised Code;

(d) That the landowner or other person with an interest in real estate may seek legal counsel in connection with any transaction with the oil and gas land professional;

(e) That the oil and gas land professional is not representing the landowner or other person with an interest in real estate.

(3) At or prior to entering into any agreements for the purpose of exploring for, transporting, producing, or developing oil and gas mineral interests including, but not limited to, oil and gas leases and pipeline easements with any landowner or other person with an interest in real estate, and on a form approved by the superintendent, discloses to the landowner or other person with an interest in real estate all of the following:

(a) The oil and gas land professional's name and address as registered with the superintendent;

(b) That the oil and gas land professional is registered as such with the superintendent and a member in good standing in a national, state, or local professional organization that has been in existence for at least three years and has, as part of its mission, developed a set of standards of performance and ethics for oil and gas land professionals;

(c) That the oil and gas land professional is not a licensed real estate broker or real estate salesperson under Chapter 4735. of the Revised Code;

(d) That the landowner or other person may seek legal counsel in connection with any transaction with the oil and gas land professional;

(e) That the oil and gas land professional is not representing the landowner or other person with an interest in real estate.

(B) Any oil and gas land professional who must be registered as such with the superintendent pursuant to this section who ceases to be a member in good standing of an organization described in division (A)(1)(a)(ii) of this section shall report the change in membership status to the superintendent within thirty days of that change. Failure to report such change in membership status shall result in the automatic suspension of registration status and subject the registrant to the penalties for unlicensed activity as found in section 4735.052 of the Revised Code.

(C) Any oil and gas land professional who fails to register with the superintendent pursuant to this section is subject to the penalties for unlicensed activity as found in section 4735.052 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 133rd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 166, §101.01, eff. 10/17/2019.

Added by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 263, §1, eff. 3/20/2019.