Subcommittee debates removal of ID-copy requirement for timeshare resellers; no recorded final action in transcript

House Bill 1671, which would amend record-keeping requirements under the Virginia timeshare statute to remove the requirement that resellers retain photocopies of government-issued photo IDs, drew questions about fraud, investigative needs and regulatory burden during the subcommittee hearing.

The bill’s sponsor said removing the photocopy requirement would enhance consumer privacy, reduce resellers’ liability and ease recordkeeping burdens. Jennifer Slay of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) told members the five-year retention period in current law had “no magic behind the glass” and, after reviewing ten years of investigations, DPOR staff had not once used a photocopy of an ID in their investigations.

A speaker identified in the transcript as a real estate attorney raised the risk of seller-impersonation fraud, saying a reseller’s file might be subpoenaed to show what ID was used to verify a buyer or seller. The attorney said, in some fraud investigations, a retained copy of an ID could be beneficial to establish who appeared in the office to sign paperwork.

DPOR acknowledged the potential investigative utility but emphasized the department’s review found no historical use of photocopied IDs in investigations over a ten-year period. The sponsor said the subcommittee would weigh the concerns alongside the burden on regulated parties.

The transcript does not record a final roll-call vote or formal recommendation to report for HB 1671 during the excerpt provided; committee members expressed concern but did not enter a recorded motion in the provided text.