(a) An action or suit shall not be instituted, nor recovery be had, in any court of this state by any person or other legal entity for compensation for performance of any acts described in § 17-42-103(10) unless at the time of offering to perform and performing any such act or procuring any promise to contract for the payment of compensation for any such contemplated act:

(1) The person holds an active license under this chapter as a principal broker; or

(2) The person or other legal entity was the owner of the real estate firm that contracted for or otherwise performed the acts for the compensation that is the subject of the action or suit through either a principal broker or a person approved by the Arkansas Real Estate Commission under § 17-42-301(f) while licensed or approved by the commission at the time of the acts.

(b) No salesperson, executive broker, or associate broker may sue in his or her own capacity for the recovery of fees, commissions, or compensation for services as a salesperson, executive broker, or associate broker unless the action is against the principal broker with whom he or she is licensed or was licensed at the time the acts were performed.

(c)

(1) As used in this subsection, "systematic residential rental property inspection program" means a program that requires all persons who reside outside of the State of Arkansas and are owners of residential rental property located within the corporate limits of a municipality in this state to designate an agent for service of process.

(2) In any municipality that has established a systematic residential rental property inspection program, a licensee as defined under § 17-42-103 shall not have criminal or civil liability to the municipality, to the nonresident owner, or otherwise for any action or inaction of the municipality or owner:

(A) When acting as an agent for service of process for a nonresident owner;

(B) Arising from the agent's performance of duties as the agent for service of process; and

(C) If within three (3) business days of receipt of service of process or at other times established by ordinance in effect as of August 12, 2005, the licensee sends the service of process to the last known address of the nonresident owner.

(3) This subsection supersedes any provision of common law to the contrary.