S-2091

AN ACT Relating to private detective agencies and private detectives; adding a new section to chapter 43.101 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 18 RCW; creating a new section; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Armed private detective" means a private detective who has a current firearms certificate issued by the commission and is licensed as an armed private detective under this chapter.

(2) "Chief law enforcement officer" means the elected or appointed police administrator of a municipal, county, or state police or sheriff's department that has full law enforcement powers in its jurisdiction.

(3) "Commission" means the criminal justice training commission established in chapter 43.101 RCW.

(4) "Department" means the department of licensing.

(5) "Director" means the director of the department of licensing.

(6) "Employer" includes any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association, company, society, manager, contractor, subcontractor, bureau, agency, service, office, or an agent of any of the foregoing that employs or seeks to enter into an arrangement to employ any person as a private detective.

(7) "Firearms certificate" means a certificate issued by the commission.

(8) "Forensic scientist" or "accident reconstructionist" means a person engaged exclusively in collecting and analyzing physical evidence and data relating to an accident or other matter and compiling such evidence or data to render an opinion of likely cause, fault, or circumstance of the accident or matter.

(9) "Person" includes any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association, company, society, manager, contractor, subcontractor, bureau, agency, service, office, or an agent or employee of any of the foregoing.

(10) "Principal" of a private detective agency means the owner or manager appointed by a corporation.

(11) "Private detective" means a person who is licensed under this chapter and is employed by a private detective agency for the purpose of investigation, escort or body guard services, or property loss prevention activities.

(12) "Private detective agency" means a person or entity licensed under this chapter and engaged in the business of detecting, discovering, or revealing one or more of the following:

(a) Crime, criminals, or related information;

(b) The identity, habits, conduct, business, occupation, honesty, integrity, credibility, knowledge, trustworthiness, efficiency, loyalty, activity, movement, whereabouts, affiliations, associations, transactions, acts, reputation, or character of any person or thing;

(d) The cause or responsibility for fires, libels, losses, accidents, or damage or injury to persons or to property;

(e) Evidence to be used before a court, board, officer, or investigative committee;

(f) Detecting the presence of electronic eavesdropping devices; or

(g) The truth or falsity of a statement or representation.

(13) "Qualifying agent" means an officer or manager of a corporation who meets the requirements set forth in this chapter for obtaining a private detective agency license.

(14) "Sworn peace officer" means a person who is an employee of the federal government, the state, or a political subdivision, agency, or department branch of a municipality or other unit of local government, and has law enforcement powers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The requirements of this chapter do not apply to:

(1) A person who is employed exclusively or regularly by one employer and performs investigations solely in connection with the affairs of that employer, if the employer is not a private detective agency;

(2) An officer or employee of the United States or of this state or a political subdivision thereof, while engaged in the performance of the officer's official duties;

(3) A person engaged exclusively in the business of obtaining and furnishing information about the financial rating of persons;

(4) An attorney at law while performing the attorney's duties as an attorney;

(5) A licensed collection agency or its employee, while acting within the scope of that person's employment and making an investigation incidental to the business of the agency;

(6) Insurers, agents, and insurance brokers licensed by the state, while performing duties in connection with insurance transacted by them;

(7) A bank subject to the jurisdiction of the Washington state banking commission or the comptroller of currency of the United States, or a savings and loan association subject to the jurisdiction of this state or the federal home loan bank board;

(8) A licensed insurance adjuster performing the adjuster's duties within the scope of the adjuster's license;

(9) A secured creditor engaged in the repossession of the creditor's collateral, or a lessor engaged in the repossession of leased property in which it claims an interest;

(10) A person who is a forensic scientist, accident reconstructionist, or other person who performs similar functions and does not hold himself or herself out to be an investigator in any other capacity; or

(11) A person solely engaged in the business of securing information about persons or property from public records.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. An applicant must meet the following minimum requirements to obtain a private detective license:

(1) Be at least eighteen years of age;

(2) Be a citizen or resident alien of the United States;

(3) Not have been convicted of a crime in any jurisdiction, if the director determines that the applicant's particular crime directly relates to his or her capacity to perform the duties of a private detective and the director determines that the license should be withheld to protect the citizens of Washington state. The director shall make her or his determination to withhold a license because of previous convictions consistent with the restoration of employment rights act, chapter 9.96A RCW;

(4) Be employed by or have an employment offer from a private detective agency or be licensed as a private detective agency;

(5) Submit a set of fingerprints; and

(6) Pay the required fee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) An applicant must meet the following minimum requirements to obtain an armed private detective license:

(a) Be licensed as a private detective;

(b) Be at least twenty-one years of age;

(d) Pay the fee established by the director.

(2) The armed private detective license may take the form of an endorsement to the private detective license if deemed appropriate by the director.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. (1) In addition to meeting the minimum requirements to obtain a license as a private detective, an applicant, or, in the case of a partnership or limited partnership, each partner, or, in the case of a corporation, the qualifying agent must meet the following additional requirements to obtain a private detective agency license:

(a) Pass an examination determined by the director to measure the person's knowledge and competence in the private detective agency business; or

(b) Have had at least three years' experience in investigative work or its equivalent as determined by the director. A year's experience means not less than two thousand hours of actual compensated work performed before the filing of an application. An applicant shall substantiate the experience by written certifications from previous employers. If the applicant is unable to supply written certifications from previous employers, applicants may offer written certifications from persons other than employers who, based on personal knowledge, can substantiate the employment.

(2) An agency license issued pursuant to this section may not be assigned or transferred without prior written approval of the director.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. (1) An armed private detective license grants authority to the holder, while in the performance of his or her duties, to carry a firearm with which the holder has met the proficiency requirements established by the commission.

(2) All firearms carried by armed private detectives in the performance of their duties must be owned by the employer and, if required by law, must be registered with the proper government agency.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. (1) Applications for licenses required under this chapter shall be filed with the director on a form provided by the director. The director may require any information and documentation that reasonably relates to the need to determine whether the applicant meets the criteria.

(2) After receipt of an application for a license, the director shall conduct an investigation to determine whether the facts set forth in the application are true and shall request that the Washington state patrol compare the fingerprints submitted with the application to fingerprint records available to the Washington state patrol.

(3) A summary of the information acquired under this section, to the extent that it is public information, shall be forwarded by the department to the applicant's employer and to the chief law enforcement officer of the county and city or town in which the applicant's employer is located, for the purpose of comment prior to the issuance of a permanent private detective license.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. (1) The director shall issue a private detective license card to each licensed private detective and an armed private detective license card to each armed private detective.

(a) The license card may not be used as security clearance or as identification.

(b) A private detective shall carry the license card whenever he or she is performing the duties of a private detective and shall exhibit the card upon request.

(c) An armed private detective shall carry the license card whenever he or she is performing the duties of an armed private detective and shall exhibit the card upon request.

(2) The director shall issue a license certificate to each licensed private detective agency.

(a) Within seventy-two hours after receipt of the license certificate, the licensee shall post and display the certificate in a conspicuous place in the principal office of the licensee within the state.

(b) It is unlawful for any person holding a license certificate to knowingly and willfully post the license certificate upon premises other than those described in the license certificate or to materially alter a license certificate.

(c) Every advertisement by a licensee that solicits or advertises business shall contain the name of the licensee, the address of record, and the license number as they appear in the records of the director.

(d) The licensee shall notify the director within thirty days of any change in the licensee's officers or directors or any material change in the information furnished or required to be furnished to the director.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. (1) The director shall adopt rules establishing preassignment training and testing requirements, which shall include a minimum of four hours of classes. The director may establish, by rule, continuing education requirements for private detectives.

(2) The director shall consult with the private detective industry and law enforcement before adopting or amending the preassignment training or continuing education requirements of this section.

(3) A private detective need not fulfill the preassignment training requirements of this chapter if he or she, within sixty days of the effective date of this act, provides proof to the director that he or she previously has met the training requirements of this chapter or has been employed as a private detective or armed private detective for at least eighteen consecutive months immediately prior to the date of application.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. (1) No private detective agency license may be issued under the provisions of this chapter unless the applicant files with the director a surety bond, executed by a surety company authorized to do business in this state, in the sum of ten thousand dollars conditioned to recover against the principal and its servants, officers, agents, and employees by reason of its wrongful or illegal acts in conducting business licensed under this chapter. The bond shall be made payable to the state of Washington, and anyone so injured by the principal or its servants, officers, agents, or employees shall have the right and shall be permitted to sue directly upon this obligation in his or her own name. This obligation shall be subject to successive suits for recovery until the face amount is completely exhausted.

(2) Every licensee must at all times maintain on file with the director the surety bond required by this section in full force and effect. Upon failure by a licensee to do so, the director shall suspend the licensee's license and shall not reinstate the license until this requirement is met.

(3) In lieu of posting bond, a licensed private detective agency may file with the director a certificate of insurance as evidence that it has comprehensive general liability coverage of at least twenty-five thousand dollars for bodily or personal injury and twenty-five thousand dollars for property damage.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. (1) The provisions of this chapter relating to the licensing for regulatory purposes of private detectives, armed private detectives, and private detective agencies are exclusive. No governmental subdivision of this state may enact any laws or rules licensing for regulatory purposes such persons, except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section.

(2) This section shall not be construed to prevent a political subdivision of this state from levying a business fee, business and occupation tax, or other tax upon private detective agencies if such fees or taxes are levied by the state on other types of businesses within its boundaries.

(3) This section shall not be construed to prevent this state or a political subdivision of this state from licensing for regulatory purposes private detective agencies with respect to activities that are not regulated under this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. Private detectives or armed private detectives whose duties require them to operate across state lines may operate in this state for up to thirty days per year, if they are properly registered and certified in another state with training and certification requirements that the director finds are at least equal to the requirements of this state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. (1) A private detective agency shall notify the director within thirty days after the death or termination of employment of any employee who is a licensed private detective or armed private detective.

(2) A private detective agency shall notify the director within seventy-two hours and the chief law enforcement officer of the county, city, or town in which the agency is located immediately upon receipt of information affecting a licensed private detective's or armed private detective's continuing eligibility to hold a license under the provisions of this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. (1) Any person from another state that the director determines has selection, training, and other requirements at least equal to those required by this chapter, and who holds a valid license, registration, identification, or similar card issued by the other state, may apply for a private detective license card or armed private detective license card on a form prescribed by the director. Upon receipt of a processing fee to be determined by the director, the director shall issue the individual a private detective license card or armed private detective license card.

(2) A valid license, registration, identification, or similar card issued by any other state of the United States is valid in this state for a period of ninety days, but only if the licensee is on temporary assignment for the same employer that employs the licensee in the state in which he or she is a permanent resident.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 15. (1) After June 30, 1992, any person who performs the functions and duties of a private detective in this state without being licensed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, or any person presenting or attempting to use as his or her own the license of another, or any person who gives false or forged evidence of any kind to the director in obtaining a license, or any person who falsely impersonates any other licensee, or any person who attempts to use an expired or revoked license, or any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

(2) After January 1, 1992, a person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if he or she owns or operates a private detective agency in this state without first obtaining a private detective agency license.

(3) After June 30, 1992, the owner or qualifying agent of a private detective agency is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if he or she employs any person to perform the duties of a private detective without the employee having in his or her possession a permanent private detective license issued by the department. This shall not preclude a private detective agency from requiring applicants to attend preassignment training classes or from paying wages for attending the required preassignment training classes.

(4) After June 30, 1992, a person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if he or she performs the functions and duties of an armed private detective in this state unless the person holds a valid armed private detective license issued by the department.

(5) After June 30, 1992, it is a gross misdemeanor for a private detective agency to hire, contract with, or otherwise engage the services of an unlicensed armed private detective knowing that the private detective does not have a valid armed private detective license issued by the director.

(6) It is a gross misdemeanor for a person to possess or use any vehicle or equipment displaying the word "police" or "law enforcement officer" or having any sign, shield, marking, accessory, or insignia that indicates that the equipment or vehicle belongs to a public law enforcement agency.

(7) It is the duty of all officers of the state and political subdivisions thereof to enforce the provisions of this chapter. The attorney general shall act as legal adviser of the director, and render such legal assistance as may be necessary in carrying out the provisions of this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 16. The following acts are prohibited and constitute grounds for disciplinary action or denial, suspension, or revocation of any license under this chapter, as deemed appropriate by the director:

(1) Knowingly violating any of the provisions of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter;

(2) Knowingly making a material misstatement or omission in the application for or renewal of a license or firearms certificate;

(3) Not meeting the qualifications set forth in section 3, 4, or 5 of this act;

(4) Failing to return immediately on demand a firearm issued by an employer;

(5) Carrying a firearm in the performance of his or her duties if not the holder of a valid armed private detective license, or carrying a firearm not meeting the provisions of this chapter while in the performance of his or her duties;

(6) Failing to return immediately on demand company identification, badges, or other items issued to the private detective by an employer;

(7) Making any statement that would reasonably cause another person to believe that the private detective is a sworn peace officer;

(8) Divulging confidential information obtained in the course of any investigation to which he or she was assigned;

(9) Acceptance of employment that is adverse to a client or former client and relates to a matter about which a licensee has obtained confidential information by reason of or in the course of the licensee's employment by the client;

(10) Conviction of a gross misdemeanor or felony or the commission of any act involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, or corruption whether the act constitutes a crime or not. If the act constitutes a crime, conviction in a criminal proceeding is not a condition precedent to disciplinary action. Upon such a conviction, however, the judgment and sentence is conclusive evidence at the ensuing disciplinary hearing of the guilt of the license holder or applicant of the crime described in the indictment or information, and of the person's violation of the statute on which it is based. For the purposes of this section, conviction includes all instances in which a plea of guilty or nolo contendere is the basis for the conviction and all proceedings in which the sentence has been deferred or suspended. Nothing in this section abrogates rights guaranteed under chapter 9.96A RCW;

(11) Advertising that is false, fraudulent, or misleading;

(12) Incompetence or negligence that results in injury to a person or that creates an unreasonable risk that a person may be harmed;

(13) Suspension, revocation, or restriction of the individual's license to practice the profession by competent authority in any state, federal, or foreign jurisdiction, a certified copy of the order, stipulation, or agreement being conclusive evidence of the revocation, suspension, or restriction;

(14) Failure to cooperate with the director by:

(a) Not furnishing any necessary papers or documents requested by the director for purposes of conducting an investigation for disciplinary action, denial, suspension, or revocation of a license under this chapter;

(b) Not furnishing in writing a full and complete explanation covering the matter contained in a complaint filed with the department; or

(c) Not responding to subpoenas issued by the director, whether or not the recipient of the subpoena is the accused in the proceeding;

(15) Failure to comply with an order issued by the director or an assurance of discontinuance entered into with the director;

(16) Aiding or abetting an unlicensed person to practice if a license is required;

(17) Misrepresentation or fraud in any aspect of the conduct of the business or profession;

(18) Failure to adequately supervise employees to the extent that the public health or safety is at risk;

(19) Interference with an investigation or disciplinary proceeding by willful misrepresentation of facts before the director or the director's authorized representative, or by the use of threats or harassment against any client or witness to prevent them from providing evidence in a disciplinary proceeding or any other legal action; or

(20) Assigning or transferring any license issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, except as provided in section 5 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 17. The director has the following authority in administering this chapter:

(1) To adopt, amend, and rescind rules as deemed necessary to carry out this chapter;

(2) To issue subpoenas and administer oaths in connection with an investigation, hearing, or proceeding held under this chapter;

(3) To take or cause depositions to be taken and use other discovery procedures as needed in an investigation, hearing, or proceeding held under this chapter;

(4) To compel attendance of witnesses at hearings;

(5) In the course of investigating a complaint or report of unprofessional conduct, to conduct practice reviews;

(6) To take emergency action ordering summary suspension of a license, or restriction or limitation of the licensee's practice pending proceedings by the director;

(7) To use the office of administrative hearings as authorized in chapter 34.12 RCW to conduct hearings. However, the director or the director's designee shall make the final decision in the hearing;

(8) To enter into contracts for professional services determined to be necessary for adequate enforcement of this chapter;

(9) To adopt standards of professional conduct or practice;

(10) In the event of a finding of unprofessional conduct by an applicant or license holder, to impose sanctions against a license applicant or license holder as provided by this chapter;

(11) To enter into an assurance of discontinuance in lieu of issuing a statement of charges or conducting a hearing. The assurance shall consist of a statement of the law in question and an agreement to not violate the stated provision. The applicant or license holder shall not be required to admit to any violation of the law, and the assurance shall not be construed as such an admission. Violation of an assurance under this subsection is grounds for disciplinary action;

(12) To designate individuals authorized to sign subpoenas and statements of charges;

(13) To employ such investigative, administrative, and clerical staff as necessary for the enforcement of this chapter; and

(14) To compel attendance of witnesses at hearings.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 18. A person, including but not limited to consumers, licensees, corporations, organizations, and state and local governmental agencies, may submit a written complaint to the department charging a license holder or applicant with unprofessional conduct and specifying the grounds for the charge. If the director determines that the complaint merits investigation, or if the director has reason to believe, without a formal complaint, that a license holder or applicant may have engaged in unprofessional conduct, the director shall investigate to determine if there has been unprofessional conduct. A person who files a complaint under this section in good faith is immune from suit in any civil action related to the filing or contents of the complaint.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 19. (1) If the director determines, upon investigation, that there is reason to believe a violation of this chapter has occurred, a statement of charges shall be prepared and served upon the license holder or applicant and notice of this action given to the owner or qualifying agent of the employing private detective agency. The statement of charges shall be accompanied by a notice that the license holder or applicant may request a hearing to contest the charges. The license holder or applicant must file a request for hearing with the department within twenty days after being served the statement of charges. The failure to request a hearing constitutes a default, whereupon the director may enter an order pursuant to RCW 34.05.440.

(2) If a hearing is requested, the time of the hearing shall be scheduled but the hearing shall not be held earlier than thirty days after service of the charges upon the license holder or applicant. A notice of hearing shall be issued at least twenty days prior to the hearing, specifying the time, date, and place of the hearing.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 20. The procedures governing adjudicative proceedings before agencies under chapter 34.05 RCW, the administrative procedure act, govern all hearings before the director.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 21. (1) If the director believes a license holder or applicant may be unable to practice with reasonable skill and safety to the public by reason of any mental or physical condition, a statement of charges shall be served on the license holder or applicant and notice shall also be issued providing an opportunity for a hearing. The hearing shall be limited to the sole issue of the capacity of the license holder or applicant to practice with reasonable skill or safety. If the director determines that the license holder or applicant is unable to practice with reasonable skill and safety for one of the reasons stated in this subsection, the director shall impose such sanctions as are deemed necessary to protect the public.

(2) In investigating or adjudicating a complaint or report that a license holder or applicant may be unable to practice with reasonable skill or safety by reason of a mental or physical condition, the department may require a license holder or applicant to submit to a mental or physical examination by one or more licensed or certified health professionals designated by the director. The cost of the examinations ordered by the department shall be paid by the department. In addition to any examinations ordered by the department, the licensee may submit physical or mental examination reports from licensed or certified health professionals of the license holder's or applicant's choosing and expense. Failure of the license holder or applicant to submit to examination when directed constitutes grounds for immediate suspension or withholding of the license, consequent upon which a default and final order may be entered without the taking of testimony or presentations of evidence, unless the failure was due to circumstances beyond the person's control. A determination by a court of competent jurisdiction that a license holder or applicant is mentally incompetent or mentally ill is presumptive evidence of the license holder's or applicant's inability to practice with reasonable skill and safety. An individual affected under this section shall at reasonable intervals be afforded an opportunity to demonstrate that the individual can resume competent practice with reasonable skill and safety to the public.

(3) For the purpose of subsection (2) of this section, an applicant or license holder governed by this chapter, by making application, practicing, or filing a license renewal, is deemed to have given consent to submit to a mental, physical, or psychological examination if directed in writing by the department and further to have waived all objections to the admissibility or use of the examining health professional's testimony or examination reports by the director on the ground that the testimony or reports constitute hearsay or privileged communications.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 22. Upon a finding that a license holder or applicant has committed unprofessional conduct or is unable to practice with reasonable skill and safety due to a physical or mental condition, the director may issue an order providing for one or any combination of the following:

(1) Revocation of the license;

(2) Suspension of the license for a fixed or indefinite term;

(3) Restriction or limitation of the practice;

(4) Requiring the satisfactory completion of a specific program of remedial education or treatment;

(5) Monitoring of the practice by a supervisor approved by the director;

(6) Censure or reprimand;

(7) Compliance with conditions of probation for a designated period of time;

(8) Withholding a license request;

(9) Other corrective action; or

(10) Refund of fees billed to and collected from the consumer.

Any of the actions under this section may be totally or partly stayed by the director. All costs associated with compliance with orders issued under this section are the obligation of the license holder or applicant.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 23. If an order for payment of a fine is made as a result of a hearing and timely payment is not made as directed in the final order, the director may enforce the order for payment in the superior court in the county in which the hearing was held. This right of enforcement shall be in addition to any other rights the director may have as to a licensee ordered to pay a fine but shall not be construed to limit a licensee's ability to seek judicial review.

In an action for enforcement of an order of payment of a fine, the director's order is conclusive proof of the validity of the order of payment of a fine and the terms of payment.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 24. (1) The director shall investigate complaints concerning practice by unlicensed persons of a profession or business for which a license is required by this chapter. In the investigation of the complaints, the director shall have the same authority as provided the director under section 19 of this act. The director shall issue a cease and desist order to a person after notice and hearing and upon a determination that the person has violated this subsection. If the director makes a written finding of fact that the public interest will be irreparably harmed by delay in issuing an order, the director may issue a temporary cease and desist order. The cease and desist order shall not relieve the person practicing or operating a business without a license from criminal prosecution therefor, but the remedy of a cease and desist order shall be in addition to any criminal liability. The cease and desist order is conclusive proof of unlicensed practice and may be enforced under RCW 7.21.060. This method of enforcement of the cease and desist order may be used in addition to, or as an alternative to, any provisions for enforcement of agency orders.

(2) The attorney general, a county prosecuting attorney, the director, or any person may, in accordance with the law of this state governing injunctions, maintain an action in the name of this state to enjoin any person practicing a profession or business for which a license is required by this chapter without a license from engaging in such practice or operating such business until the required license is secured. However, the injunction shall not relieve the person practicing or operating a business without a license from criminal prosecution therefor, but the remedy by injunction shall be in addition to any criminal liability.

(3) Unlicensed practice of a profession or operating a business for which a license is required by this chapter, unless otherwise exempted by law, constitutes a gross misdemeanor. All fees, fines, forfeitures, and penalties collected or assessed by a court because of a violation of this section shall be remitted to the department.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 25. A person or business that violates an injunction issued under this chapter shall pay a civil penalty, as determined by the court, of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars, which shall be paid to the department. For the purpose of this section, the superior court issuing any injunction shall retain jurisdiction and the cause shall be continued, and in such cases the attorney general acting in the name of the state may petition for the recovery of civil penalties.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 26. The director or individuals acting on the director's behalf are immune from suit in any action, civil or criminal, based on disciplinary proceedings or other official acts performed in the course of their duties in the administration and enforcement of this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 27. The director, in implementing and administering the provisions of this chapter, shall act in accordance with the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 28. A new section is added to chapter 43.101 RCW to read as follows:

The commission shall establish a program for issuing firearms certificates to private detectives for the purposes of obtaining armed private detective licenses. The commission shall adopt rules establishing the fees, training requirements, and procedures for obtaining and annually renewing firearms certificates. The fees charged by the commission shall recover the costs incurred by the commission in administering the firearms certificate program.

(1) Firearms training must be provided by an organization or trainer approved by the commission and must consist of at least eight hours of classes and proficiency training.

(2) Applications for firearms certificates shall be filed with the commission on a form provided by the commission. The commission may require any information and documentation that reasonably relates to the need to determine whether the applicant qualifies for a firearms certificate. Applicants must:

(a) Be at least twenty-one years of age;

(b) Possess a current private detective license; and

(c) Present a written request from the owner or qualifying agent of a licensed private detective agency that the applicant be issued a firearms certificate.

(3) The commission shall consult with the private security industry and law enforcement before adopting or amending the training requirements of this section.

(4) The commission may adopt rules that are reasonable and necessary for the effective implementation and administration of this section consistent with chapter 34.05 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 29. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 30. If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill number, is not provided by June 30, 1991, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act shall be null and void.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 31. Sections 1 through 27 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 18 RCW.