BILL REQ. #:  S-3895.2 

Read first time 01/22/2004.   Referred to Committee on Commerce & Trade.

     AN ACT Relating to security guards; amending RCW 18.170.010 and 18.170.100; and adding a new section to chapter 18.170 RCW.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 18.170.010 and 1991 c 334 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     ((Unless the context clearly requires otherwise,)) The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Armed private security guard" means a private security guard who has a current firearms certificate issued by the commission and is licensed as an armed private security guard under this chapter.
     (2) "Armored vehicle guard" means a person who transports in an armored vehicle under armed guard, from one place to another place, valuables, jewelry, currency, documents, or any other item that requires secure delivery.
     (3) "Burglar alarm response runner" means a person employed by a private security company to respond to burglar alarm system signals.
     (4) "Burglar alarm system" means a device or an assembly of equipment and devices used to detect or signal unauthorized intrusion, movement, or exit at a protected premises, other than in a vehicle, to which police or private security guards are expected to respond.
     (5) "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.
     (6) "Classroom instruction" means instruction that takes place in a setting where individuals receiving training are seated and learn through lectures, study papers, class discussion, textbook study, or other means of organized formal education techniques, such as video, closed circuit, or other forms of electronic means, and as distinguished from on-the-job education or training.
     (7) "Commission" means the criminal justice training commission established in chapter 43.101 RCW.
     (((7))) (8) "Department" means the department of licensing.
     (((8))) (9) "Director" means the director of the department of licensing.
     (((9))) (10) "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 security guard.
     (((10))) (11) "Firearms certificate" means the certificate issued by the commission.
     (((11))) (12) "Licensee" means a person granted a license required by this chapter.
     (((12))) (13) "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.
     (((13))) (14) "Postassignment or on-the-job training" means training that occurs in either an assisted field environment or in a classroom instruction setting, or both.
     (15) "Preassignment training" means the classroom training completed prior to being assigned work independently.
     (16) "Principal corporate officer" means the president, vice- president, treasurer, secretary, comptroller, or any other person who performs the same functions for the corporation as performed by these officers.
     (((14))) (17) "Private security company" means a person or entity licensed under this chapter and engaged in the business of providing the services of private security guards on a contractual basis.
     (((15))) (18) "Private security guard" means an individual who is licensed under this chapter and principally employed as or typically referred to as one of the following:
     (a) Security officer or guard;
     (b) Patrol or merchant patrol service officer or guard;
     (c) Armed escort or bodyguard;
     (d) Armored vehicle guard;
     (e) Burglar alarm response runner; or
     (f) Crowd control officer or guard.
     (((16))) (19) "Qualifying agent" means an officer or manager of a corporation who meets the requirements set forth in this chapter for obtaining a license to own or operate a private security company.
     (((17))) (20) "Sworn peace officer" means a person who is an employee of the federal government, the state, a political subdivision, agency, or department branch of a municipality, or other unit of local government, and has law enforcement powers.

Sec. 2   RCW 18.170.100 and 1995 c 277 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The director shall adopt rules establishing preassignment or postassignment or on-the-job training and testing requirements((, which)). Eight hours of preassignment training is required, and shall include a minimum of four hours of ((classes)) classroom instruction and four hours of either classroom or on-the-job training, or both. A department certified trainer must report the preassignment training to the department. The director may establish, by rule, ((continuing education)) training requirements for private security guards.
     (2) Postassignment or on-the-job training must include a minimum of eight hours of training, of which four hours must be completed within six months from the date a private security guard license is issued by the director and four hours completed within twelve months from the date a private security guard license is issued by the department. Postassignment or on-the-job training must be in the topic areas established by the director and may occur either in a classroom setting or in the field, or both. A department certified trainer need not report postassignment or on-the-job training. However, a department-certified trainer must attest in writing that the training occurred. The number of postassignment training hours must be increased by one hour on January 1st of every year until January 1, 2011.
     (3) The director shall require companies to maintain records regarding the postassignment training hours completed by each employee. All such records are subject to inspection by the department. The training requirements and test results must be recorded and attested to as appropriate by a certified trainer.
     (4) The director shall consult with the private security industry and law enforcement before adopting or amending the ((preassignment)) training ((or continuing education)) requirements of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 18.170 RCW to read as follows:
     The director has the authority to negotiate reciprocity agreements with other states allowing licensed security officers from Washington to work in those other states.