SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5845
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Labor, Commerce, Research & Development, February 20, 2007
Title: An act relating to security guard training.
Brief Description: Changing provisions affecting security guards.
Sponsors: Senators Keiser, Clements, Kohl-Welles, Franklin, Delvin and Prentice.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce, Research & Development: 2/13/07, 2/20/07 [DPS].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5845 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Keiser, Vice Chair; Clements, Ranking Minority Member; Franklin, Holmquist and Murray.
Staff: Sherry McNamara (786-7402)
Background: There are approximately 7,500 security guards licensed to work in Washington.
They are employed by 167 security guard businesses. A person must be licensed by the
Department of Licensing (DOL) to provide security guard services. DOL is required to adopt
rules establishing training and testing requirements for security guards.
Currently, training requirements include eight hours of preassignment training and eight hours
of postassignment training. The preassignment training must include a minimum four hours of
classroom instruction, and a minimum of four additional hours that may be of classroom training,
on-the-job training, or any combination of the two.
The postassignment training must be in the topic areas established by DOL and may occur in a
classroom setting, in the field, or in a combination of the two. The number of required
postassignment hours is to increase by one hour every year from 2005 until 2012.
A department-certified trainer is required to report the preassignment training to the department.
A department-certified trainer is not required to report postassignment or on-the-job training to
the department; however, he or she must attest in writing that the training occurred.
Security guard companies are required to maintain records regarding the postassignment training
hours completed by each employee.
Summary of Bill: New definitions are added for "department-certified trainer," "initial
postassignment training," "instruction," and "postassignment refresher training."
The Director of DOL is required to meet with interested parties to develop lists of suggested
preassignment, postassignment, and postassignment refresher training by rule.
A security company is required to administer at least eight hours of initial postassignment training
and it must be attested to by a department-certified trainer.
Following completion of the preassignment and postassignment training, a security guard must receive at least four hours of annual postassignment refresher training each subsequent year. Three hours of the postassignment refresher training must focus on emergency response concepts, skills, or topics.
EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY RECOMMENDED SUBSTITUTE AS PASSED COMMITTEE (Labor, Commerce, Research & Development): Time frames for when security guards need to complete post assignment training are added.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available
Committees/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: A broad coalition of representatives from the security guard industry, employees, unions and business came together to address the need for ongoing training for security guards. It is important to ensure that skills remain fresh over the life of a security guard's career. This bill will address the concern for on the job training and will shape the areas of training to meet the safety issues that exist today with a focus on homeland security and emergency response concepts. Recordkeeping on the number of hours and the type of training for each security guard has been streamlined and simplified. There are a couple of technical amendments.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Michael Transue, Pierce County Security Systems; Rachel Berkson, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) State Council; Rod Kaufman, Building Owners and Managers Association of Washington; Tammy Zoch, SEIU Local 6 member; Jeff Kirby, Washington State Security Council.