Brief Description: Regarding persons who perform crowd management or guest services.

Sponsors: Senators Delvin, Zarelli and McCaslin.

Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development
House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background: A private security guard is an individual who is licensed and principally employed as a security officer or guard, patrol guard, armed escort, armored vehicle guard, burglar response runner, or crowd control officer or guard. The Department of Licensing regulates private security guards and private security guard businesses.

The following persons are exempt from security guard licensing: a person who is employed exclusively or regularly by one employer and performs the duties of a private security guard; a sworn peace officer while engaged in the performance of the officer's official duties; and a sworn peace officer while employed to engage in off-duty employment as a private security guard.

Last session, the Legislature added guest services or crowd management employees who do not perform the duties of a private security guard to the list of those who are exempt from security guard licensing.

Summary: Under the exemptions for security guard licensing, a person performing crowd management or guest services includes, but is not limited to, a person described as a ticket taker, usher, door attendant, parking attendant, crowd monitor, or event staff who:

• does not carry a firearm or other dangerous weapon;
• does not wear a uniform; and
• does not have as his or her primary responsibility, the detainment of persons or placement of persons under arrest.

The bill requires that this exemption only apply when a crowd has assembled for the purpose of attending or taking part in an organized event, including pre-event assembly, event operation hours, and post-event departure activities.

"Primary responsibility" is defined as an activity that is fundamental to, and required or expected in, the regular course of employment and is not merely incidental to employment.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      48   0
House      94   0

Effective:   July 22, 2007