FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 6098

C 118 L 12

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Revising fingerprinting requirements for licensing of private investigators and private security guards.

Sponsors: Senators Rolfes, Hargrove, Fain and Kohl-Welles.

Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection

House Committee on Business & Financial Services

Background: The Department of Licensing (Department) regulates certain businesses and professions. Each regulated business and profession has a separate set of laws.

Private Investigator. Private investigators and private investigator agencies are regulated by the Department. A private investigator is an individual who is licensed by the Department and is employed by a private investigator agency for the purpose of investigations, escort or body guard services, or property loss prevention activities. A private investigator agency is a licensed person or entity engaged in the business of detecting, discovering, or revealing information. To obtain a private investigator license, an applicant must:

• be at least 18 years of age;

• be a citizen of the United States or a resident alien;

• not have been convicted of a crime in any jurisdiction, if the Department determines that the applicant's particular crime directly relates to the applicant's capacity to perform the duties of a private investigator;

• be employed by or have an employment offer from a licensed private investigator or be licensed as a private investigator agency;

• satisfy the training requirements established by the Department;

• submit a set of fingerprints;

• pay the required fee; and

• submit a fully completed application for each company of employment.

Private Security Guard. Private security guards and private security companies are regulated by the Department. A private security guard is an individual who is licensed by the Department and is principally employed as a security officer or guard, a patrol or merchant patrol service officer or guard, an armed escort or bodyguard, an armored vehicle guard, a burglar alarm response runner, or a crowd control officer or guard. A private security company is a licensed person or entity engaged in the business of providing the services of private security guards on a contractual basis. To obtain a private security guard license, an applicant must:

• be at least 18 years of age;

• be a citizen of the United States or a resident alien;

• not have been convicted of a crime in any jurisdiction, if the Department determines that the applicant's particular crime directly relates to the applicant's capacity to perform the duties of a private security guard;

• be employed by or have an employment offer from a licensed private security company or be licensed as a private security company;

• satisfy the training requirements established by the Department;

• submit a set of fingerprints;

• pay the required fee; and

• submit a fully completed application for each company of employment.

Summary: If an applicant for a private investigator license or a private security guard license has already been issued a license as a private security guard or a private investigator within the last 12 months, the applicant is not required to submit to a separate background check to become licensed.

Votes on Final Passage: