HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5190

As Reported by House Committee On:

Commerce & Labor

Title:  An act relating to private investigator licenses.

Brief Description:  Providing photo identification for private investigators.

Sponsors:  By Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions (originally sponsored by Senators Winsley and Costa).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Commerce & Labor:  3/20/01, 3/30/01 [DPA].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

(As Amended by House Committee)

$Requires that license cards issued from the Department of Licensing to private investigators include picture identification.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Clements, Republican Co‑Chair; Conway, Democratic Co‑Chair; B. Chandler, Republican Vice Chair; Wood, Democratic Vice Chair; Hunt, Kenney, Lisk and McMorris.

Staff:  Jill Reinmuth (786‑7134).

Background:

The Department of Licensing licenses private investigators, and issues license cards to them.  A private investigator must carry the license card when performing his or her duties, and must exhibit the card upon request.  A private investigator may not use the license card as security clearance.

Summary of  Amended Bill:

License cards issued from the Department of Licensing to private investigators must include picture identification.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:

The effective date is changed to July 1, 2003.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  July 1, 2003.

Testimony For:  A picture identification would look more professional than the current license card.

Testimony Against:  Adding pictures to identification cards could make licensing fees double.  The Department of Licensing will need to change the standard license card to have space to accommodate the pictures.  Expenditures related to the private investigator licensing program already run very close to spending authority for the program.  Expenditures for adding pictures to licensing cards could be reduced by changing the effective date.

Testified:  (In support) Jack Avril, Washington Association of Legal Investigators.

(Opposed) Pat Brown, Department of Licensing; and Jeff Kirby, Washington State Security Council and Puget Sound Security.