SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5190

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions, February 8, 2001

Title:  An act relating to private investigator licenses.

Brief Description:  Providing photo identification for private investigators.

Sponsors:  Senators Winsley and Costa.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions:  1/16/01, 2/8/01 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5190 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Benton, Fairley, Franklin, Hochstatter, Honeyford, Patterson, Rasmussen, Regala, West and Winsley.

Staff:  Elizabeth Mitchell (786‑7430)

Background:  The Department of Licensing issues license cards to all licensed private investigators.  Private investigators must carry this card with them while on the job, and must exhibit the card upon request.  Currently, the private investigator license card does not include picture identification.  Several other states include picture identification on private investigator license cards.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  License cards for private investigators must include picture identification.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Language stating that applicants must submit two color photographs is eliminated; a July 1, 2002 effective date is provided.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  July 1, 2002.

Testimony For:  A government‑issued picture identification would look more official than the current license card.

Testimony Against:  The Department of Licensing issues licenses, not picture identifications. Department costs would increase, and applicants would have to present their pictures in person to alleviate security concerns.

Testified:  Jack Avril, Washington Association of Legal Investigators (pro); Pat Brown, Department of Licensing (con).