Title: An act relating to security guard licenses.

Brief Description: Exempting guest services or crowd management employees from the requirements of chapter 18.170 RCW.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development (originally sponsored by Senator Delvin).

Brief History:

Commerce & Labor: 2/15/06, 2/22/06 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Conway, Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; Condotta, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Crouse, Holmquist, Hudgins, Kenney and McCoy.

Staff: Chris Cordes (786-7103).

Background:

The Department of Licensing (Department) regulates private security guards and private security guard businesses. A private security guard is an individual licensed under the private security guard licensing law and principally employed as:

• a security officer or guard;
• merchant patrol officer or guard;
• armed escort or bodyguard;
• armored vehicle guard;
• burglar alarm response runner; or
• crowd control officer or guard.

To be licensed as a private security guard, applicants must meet minimum requirements, including no criminal history related to the capacity to perform private security guard duties, and pay a license fee. After receiving an application for a license, the Department conducts a background investigation of the applicant, including fingerprint comparison.

The private security guard licensing law exempts:

• persons who perform private security guard duties for a private employer who is not in the private security guard business; and
• peace officers who are performing their official duties or who are engaged in off-duty employment as security guards.

Summary of Amended Bill:

Guest services and crowd management employees who do not perform the duties of a security officer are exempt from the licensing regulation that applies to private security guards. These exempt employees include ushers, ticket takers, parking lot attendants, and other similar employees as identified by Department of Licensing rules.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:

The amendment adds that "guest services or crowd management employees" include ushers, ticket takers, parking lot attendants, and other similar employees as identified by Department of Licensing rules.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For: The bill came about some years ago because of a crowd management company who raised issues regarding security guard licensing. In a meeting with the Department of Licensing, it was agreed that ticket takers, ushers, crowd managers, and other similar employees did not have to be licensed. This bill makes sure that the understanding that was reached is not forgotten and will not have to be renegotiated in the future.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Senator Delvin, prime sponsor.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.