Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Business & Financial Services Committee |
HB 1767
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Concerning private security guards.
Sponsors: Representatives Fitzgibbon, Green, Ormsby, Hasegawa, Stanford and Kenney.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/10/11
Staff: Alison Hellberg (786-7152).
Background:
Private security guards and private security companies are regulated by the Department of Licensing (Department). A "private security guard" means 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 eighteen 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 his or her 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.
A licensee who transfers from one company to another must submit a transfer application to the Department along with a transfer fee.
All private security guards licensed after July 1, 2005 must complete 8 hours of preassignment and 8 hours of postassignment training. Preassignment training can be waived for an individual who was recently employed full time as a sworn peace officer within 5 years of application to be a security guard, and who passes the preassignment training examination. Following completion of the preassignment and postassignment training, private security guards are requires to complete at least 4 hours of annual refresher training.
The Director of the Department (Director) is required to meet with interested parties to develop lists of suggested preassignment, postassignment, and refresher trainings by rule.
Summary of Bill:
The requirement that private security guards be employed by a licensed security company in order to be licensed is removed and sections related to transfer applications and notifying the Department about certain events are repealed.
The Director is required to convene and consult with interested parties to develop a Washington State Private Security Training Manual and a required curriculum for preassignment, postassignment, and refresher trainings by rule. Preassignment training can be waived for an individual who was employed full time as a security guard within 5 years of application to be a security guard. In order to qualify for the waiver the indvidual must pass the preassignment training examination.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.