HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2233
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. |
As Passed House:
January 31, 2018
Title: An act relating to temporary registration cards for private investigators.
Brief Description: Concerning temporary registration cards for private investigators.
Sponsors: Representative McDonald.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Business & Financial Services: 1/9/18, 1/10/18 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 1/31/18, 93-1.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & FINANCIAL SERVICES |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Kirby, Chair; Reeves, Vice Chair; Vick, Ranking Minority Member; Walsh, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Barkis, Bergquist, Blake, Jenkin, McCabe, Santos and Stanford.
Staff: Robbi Kesler (786-7153).
Background:
The Department of Licensing (Department) issues licenses for private investigators and private security guards. A private investigator is a person employed by a private investigator agency for purposes of investigation, escort or bodyguard services, or property loss prevention activities.
To obtain a license as a private investigator, an applicant must:
be at least 18 years old;
be a citizen or resident alien;
not have a criminal conviction related to the duties of private investigators or private security guards, respectively, that affects public safety;
be employed by, have an employment offer from, or be licensed as a private investigator agency or private security guard company, respectively;
submit a set of fingerprints;
pay a fee;
submit an application that includes identification; and
satisfy training requirements.
In addition to meeting the requirements to obtain a license as a private investigator, the applicant, or in the case of a partnership or limited partnership, each partner, or in the case of a corporation, the qualifying agent must meet the following additional requirements to obtain a private investigator agency license:
pass an examination, as determined by the Department, to measure knowledge and competence; or
have at least three years' experience in investigative work or its equivalent, as determined by the Department.
Summary of Bill:
A private investigator agency may issue a temporary registration card to prospective employees while a background check is being conducted and the licensing application is being processed. Temporary registration cards may be issued only after the employee has completed preassignment training and testing and initiated a fingerprint-based background check. The private investigator license application must be mailed to the Department within three business days after issuance of the temporary registration card.
The temporary registration card permits the applicant to perform the duties of a private investigator for the issuing private investigator agency and does not authorize the applicant to carry a firearm during the performance of those duties.
The temporary registration card must be surrendered to the private investigator agency upon receipt of a permanent license or notification from the Department that the permanent license is being withheld from the applicant.
The Department may suspend private investigator agencies' authority to issue temporary registration cards if the private investigator agency fails to comply. The Department may reinstate this authority after a minimum of one year.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) Private investigator agencies have difficulty hiring because of the lengthy licensing application process. It is difficult to gauge employee hiring needs knowing the application may take up to two months and also difficult to find employees that are able to wait that long, without a paycheck, before beginning to work as a private investigator. This temporary registration card is similar to the one allowed for security guards. Temporary licenses are available in many other fields. A temporary registration card is a simple fix to help these businesses provide more jobs.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative McDonald, prime sponsor; and Brian McDonald and Dan Greco, McDonald Services Incorporated.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.