BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 921
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Date of Hearing: May 6, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
921 (Jones) - As Amended April 27, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY: This bill establishes a Private Investigator
Disciplinary Review Committee (DRC) within the Bureau of
Security and Investigative Services (Bureau) to review a request
of a licensee to contest an administrative fine or to appeal the
denial of a license, and authorizes an applicant to provide an
email address on their application, at his or her discretion.
AB 921
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FISCAL EFFECT:
Ongoing costs of approximately $47,000 annually (special funds)
to the Bureau for a half-time staff services analyst (SSA)
position and four hearings per year associated with the new DRC.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, this bill "would amend the
Private Investigator Act to require the establishment of a
disciplinary review committee DRC to which a licensed private
investigator could voluntarily opt into, to contest the
assessment of an administrative fine or to appeal a denial of
a license. This bill would save the Department of Consumer
Affairs (DCA) money, and would also save licensees time and
money if they chose to opt-in to the new disciplinary review
committee to resolve their situation."
2)Background. The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
(Bureau), which is housed within DCA, currently licenses about
380,000 companies and employees in the areas of alarm systems,
locks, private investigation, private security, repossession,
and firearm and baton training facilities. The Bureau issues
an average of 1,900 company licenses, 71,000 employee
registrations, and 12,000 Bureau firearm permits. In addition,
the Bureau renews an average of 9,500 company licenses,
105,000 employee registrations, and 11,500 Bureau firearm
permits each year. The Bureau regulates the Alarm Company Act,
Locksmith Act, Private Investigator Act, Private Security
Services Act, Proprietary Security Services Act, and the
Collateral Recovery Act.
There are three DRCs within Bureau. The Private Security
Services Act establishes two DRCs, and the Alarm Company Act
establishes one DRC. The DRCs provide their respective
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applicants and licensees an alternate path to appeal the
Bureau's decisions to deny, suspend, or revoke licenses, or
the assessment of administrative fines.
3)Current Legislation. AB 281 (Gallagher), also before this
Committee, would establish a DRC within the Collateral
Recovery Act for licensed repossessors.
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081