BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2632
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Date of Hearing: May 4, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
2632 (Olsen) - As Amended April 18, 2016
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|Policy |Business and Professions |Vote:|16 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill adds persons employed by a media source who are
trained as investigative reporters and whose experience is
comprised of primary investigations, as defined, to the list of
qualifying activities for purposes of taking the Private
Investigators (PI) licensure examination.
FISCAL EFFECT:
1)Minor initial increase in revenue of $3,375 (special funds) to
the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, with an
AB 2632
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additional increase of $1,875 every two years for renewals due
to an increased number of qualified applicants.
2)Any costs associated with needed changes to the BreEZe system
will be minor and absorbable.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, this bill "will ensure that
the important work performed by investigative journalists will
not be overlooked when these individuals look to apply for
full licensure as private investigators." This bill adds
investigation journalism to the list of qualifying experiences
for purposes of the licensure exam.
2)Background. The Private Investigator Act provides for the
licensure and regulation of private investigators by the
Bureau of Security and Investigative Services within the
Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law provides that
applicants for the PI licensing exam must complete a minimum
of three years of investigation work (2,000 hours per year) in
specified investigatory work before being eligible to take the
licensing exam. According to the sponsor, the California
Association of Licensed Investigators, allowing investigative
journalism count as experience toward licensure requirements
has been inconsistently applied, in some cases permitted to
count while in other cases denied. This bill seeks to provide
a uniform standard by adding investigative journalism to the
list of qualifying experiences and specifying the types of
work and employment allowed.
AB 2632
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Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916)
319-2081