S.B. 53 Enrolled

             1     

AMENDMENTS TO PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR

             2     
REGULATIONS

             3     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Margaret Dayton

             6     
House Sponsor: Keith Grover

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill modifies Title 53, Chapter 9, Private Investigator Regulation Act, and Title
             11      78B, Chapter 8, Part 3, Process Server Act, by amending provisions governing the
             12      licensing and requirements of private investigators.
             13      Highlighted Provisions:
             14          This bill:
             15          .    requires the Bureau of Criminal Identification to provide renewal notices to licensed
             16      private investigators;
             17          .    extends the time that a licensee can renew a license after expiration;
             18          .    modifies the experience requirements for licensure;
             19          .    requires that an applicant for a licensure renewal be a resident of the state;
             20          .    modifies license and registration fees;
             21          .    modifies the information a process server, including a private investigator when
             22      acting as a process server, is required to include in a return of service; and
             23          .    makes technical changes.
             24      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             25          None
             26      Other Special Clauses:
             27          None
             28      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             29      AMENDS:


             30           53-9-103 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 432
             31           53-9-108 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 432
             32           53-9-111 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 432
             33           78B-8-302 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 352
             34     
             35      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             36          Section 1. Section 53-9-103 is amended to read:
             37           53-9-103. Commissioner of Public Safety to administer -- Bureau to issue licenses
             38      -- Records -- Bonds -- Rulemaking.
             39          (1) The commissioner shall administer this chapter.
             40          (2) (a) The bureau, acting at the direction of the commissioner, shall issue a private
             41      investigator license to [any] an applicant whom the board finds meets the qualifications for
             42      licensure under this chapter.
             43          (b) The bureau shall issue a license to an apprentice applicant who meets the
             44      qualifications for licensure under this chapter within five business days of receipt of the
             45      application.
             46          (c) The bureau shall notify each licensee under this chapter when a licensee's license is
             47      due for renewal in accordance with procedures established by rule.
             48          (3) (a) The bureau shall keep records of:
             49          (i) all applications for licenses under this chapter; and
             50          (ii) all bonds and proof of certificates of liability and workers' compensation insurance
             51      required to be filed.
             52          (b) The records shall include statements as to whether a license or renewal license has
             53      been issued for each application.
             54          (4) If a license is revoked, suspended, canceled, or denied or if a licensee is placed on
             55      probation, the date of filing the order for revocation, suspension, cancellation, denial, or
             56      probation shall be included in the records.
             57          (5) The bureau shall maintain:


             58          (a) a list of all licensees whose license has been revoked, suspended, placed on
             59      probation, or canceled; and
             60          (b) a written record of complaints filed against licensees.
             61          (6) [The commissioner may make rules in] In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3,
             62      Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, [as necessary to administer this chapter] the
             63      commissioner may make rules governing the administration of the provisions of this chapter.
             64          Section 2. Section 53-9-108 is amended to read:
             65           53-9-108. Qualifications for licensure.
             66          (1) (a) An applicant under this chapter shall be at least 21 years of age and a legal
             67      resident of this state.
             68          (b) An applicant may not have been:
             69          (i) convicted of a felony;
             70          (ii) convicted of an act involving illegally using, carrying, or possessing a dangerous
             71      weapon;
             72          (iii) convicted of an act of personal violence or force on any person or convicted of
             73      threatening to commit an act of personal violence or force against another person;
             74          (iv) convicted of an act constituting dishonesty or fraud;
             75          (v) convicted of an act involving moral turpitude;
             76          (vi) placed on probation or parole;
             77          (vii) named in an outstanding arrest warrant; or
             78          (viii) convicted of illegally obtaining or disclosing private, controlled, or protected
             79      records as provided in Section 63G-2-801 .
             80          (c) If previously or currently licensed in another state or jurisdiction, the applicant shall
             81      be in good standing within that state or jurisdiction.
             82          (2) In assessing if an applicant meets the requirements under Subsection (1)(b), the
             83      board shall consider mitigating circumstances presented by an applicant.
             84          (3) (a) An applicant for an agency license shall have [completed]:
             85          (i) a minimum of 10,000 hours of investigative experience that consists of actual work


             86      performed as a licensed private investigator [or as], an investigator in the private sector, an
             87      investigator for the federal government, or an investigator for a state, county, or municipal
             88      government[.]; or
             89          (ii) if the applicant held a registrant license or an apprentice license under this chapter
             90      on or before May 1, 2010, a minimum of 2,000 hours of investigative experience that consists
             91      of actual work performed as a licensed private investigator, an investigator in the private
             92      sector, an investigator for the federal government, or an investigator for a state, county, or
             93      municipal government.
             94          (b) An applicant for a registrant license shall have [completed] a minimum of 2,000
             95      hours of investigative experience that consists of actual investigative work performed as a
             96      licensed private investigator [or as], an investigator in the private sector, an investigator for the
             97      federal government, [or] an investigator for a state, county, or municipal government, or a
             98      process server.
             99          (c) [Investigative] At least 2,000 hours of the investigative experience required under
             100      this Subsection (3) shall have been performed within 10 years immediately prior to the
             101      application.
             102          (d) An applicant shall substantiate investigative work experience required under this
             103      Subsection (3) by providing:
             104          (i) the exact details as to the character and nature of the investigative work on a form
             105      prescribed by the bureau and certified by the applicant's employers[.]; or
             106          (ii) if the applicant is applying for the reinstatement of an agency license, internal
             107      records of the applicant that demonstrate the investigative work experience requirement has
             108      previously been met.
             109          (e) (i) The applicant shall prove completion of the investigative experience required
             110      under this Subsection (3) to the satisfaction of the board and the board may independently
             111      verify the certification offered on behalf of the applicant.
             112          (ii) The board may independently confirm the claimed investigative experience and the
             113      verification of the applicant's employers.


             114          (4) An applicant for an apprentice license, lacking the investigative experience required
             115      for a registrant license, shall meet all of the qualification standards in Subsection (1), and shall
             116      complete an apprentice application.
             117          (5) An applicant for an agency or registrant license may receive credit toward the hours
             118      of investigative experience required under Subsection (3) as follows:
             119          (a) an applicant may receive credit for 2,000 hours of investigative experience if the
             120      applicant:
             121          (i) has an associate's degree in criminal justice or police science from an accredited
             122      college or university; or
             123          (ii) is certified as a peace officer; and
             124          (b) an applicant may receive credit for 4,000 hours of investigative experience if the
             125      applicant has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice or police science from an accredited
             126      college or university.
             127          (6) The board shall determine if the applicant may receive credit under Subsection (5)
             128      toward the investigative and educational experience requirements under Subsection (3).
             129          (7) An applicant for the renewal of a license under this chapter shall be a legal resident
             130      of this state.
             131          Section 3. Section 53-9-111 is amended to read:
             132           53-9-111. License and registration fees -- Deposit in General Fund.
             133          (1) Fees for licensure and renewal [shall be] are as follows:
             134          (a) for an original agency license application and license, [$200] $215, plus an
             135      additional fee for the costs of fingerprint processing and background investigation;
             136          (b) for the renewal of an agency license, [$100] $115;
             137          (c) for an original registrant or apprentice license application and license, [$100] $115,
             138      plus an additional fee for the costs of fingerprint processing and background investigation;
             139          (d) for the renewal of a registrant or apprentice license, [$50] $65;
             140          (e) for filing an agency renewal application more than 30 days after the expiration date
             141      of the license, a delinquency fee of [$50] $65;


             142          (f) for filing a registrant or apprentice renewal application more than 30 days after the
             143      expiration date of the registration, a delinquency fee of [$30] $45;
             144          (g) for the reinstatement of any license, [$50] $65;
             145          (h) for a duplicate identification card, [$10] $25; and
             146          (i) for the fingerprint processing fee, an amount that does not exceed the cost to the
             147      bureau charged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for fingerprint processing for the
             148      purpose of obtaining federal criminal history record information.
             149          (2) (a) The bureau may renew a license granted under this chapter:
             150          (i) to a resident of the state;
             151          (ii) upon receipt of a renewal application on forms as prescribed by the bureau; and
             152          (iii) upon receipt of the fees prescribed in Subsection (1).
             153          (b) (i) The renewal of a license requires the filing of all certificates of insurance or
             154      proof of surety bond as required by this chapter.
             155          (ii) Renewal of a license may not be granted more than [90] 180 days after expiration.
             156          (c) A licensee may not engage in [any] activity subject to this chapter during [any] the
             157      period between the date of expiration of the license and the renewal of the license.
             158          (3) (a) The bureau shall renew a suspended license if:
             159          (i) the period of suspension has been completed;
             160          (ii) the bureau has received a renewal application from the applicant on forms
             161      prescribed by the bureau; and
             162          (iii) the applicant has:
             163          (A) filed all certificates of insurance or proof of surety bond as required by this
             164      chapter; and
             165          (B) paid the fees required by this section for renewal, including a delinquency fee if the
             166      application is not received by the bureau within 30 days of the termination of the suspension.
             167          (b) Renewal of the license does not entitle the licensee, while the license remains
             168      suspended and until it is reinstated, to engage in [any] activity regulated by this chapter, or in
             169      [any] other activity or conduct in violation of the order or judgment by which the license was


             170      suspended.
             171          (4) The bureau may not reinstate a revoked license or accept an application for a
             172      license from a person whose license has been revoked for at least one year from the date of
             173      revocation.
             174          (5) All fees, except the fingerprint processing fee, collected by the bureau under this
             175      section shall be deposited in the General Fund.
             176          Section 4. Section 78B-8-302 is amended to read:
             177           78B-8-302. Process servers.
             178          (1) Complaints, summonses, and subpoenas may be served by [any] a person who is:
             179          (a) 18 years of age or older at the time of service[,]; and
             180          (b) [and who is] not a party to the action or a party's attorney.
             181          (2) Except as provided in Subsection (5), the following [persons] may serve all process
             182      issued by the courts of this state:
             183          (a) a peace officer employed by [any] a political subdivision of the state acting within
             184      the scope and jurisdiction of the peace officer's employment;
             185          (b) a sheriff or appointed deputy sheriff employed by [any] a county of the state;
             186          (c) a constable, or the constable's deputy, serving in compliance with applicable law;
             187          (d) an investigator employed by the state and authorized by law to serve civil process;
             188      and
             189          (e) a private investigator licensed in accordance with Title 53, Chapter 9, Private
             190      Investigator Regulation Act.
             191          (3) [Private investigators] A private investigator licensed in accordance with Title 53,
             192      Chapter 9, Private Investigator Regulation Act, may not [arrest anyone] make an arrest
             193      pursuant to a bench warrant.
             194          (4) While serving process, a private investigator shall:
             195          (a) have on the investigator's person a visible form of credentials and identification
             196      identifying:
             197          (i) the [person by] investigator's name;


             198          (ii) [the person as a] that the investigator is a licensed private investigator; and
             199          (iii) the name and address of the agency employing the investigator or, if the
             200      investigator is self-employed, the address of the investigator's place of business;
             201          (b) verbally communicate to the person being served that the investigator is acting as a
             202      process server; and
             203          (c) print on the first page of each document served:
             204          (i) the investigator's name and identification number as a private investigator; and
             205          (ii) the address and phone number for the investigator's place of business.
             206          [(4)] (5) Any service under this section [where] when the use of force is authorized on
             207      the face of the document, or when a breach of the peace is imminent[,] or likely under the
             208      totality of the circumstances, may only be served by:
             209          (a) a law enforcement officer, as defined in Section 53-13-103 ; or
             210          (b) a constable, as defined in Subsection 53-13-105 (1)(b)(ii).
             211          [(5)] (6) The following [persons] may not serve process issued by [the courts] a court:
             212          (a) a person convicted of a felony violation of an offense listed in Subsection
             213      77-41-102 (16); or
             214          (b) a person who is a respondent in a proceeding described in Title 78B, Chapter 7,
             215      Protective Orders, in which a court has granted the petitioner a protective order.
             216          [(6)] (7) A person serving process shall:
             217          (a) legibly document the date and time of service on the front page of the document
             218      being served;
             219          (b) legibly print the [person's] process server's name [and], address, and telephone
             220      number on the return of service; [and]
             221          (c) sign the return of service in substantial compliance with Section 78B-5-705 [.];
             222          (d) if the process server is a peace officer, sheriff, or deputy sheriff, legibly print the
             223      badge number of the process server on the return of service; and
             224          (e) if the process server is a private investigator, legibly print the private investigator's
             225      identification number on the return of service.


             226     


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