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2001 SESSION


CHAPTER 821
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 9-183.1, 9-183.2, and 9-183.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to private security services businesses.
[H 2519]
Approved April 4, 2001

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 9-183.1, 9-183.2, and 9-183.3 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 9-183.1. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Alarm respondent" means a natural person who responds to the signal of an alarm for the purpose of detecting an intrusion of the home, business or property of the end user.

"Armed" means a private security registrant who carries or has immediate access to a firearm in the performance of his duties.

"Armed security officer" means a security officer, as defined below, who carries or has immediate access to a firearm in the performance of his duties.

"Armored car personnel" means persons who transport or offer to transport under armed security from one place to another, money, negotiable instruments or other valuables in a specially equipped motor vehicle with a high degree of security and certainty of delivery.

"Board" means the Criminal Justice Services Board or any successor board or agency.

"Business advertising material" means display advertisements in telephone directories, letterhead, business cards, local newspaper advertising and contracts.

"Central station dispatcher" means a natural person who monitors burglar alarm signal devices, burglar alarms or any other electrical, mechanical or electronic device used to prevent or detect burglary, theft, shoplifting, pilferage or similar losses; used to prevent or detect intrusion; or used primarily to summon aid for other emergencies.

"Certification" means the method of regulation indicating that qualified persons have met the minimum requirements as private security services training schools, private security services instructors, compliance agents, unarmed security officers, electronic security employees, or electronic security technician's assistants.

"Compliance agent" means a natural person who owns or is employed by a licensed private security services business to ensure the compliance of the private security services business with this title.

"Courier" means any armed person who transports or offers to transport from one place to another documents or other papers, negotiable or nonnegotiable instruments, or other small items of value that require expeditious services.

"Department" means the Department of Criminal Justice Services or any successor agency.

"Electronic security business" means any person who engages in the business of or undertakes to (i) install, service, maintain, design or consult in the design of any electronic security equipment to an end user; (ii) respond to or cause a response to electronic security equipment for an end user; or (iii) have access to confidential information concerning the design, extent, status, password, contact list, or location of an end user's electronic security equipment.

"Electronic security employee" means a natural person who is employed by an electronic security business in any capacity which may give him access to information concerning the design, extent, status, password, contact list, or location of an end user's electronic security equipment.

"Electronic security equipment" means electronic or mechanical alarm signaling devices including burglar alarms or holdup alarms or cameras used to detect intrusions, concealment or theft.

"Electronic security equipment" shall not include tags, labels, and other devices which are attached or affixed to items offered for sale, library books, and other protected articles as part of an electronic article surveillance and theft detection and deterrence system.

"Electronic security sales representative" means a natural person who sells electronic security equipment on behalf of an electronic security business to the end user.

"Electronic security technician" means a natural person who installs, services, maintains or repairs electronic security equipment.

"Electronic security technician's assistant" means a natural person who works as a laborer under the supervision of the electronic security technician in the course of his normal duties, but who may not make connections to any electronic security equipment.

“Employed” means to be in an employer/employee relationship where the employee is providing work in exchange for compensation and the employer directly controls the employee’s conduct and pays some taxes on behalf of the employee. The term “employed” shall not be construed to include independent contractors.

"End user" means any person who purchases or leases electronic security equipment for use in that person's home or business.

"Firearms training verification" means the verification of successful completion of either initial or retraining requirements for handgun or shotgun training, or both.

“General public” means individuals who have access to areas open to all and not restricted to any particular class of the community.

"License number" means the official number issued to a private security services business licensed by the Department.

“Natural person” means an individual person.

"Person" means any individual, group of individuals, firm, company, corporation, partnership, business, trust, association, or other legal entity.

"Personal protection specialist" means any natural person who engages in the duties of providing close protection from bodily harm to any person.

"Private investigator" means any natural person who engages in the business of, or accepts employment to make, investigations to obtain information on (i) crimes or civil wrongs; (ii) the location, disposition, or recovery of stolen property; (iii) the cause of accidents, fires, damages, or injuries to persons or to property; or (iv) evidence to be used before any court, board, officer, or investigative committee.

"Private security services business" means any person engaged in the business of providing, or who undertakes to provide, armored car personnel, security officers, personal protection specialists, private investigators, couriers, security canine handlers, security canine teams, alarm respondents, central station dispatchers, electronic security employees, electronic security sales representatives or electronic security technicians and their assistants to another person under contract, express or implied.

"Private security services instructor" means any natural person certified by the Department to provide mandated instruction in private security subjects for a certified private security services training school.

"Private security services registrant" means any qualified natural person who has met the requirements under this article to perform the duties of alarm respondent, armored car personnel, central station dispatcher, courier, electronic security sales representative, electronic security technician, personal protection specialist, private investigator, security canine handler, or armed security officer.

"Private security services training school" means any person certified by the Department to provide instruction in private security subjects for the training of private security services business personnel in accordance with this article.

"Registration" means a method of regulation whereby certain personnel employed by a private security services business are required to obtain a registration from the Department pursuant to this article.

"Security canine" means a dog that has attended, completed, and been certified as a security canine by a certified security canine handler instructor in accordance with approved Department procedures and certification guidelines. "Security canines" shall not mean detector dogs.

"Security canine handler" means any natural person who utilizes his security canine in the performance of private security duties.

"Security canine team" means the security canine handler and his security canine performing private security duties.

"Security officer" means any natural person employed by a private security services business to (i) safeguard and protect persons and property or (ii) prevent theft, loss, or concealment of any tangible or intangible personal property on the premises contracted to protect.

"Supervisor" means any natural person who directly or indirectly supervises registered or certified private security services business personnel.

"Unarmed security officer" means a security officer who does not carry or have immediate access to a firearm in the performance of his duties.

§ 9-183.2. Exceptions.

The provisions of this article shall not apply to the following:

1. An officer or employee of the United States of America, or of this Commonwealth or a political subdivision of either, while the employee or officer is performing his official duties.

2. A person, except a private investigator as defined in § 9-183.1, engaged (i) exclusively in the business of obtaining and furnishing information regarding an individual's financial rating or (ii) a person engaged in the business of a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.

3. An attorney or certified public accountant licensed to practice in Virginia or his employees.

4. The legal owner of personal property which has been sold under any security agreement while performing acts relating to the repossession of such property.

5. A person receiving compensation for private employment as a security officer who is also a law-enforcement officer as defined by § 9-169 and employed by the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof.

6. Any person appointed under § 46.2-2003 or § 56-353 while engaged in the employment contemplated thereunder, unless they have successfully completed training mandated by the Department.

7. Persons who are regularly employed to investigate accidents or to adjust claims and who do not carry weapons in the performance of their duties conduct investigations as a part of the services being provided as a claims adjuster, by a claims adjuster who maintains an ongoing claims adjusting business, and any natural person employed by the claims adjuster to conduct investigations for the claims adjuster as a part of the services being provided as a claims adjuster.

8. Regular employees of persons engaged in other than the private security services business, where the regular duties of such employees primarily consist of protecting the property of their employers Any natural person otherwise required to be registered pursuant to § 9-183.3 who is employed by a business that is not a private security services business for the performance of his duties for his employer. Any such employee, however, who carries a firearm and is in direct contact with the general public in the performance of his duties shall possess a valid registration with this Department as provided in subsection B of § 9-183.3 the Department as required by this article. "General public" means individuals who have access to areas open to all and not restricted to any particular class of the community.

9. Persons, sometimes known as "shoppers," employed to purchase goods or services solely for the purpose of determining or assessing the efficiency, loyalty, courtesy, or honesty of the employees of a business establishment.

10. Licensed or registered private investigators from other states entering Virginia during an investigation originating in their state of licensure or registration when the other state offers similar reciprocity to private investigators licensed and registered by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

11. Unarmed regular employees of telephone public service companies where the regular duties of such employees consist of protecting the property of their employers and investigating the usage of telephone services and equipment furnished by their employers, their employers' affiliates, and other communications common carriers.

12. An end user.

13. A material supplier who renders advice concerning the use of products sold by an electronics security business and who does not provide installation, monitoring, repair or maintenance services for electronic security equipment.

14. Members of the security forces who are directly employed by electric public service companies.

15. Any professional engineer or architect licensed in accordance with Chapter 4 (§ 54.1-400 et seq.) of Title 54.1 to practice in the Commonwealth, or his employees.

16. Any person who only performs telemarketing or schedules appointments without access to information concerning the electronic security equipment purchased by an end user.

17. Any certified forensic scientist employed as an expert witness for the purpose of possibly testifying as an expert witness.

18. Members of the security forces who are directly employed by shipyards engaged in the construction, design, overhaul or repair of nuclear vessels for the United States Navy.

19. An out-of-state central station dispatcher employed by a private security services business licensed by the Department provided he (i) possesses and maintains a valid license, registration, or certification as a central station dispatcher issued by the regulatory authority of the state in which he performs the monitoring duties and (ii) has submitted his fingerprints to the regulatory authority for the conduct of a national criminal history records search.

20. Any person, or independent contractor or employee of any person, who (i) exclusively contracts directly with an agency of the federal government to conduct background investigations and (ii) possesses credentials issued by such agency authorizing such person, subcontractor or employee to conduct background investigations.

§ 9-183.3. Licensing and registration.

A. No person shall engage in the private security services business or solicit private security business in the Commonwealth without having obtained a license from the Department. No person shall be issued a private security services business license until a compliance agent is designated in writing on forms provided by the Department. The compliance agent shall assure the compliance of the private security services business with this article and shall meet the qualifications and perform the duties required by the regulations promulgated by the Board. A compliance agent shall have either a minimum of (i) three years of managerial or supervisory experience in a private security services business; with a federal, state or local law-enforcement agency; or in a related field or (ii) five years of experience in a private security services business; with a federal, state or local law-enforcement agency; or in a related field.

B. No person shall act as private security services training school or solicit students for private security training in the Commonwealth without being certified by the Department. No person shall be issued a private security services training school certification until a school director is designated in writing on forms provided by the Department. The school director shall ensure compliance of such school with the provisions of this article and shall meet the qualifications and perform the duties required by the regulations promulgated by the Board.

C. No person shall be employed by a licensed private security services business in the Commonwealth as armored car personnel, courier, armed security officer, security canine handler, private investigator, personal protection specialist, alarm respondent, central station dispatcher, electronic security sales representative or electronic security technician without possessing a valid registration issued by the Department, except as provided in this article.

D. A temporary license may be issued in accordance with Board regulations for the purpose of awaiting the results of the state and national fingerprint search. However, no person shall be issued a temporary license until (i) he has designated a compliance agent who has complied with the compulsory minimum training standards established by the Board pursuant to subsection A of § 9-182 for compliance agents, (ii) each principal of the business has submitted his fingerprints for a National Criminal Records search and a Virginia Criminal History Records search, and (iii) he has met all other requirements of this article and the regulations of the Board.

E. A temporary registration may be issued in accordance with Board regulations for the purpose of awaiting the results of the state and national fingerprint search. However, no person shall be issued a temporary registration until he has (i) complied with, or been exempted from the compulsory minimum training standards established by the Board, pursuant to subsection A of § 9-182, for armored car personnel, couriers, armed security officers, security canine handlers, private investigators, personal protection specialist, alarm respondents, central station dispatchers, electronic security sales representatives or electronic security technicians, (ii) submitted his fingerprints to be used for the conduct of a National Criminal Records search and a Virginia Criminal History Records search, and (iii) met all other requirements of this article and the regulations of the Board.

F. A temporary certification as a private security instructor or private security training school may be issued in accordance with Board regulations for the purpose of awaiting the results of the state and national fingerprint search. However, no person shall be issued a temporary certification as a private security services instructor until he has (i) met the education, training and experience requirements established by the Board and (ii) submitted his fingerprints to be used for the conduct of a National Criminal Records search and a Virginia Criminal History Records search. No person shall be issued a temporary certification as a private security services training school until (a) he has designated a training director, (b) each principal of the training school has submitted his fingerprints to be used for the conduct of a National Criminal Records search and a Virginia Criminal History Records search, and (c) he has met all other requirements of this article and the regulations of the Board.

G. A licensed private security services business in the Commonwealth shall not employ as an unarmed security officer, electronic security technician's assistant, unarmed alarm respondent, central station dispatcher, electronic security sales representative, or electronic security technician, any person who has not complied with, or been exempted from, the compulsory minimum training standards established by the Board, pursuant to subsection A of § 9-182, except that such person may be so employed for not more than ninety days while completing compulsory minimum training standards.

H. No person shall be employed as an electronic security employee, electronic security technician's assistant, unarmed alarm respondent, central station dispatcher, electronic security sales representative, electronic security technician or supervisor until he has submitted his fingerprints to the Department to be used for the conduct of a National Criminal Records search and a Virginia Criminal History Records search. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to an out-of-state central station dispatcher meeting the requirements of subdivision 19 of § 9-183.2.

I. The compliance agent of each licensed private security services business in the Commonwealth shall maintain documentary evidence that each private security registrant and certified employee employed by his private security services business has complied with, or been exempted from, the compulsory minimum training standards required by the Board and that an investigation to determine suitability of each unarmed security officer employee has been conducted, except that any such unarmed security officer, upon initiating a request for such investigation under the provisions of subdivision 11 of subsection A of § 19.2-389, may be employed for up to thirty days pending completion of such investigation.

J. No person with a criminal record of conviction for a misdemeanor involving (i) moral turpitude, (ii) assault and battery, (iii) damage to real or personal property, (iv) controlled substances or imitation controlled substances as defined in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2, (v) prohibited sexual behavior as described in Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2, or (vi) firearms, or any felony shall be (i) (a) employed as a registered or certified employee by a private security services business or training school or (ii) (b) issued a private security services registration, certification as an unarmed security officer, electronic security employee or technician's assistant, a private security services training school or instructor certification, compliance agent certification, or a private security services business license, except that, upon written request, the Director of the Department of Criminal Justice Services may waive such prohibition.

K. The Department may grant a temporary exemption from the requirement of a license, certification, or registration for a period of not more than thirty days in a situation deemed an emergency by the Department.

L. All private security services businesses and private security services training schools in the Commonwealth shall include their license or certification number on all business advertising materials.