12100525D Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1. That §§9.1-141 and 9.1-185.2 of the Code of Virginia are amended and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 6 of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2 a section numbered 18.2-60.5 as follows: §9.1-141. Powers of Board relating to private security services business. A. The Board may adopt regulations in accordance with the
Administrative Process Act (§2.2-4000 et seq.), establishing compulsory
minimum, entry-level, in-service, and advanced training standards for persons
employed by private security services businesses in classifications defined in
§9.1-138. The regulations may include provisions delegating to the Board's
staff the right to inspect the facilities and programs of persons conducting
training to ensure compliance with the law and Board regulations. In
establishing compulsory training standards for each of the classifications defined
in §9.1-138, the Board shall be guided by the policy of this section to secure
the public safety and welfare against incompetent or unqualified persons
engaging in the activities regulated by this section and Article 4 (§9.1-138
et seq.) B. The Board may enter into an agreement with other states for reciprocity or recognition of private security services businesses and their employees, duly licensed by such states. The agreements shall allow those businesses and their employees to provide and perform private security services within the Commonwealth to secure the public safety and welfare against incompetent, unqualified, unscrupulous, or unfit persons engaging in the activities of private security services businesses. C. The Board may adopt regulations in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (§2.2-4000 et seq.) to secure the public safety and welfare against incompetent, unqualified, unscrupulous, or unfit persons engaging in the activities of private security services businesses that: 1. Establish the qualifications of applicants for
registration, certification, or licensure under Article 4 (§9.1-138) 2. Examine, or cause to be examined, the qualifications of each applicant for registration, certification, or licensure, including when necessary the preparation, administration and grading of examinations; 3. Certify qualified applicants for private security training schools and instructors or license qualified applicants as practitioners of private security services businesses; 4. Levy and collect fees for registration, certification, or licensure and renewal that are sufficient to cover all expenses for administration and operation of a program of registration, certification, and licensure for private security services businesses and training schools; 5. Are necessary to ensure continued competency, and to prevent deceptive or misleading practices by practitioners and effectively administer the regulatory system adopted by the Board; 6. Receive complaints concerning the conduct of any person whose activities are regulated by the Board, to conduct investigations, and to take appropriate disciplinary action if warranted; and 7. Revoke, suspend or fail to renew a registration, certification, or license for just cause as enumerated in Board regulations. D. The Board shall adopt regulations in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (§2.2-4000 et seq.) concerning the use of electronic tracking devices pursuant to §18.2-60.5 by persons licensed as private investigators pursuant to this article. Such regulations shall only authorize a licensed private investigator to use an electronic tracking device to locate an individual known to be a fugitive from justice or to locate lost or stolen property or assets that have been awarded by a court. For purposes of this subsection, "electronic tracking device" means an electronic or mechanical device that permits a person to remotely determine or track the position and movement of another person. E. In
adopting its regulations under subsections A §9.1-185.2. Powers of the Criminal Justice Services Board relating to bail bondsmen. The Board shall have full regulatory authority and oversight of property and surety bail bondsmen. The Board shall adopt regulations that are necessary to ensure
respectable, responsible, safe and effective bail bonding within the
Commonwealth. The Board's regulations shall include but not be limited to
regulations that (i) establish the qualifications of applicants for licensure
and renewal under this article; (ii) examine, or cause to be examined, the
qualifications of each applicant for licensure, including when necessary the
preparation, administration, and grading of examinations; (iii) levy and
collect nonrefundable fees for licensure and renewal that are sufficient to
cover all expenses for administration and operation of a program of licensure;
(iv) ensure continued competency and prevent deceptive or misleading practices
by practitioners; (v) administer the regulatory system; (vi) provide for
receipt of complaints concerning the conduct of any person whose activities are
regulated by the Board; (vii) provide for investigations and appropriate
disciplinary action if warranted; (viii) establish standards for professional
conduct, solicitation, collateral received in the course of business, firearms
training and usage, uniforms and identification, documentation and
recordkeeping requirements, reporting requirements, and methods of capture for
the recovery of bailees; §18.2-60.5. Unauthorized use of electronic tracking device; penalty. A. Any person who installs, places, or uses an electronic tracking device through intentionally deceptive means and without consent, or causes an electronic tracking device to be installed, placed, or used through intentionally deceptive means and without consent, to track the location of any person is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. B. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the installation, placement, or use of an electronic tracking device by: 1. A law-enforcement officer, judicial officer, probation or parole officer, or employee of the Department of Corrections when any such person is engaged in the lawful performance of official duties and in accordance with other state and federal law; 2. The parent or legal guardian of a minor when tracking the minor; 3. A registered private investigator, as defined in §9.1-138, when acting in accordance with regulations established by the Criminal Justice Services Board, for the purposes of locating an individual known to be a fugitive from justice or locating lost or stolen property or other assets that have been awarded by a court; 4. A licensed bail bondsman, as defined in §9.1-185, when acting in accordance with regulations established by the Criminal Justice Services Board concerning the use of electronic tracking devices; or 5. The owner of fleet vehicles, when tracking such vehicles. C. For the purposes of this section: "Electronic tracking device" means an electronic or mechanical device that permits a person to remotely determine or track the position and movement of another person. "Fleet" means (i) one or more motor vehicles owned and operated by a single entity for business or government purposes, (ii) motor vehicles held for lease or rental to the general public, or (iii) motor vehicles held for sale by motor vehicle dealers. 2. That in adopting regulations concerning the use of electronic tracking devices by licensed private investigators as required by this act, the Criminal Justice Services Board shall consider any state or federal law, including any ruling by the Supreme Court of Virginia or the Supreme Court of the United States, limiting the use of electronic tracking devices by law-enforcement officers. Such regulations shall not allow licensed private investigators any greater authority to utilize an electronic tracking device without consent than may be exercised by law-enforcement officers when operating without a warrant. |