Private Investigator Act.

The Private Investigator Act provides for the licensure and regulation of private investigators by the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. That act prohibits a person from engaging in the business of a private investigator, acting or assuming to act as a private investigator, or representing that the person is licensed as a private investigator unless that person is licensed by the department, and makes a violation of this provision punishable as an infraction, as specified. This bill would instead make a violation of that prohibition punishable as a misdemeanor. By making a violation of the above-described prohibition a misdemeanor instead of an infraction, this bill would result in a state-mandated local program. The Private Investigator Act requires, upon the issuance of a license, that a pocket card, as described, be issued by the bureau to each licensee, as specified, and provides that the pocket card is evidence that the licensee is licensed under the act. The act requires that the card contain the signature of the licensee and the signature of the Chief of the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. This bill would remove that signature requirement and would, on and after January 1, 2021, instead require an enhanced photo identification card to be issued upon the issuance of a license and each biennial renewal of a license, as specified, and would make conforming changes. The Private Investigator Act requires a licensee or qualified manager who carries a deadly weapon to comply with certain requirements relating to firearms and the powers to arrest that are specified in the Private Security Services Act. This bill would exempt a peace officer or a federal qualified law enforcement officer from those requirements provided the officer has completed a specified course of study, and the bill would also make nonsubstantive changes. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.