SB0184 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 05342 RAS 35386 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SB0184

Introduced 2/2/2005, by Sen. Ira I. Silverstein

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

225 ILCS 447/10-25
225 ILCS 447/35-30
225 ILCS 447/40-10

Amends the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, and Locksmith Act of 2004. Authorizes the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to resubmit the fingerprints of an applicant for renewal or restoration of a license, permanent employee registration card, or firearm authorization card to the Department of State Police for the purpose of an updated criminal history check at the time of renewal or restoration. Prohibits a person who has a mental disability demonstrated by the entry of an order or judgment by a court that the person is in need of mental treatment or is incompetent from being issued a permanent employee registration card (now, prohibits a person who has been declared incompetent by any court of competent jurisdiction by reason of mental disease or defect and has not been restored from being issued a card). Prohibits a person who is not (i) a U.S. citizen, (ii) a permanent resident, or (iii) in legal possession of an authorization to work supplied by the Department of Homeland Security from being issued a permanent employee registration card. Adds the conviction in Illinois or another state of any 2 or more violent offenses towards persons or property to the list of occurrences that merit disciplinary sanctions.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, and Locksmith Act of 2004 is amended by changing Sections 10-25, 35-30, and 40-10 as follows:

(225 ILCS 447/10-25)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2014)

Sec. 10-25. Issuance of license; renewal; fees.

(a) The Department shall, upon the applicant's satisfactory completion of the requirements set forth in this Act and upon receipt of the fee, issue the license indicating the name and business location of the licensee and the date of expiration.

(b) An applicant may, upon satisfactory completion of the requirements set forth in this Act and upon receipt of fees related to the application and testing for licensure, elect to defer the issuance of the applicant's initial license for a period not longer than 6 years. An applicant who fails to request issuance of his or her initial license or agency license and to remit the fees required for that license within 6 years shall be required to resubmit an application together with all required fees.

(c) The expiration date, renewal period, and conditions for renewal and restoration of each license, permanent employee registration card, and firearm authorization card shall be set by rule. The holder may renew the license, permanent employee registration card, or firearm authorization card during the 30 days preceding its expiration by paying the required fee and by meeting conditions that the Department may specify. The Department may resubmit the fingerprints of an applicant for renewal or restoration to the Department of State Police for the purpose of an updated criminal history check at the time of renewal or restoration. Any license holder who notifies the Department on forms prescribed by the Department may place his or her license on inactive status for a period of not longer than 6 years and shall, subject to the rules of the Department, be excused from payment of renewal fees until the license holder notifies the Department, in writing, of an intention to resume active status. Practice while on inactive status constitutes unlicensed practice. A non-renewed license that has lapsed for less than 6 years may be restored upon payment of the restoration fee and all lapsed renewal fees. A license that has lapsed for more than 6 years may be restored by paying the required restoration fee and all lapsed renewal fees and by providing evidence of competence to resume practice satisfactory to the Department and the Board, which may include passing a written examination. All restoration fees and lapsed renewal fees shall be waived for an applicant whose license lapsed while on active duty in the armed forces of the United States if application for restoration is made within 12 months after discharge from the service.

(d) Any permanent employee registration card expired for less than one year may be restored upon payment of lapsed renewal fees. Any permanent employee registration card expired for one year or more may be restored by making application to the Department and filing proof acceptable to the Department of the licensee's fitness to have the permanent employee registration card restored, including verification of fingerprint processing through the Department of State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation and paying the restoration fee.

(Source: P.A. 93-438, eff. 8-5-03.)

(225 ILCS 447/35-30)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2014)

Sec. 35-30. Employee requirements. All employees of a licensed agency, other than those exempted, shall apply for a permanent employee registration card. The holder of an agency license issued under this Act, known in this Section as "employer", may employ in the conduct of his or her business employees under the following provisions:

(1) No person shall be issued a permanent employee registration card who:

(A) Is younger than 18 years of age.

(B) Is younger than 21 years of age if the services will include being armed.

(C) Has been determined by the Department to be unfit by reason of conviction of an offense in this or another state, other than a traffic offense. The Department shall adopt rules for making those determinations that shall afford the applicant due process of law.

(D) Has had a license or permanent employee registration card denied, suspended, or revoked under this Act (i) within one year before the date the person's application for permanent employee registration card is received by the Department; and (ii) that refusal, denial, suspension, or revocation was based on any provision of this Act other than Section 40-50, item (6) or (8) of subsection (a) of Section 15-10, subsection (b) of Section 15-10, item (6) or (8) of subsection (a) of Section 20-10, subsection (b) of Section 20-10, item (6) or (8) of subsection (a) of Section 25-10, subsection (b) of Section 25-10, item (7) of subsection (a) of Section 30-10, subsection (b) of Section 30-10, or Section 10-40.

(E) Has a mental disability demonstrated by the entry of an order or judgment by a court that a person is in need of mental treatment or is incompetent Has been declared incompetent by any court of competent jurisdiction by reason of mental disease or defect and has not been restored by the court.

(F) Has been dishonorably discharged from the armed services of the United States.

(G) Is not (i) a U.S. citizen, (ii) a permanent resident, or (iii) in legal possession of an authorization to work supplied by the Department of Homeland Security.

(2) No person may be employed by a private detective agency, private security contractor agency, private alarm contractor agency, or locksmith agency under this Section until he or she has executed and furnished to the employer, on forms furnished by the Department, a verified statement to be known as "Employee's Statement" setting forth:

(A) The person's full name, age, and residence address.

(B) The business or occupation engaged in for the 5 years immediately before the date of the execution of the statement, the place where the business or occupation was engaged in, and the names of employers, if any.

(C) That the person has not had a license or employee registration denied, revoked, or suspended under this Act (i) within one year before the date the person's application for permanent employee registration card is received by the Department; and (ii) that refusal, denial, suspension, or revocation was based on any provision of this Act other than Section 40-50, item (6) or (8) of subsection (a) of Section 15-10, subsection (b) of Section 15-10, item (6) or (8) of subsection (a) of Section 20-10, subsection (b) of Section 20-10, item (6) or (8) of subsection (a) of Section 25-10, subsection (b) of Section 25-10, item (7) of subsection (a) of Section 30-10, subsection (b) of Section 30-10, or Section 10-40.

(D) Any conviction of a felony or misdemeanor.

(E) Any declaration of incompetence by a court of competent jurisdiction that has not been restored.

(F) Any dishonorable discharge from the armed services of the United States.

(G) Any other information as may be required by any rule of the Department to show the good character, competency, and integrity of the person executing the statement.

(c) Each applicant for a permanent employee registration card shall have his or her fingerprints submitted to the Department of State Police in an electronic format that complies with the form and manner for requesting and furnishing criminal history record information as prescribed by the Department of State Police. These fingerprints shall be checked against the Department of State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history record databases now and hereafter filed. The Department of State Police shall charge applicants a fee for conducting the criminal history records check, which shall be deposited in the State Police Services Fund and shall not exceed the actual cost of the records check. The Department of State Police shall furnish, pursuant to positive identification, records of Illinois convictions to the Department. The Department may require applicants to pay a separate fingerprinting fee, either to the Department or directly to the vendor. The Department, in its discretion, may allow an applicant who does not have reasonable access to a designated vendor to provide his or her fingerprints in an alternative manner. The Department, in its discretion, may also use other procedures in performing or obtaining criminal background checks of applicants. Instead of submitting his or her fingerprints, an individual may submit proof that is satisfactory to the Department that an equivalent security clearance has been conducted. Also, an individual who has retired as a peace officer within 12 months of application may submit verification, on forms provided by the Department and signed by his or her employer, of his or her previous full-time employment as a peace officer.

(d) The Department shall issue a permanent employee registration card, in a form the Department prescribes, to all qualified applicants. The holder of a permanent employee registration card shall carry the card at all times while actually engaged in the performance of the duties of his or her employment. Expiration and requirements for renewal of permanent employee registration cards shall be established by rule of the Department. Possession of a permanent employee registration card does not in any way imply that the holder of the card is employed by an agency unless the permanent employee registration card is accompanied by the employee identification card required by subsection (f) of this Section.

(e) Each employer shall maintain a record of each employee that is accessible to the duly authorized representatives of the Department. The record shall contain the following information:

(1) A photograph taken within 10 days of the date that the employee begins employment with the employer. The photograph shall be replaced with a current photograph every 3 calendar years.

(2) The Employee's Statement specified in subsection (b) of this Section.

(3) All correspondence or documents relating to the character and integrity of the employee received by the employer from any official source or law enforcement agency.

(4) In the case of former employees, the employee identification card of that person issued under subsection (f) of this Section. Each employee record shall duly note if the employee is employed in an armed capacity. Armed employee files shall contain a copy of an active firearm owner's identification card and a copy of an active firearm authorization card. Each employer shall maintain a record for each armed employee of each instance in which the employee's weapon was discharged during the course of his or her professional duties or activities. The record shall be maintained on forms provided by the Department, a copy of which must be filed with the Department within 15 days of an instance. The record shall include the date and time of the occurrence, the circumstances involved in the occurrence, and any other information as the Department may require. Failure to provide this information to the Department or failure to maintain the record as a part of each armed employee's permanent file is grounds for disciplinary action. The Department, upon receipt of a report, shall have the authority to make any investigation it considers appropriate into any occurrence in which an employee's weapon was discharged and to take disciplinary action as may be appropriate.

(5) The Department may, by rule, prescribe further record requirements.

(f) Every employer shall furnish an employee identification card to each of his or her employees. This employee identification card shall contain a recent photograph of the employee, the employee's name, the name and agency license number of the employer, the employee's personal description, the signature of the employer, the signature of that employee, the date of issuance, and an employee identification card number.

(g) No employer may issue an employee identification card to any person who is not employed by the employer in accordance with this Section or falsely state or represent that a person is or has been in his or her employ. It is unlawful for an applicant for registered employment to file with the Department the fingerprints of a person other than himself or herself.

(h) Every employer shall obtain the identification card of every employee who terminates employment with him or her.

(i) Every employer shall maintain a separate roster of the names of all employees currently working in an armed capacity and submit the roster to the Department on request.

(j) No agency may employ any person to perform a licensed activity under this Act unless the person possesses a valid permanent employee registration card or a valid license under this Act, or is exempt pursuant to subsection (n).

(k) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (j), an agency may employ a person in a temporary capacity if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The agency completes in its entirety and submits to the Department an application for a permanent employee registration card, including the required fingerprint receipt and fees.

(2) The agency has verification from the Department that the applicant has no record of any criminal conviction pursuant to the criminal history check conducted by the Department of State Police. The agency shall maintain the verification of the results of the Department of State Police criminal history check as part of the employee record as required under subsection (e) of this Section.

(3) The agency exercises due diligence to ensure that the person is qualified under the requirements of the Act to be issued a permanent employee registration card.

(4) The agency maintains a separate roster of the names of all employees whose applications are currently pending with the Department and submits the roster to the Department on a monthly basis. Rosters are to be maintained by the agency for a period of at least 24 months.

An agency may employ only a permanent employee applicant for which it either submitted a permanent employee application and all required forms and fees or it confirms with the Department that a permanent employee application and all required forms and fees have been submitted by another agency, licensee or the permanent employee and all other requirements of this Section are met.

The Department shall have the authority to revoke, without a hearing, the temporary authority of an individual to work upon receipt of Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint data or a report of another official authority indicating a criminal conviction. If the Department has not received a temporary employee's Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint data within 120 days of the date the Department received the Department of State Police fingerprint data, the Department may, at its discretion, revoke the employee's temporary authority to work with 15 days written notice to the individual and the employing agency.

An agency may not employ a person in a temporary capacity if it knows or reasonably should have known that the person has been convicted of a crime under the laws of this State, has been convicted in another state of any crime that is a crime under the laws of this State, has been convicted of any crime in a federal court, or has been posted as an unapproved applicant by the Department. Notice by the Department to the agency, via certified mail, personal delivery, electronic mail, or posting on the Department's Internet site accessible to the agency that the person has been convicted of a crime shall be deemed constructive knowledge of the conviction on the part of the agency. The Department may adopt rules to implement this subsection (k).

(l) No person may be employed under this Section in any capacity if:

(1) the person, while so employed, is being paid by the United States or any political subdivision for the time so employed in addition to any payments he or she may receive from the employer; or

(2) the person wears any portion of his or her official uniform, emblem of authority, or equipment while so employed.

(m) If information is discovered affecting the registration of a person whose fingerprints were submitted under this Section, the Department shall so notify the agency that submitted the fingerprints on behalf of that person.

(n) Peace officers shall be exempt from the requirements of this Section relating to permanent employee registration cards. The agency shall remain responsible for any peace officer employed under this exemption, regardless of whether the peace officer is compensated as an employee or as an independent contractor and as further defined by rule.

(o) Persons who have no access to confidential or security information and who otherwise do not provide traditional security services are exempt from employee registration. Examples of exempt employees include, but are not limited to, employees working in the capacity of ushers, directors, ticket takers, cashiers, drivers, and reception personnel. Confidential or security information is that which pertains to employee files, scheduling, client contracts, or technical security and alarm data.

(Source: P.A. 93-438, eff. 8-5-03.)

(225 ILCS 447/40-10)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2014)

Sec. 40-10. Disciplinary sanctions.

(a) The Department may deny issuance, refuse to renew, or restore or may reprimand, place on probation, suspend, or revoke any license, registration, permanent employee registration card, or firearm authorization card, and it may impose a fine not to exceed $1,500 for a first violation and not to exceed $5,000 for a second or subsequent violation for any of the following:

(1) Fraud or deception in obtaining or renewing of a license or registration.

(2) Professional incompetence as manifested by poor standards of service.

(3) Engaging in dishonorable, unethical, or unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public.

(4) Conviction in Illinois or another state of (i) any crime that is a felony under the laws of Illinois; a felony in a federal court; a misdemeanor, an essential element of which is dishonesty; or directly related to professional practice; or (ii) any 2 or more violent offenses towards persons or property.

(5) Performing any services in a grossly negligent manner or permitting any of a licensee's employees to perform services in a grossly negligent manner, regardless of whether actual damage to the public is established.

(6) Continued practice, although the person has become unfit to practice due to any of the following:

(A) Physical illness, including, but not limited to, deterioration through the aging process or loss of motor skills that results in the inability to serve the public with reasonable judgment, skill, or safety.

(B) Mental disability demonstrated by the entry of an order or judgment by a court that a person is in need of mental treatment or is incompetent.

(C) Addiction to or dependency on alcohol or drugs that is likely to endanger the public. If the Department has reasonable cause to believe that a person is addicted to or dependent on alcohol or drugs that may endanger the public, the Department may require the person to undergo an examination to determine the extent of the addiction or dependency.

(7) Receiving, directly or indirectly, compensation for any services not rendered.

(8) Willfully deceiving or defrauding the public on a material matter.

(9) Failing to account for or remit any moneys or documents coming into the licensee's possession that belong to another person or entity.

(10) Discipline by another United States jurisdiction or foreign nation, if at least one of the grounds for the discipline is the same or substantially equivalent to those set forth in this Act.

(11) Giving differential treatment to a person that is to that person's detriment because of race, color, creed, sex, religion, or national origin.

(12) Engaging in false or misleading advertising.

(13) Aiding, assisting, or willingly permitting another person to violate this Act or rules promulgated under it.

(14) Performing and charging for services without authorization to do so from the person or entity serviced.

(15) Directly or indirectly offering or accepting any benefit to or from any employee, agent, or fiduciary without the consent of the latter's employer or principal with intent to or the understanding that this action will influence his or her conduct in relation to his or her employer's or principal's affairs.

(16) Violation of any disciplinary order imposed on a licensee by the Department.

(17) Failing to comply with any provision of this Act or rule promulgated under it.

(18) Conducting an agency without a valid license.

(19) Revealing confidential information, except as required by law, including but not limited to information available under Section 2-123 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

(20) Failing to make available to the Department, upon request, any books, records, or forms required by this Act.

(21) Failing, within 30 days, to respond to a written request for information from the Department.

(22) Failing to provide employment information or experience information required by the Department regarding an applicant for licensure.

(23) Failing to make available to the Department at the time of the request any indicia of licensure or registration issued under this Act.

(24) Purporting to be a licensee-in-charge of an agency without active participation in the agency.

(b) The Department shall seek to be consistent in the application of disciplinary sanctions.

(Source: P.A. 93-438, eff. 8-5-03.)