Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29; Title 4, Chapter 3; Title 62, Chapter 11; Title 62, Chapter 26; Title 62, Chapter 27; Title 62, Chapter 32, Part 3 and Title 62, Chapter 35.

This bill redirects moneys collected pursuant to the Locksmith Licensing Act of 2006, Alarm Contractors Licensing Act of 1991, Private Investigators Licensing and Regulatory Act, and Private Protective Services Licensing and Regulatory Act into a new, separate account to be used to defray expenses associated with such regulatory programs (collectively referred to in this bill as the detection services licensing program). This bill abolishes the private investigation and polygraph commission and the state board for licensing alarm systems contractors, and transfers regulatory responsibility for licensees of such entities to the commissioner of commerce and insurance. Private Investigators This bill deletes a present law requirement that licensed investigations companies obtain licenses for each branch office. This bill also specifies that a licensed private investigator is not required to affiliate with a licensed investigations company. Alarm System Contractors Present law requires alarm system contractor employees who sell, install or repair alarm systems to have National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association Level 1 or equivalent training. This bill instead authorizes the commissioner to determine the training requirement for such persons. Under present law concerning alarm system contractors, a qualifying agent is a licensed individual who is qualified to oversee and supervise alarm systems contractor operations of any classification or combination of classifications. Present law requires an applicant for qualifying agent to meet the following combination of experience and educational requirements: (1) The applicant must hold a four-year baccalaureate degree in electrical engineering, industrial technology, computer engineering, or industrial engineering from an accredited university or college with at least two years actual experience in the alarm industry; (2) The applicant must hold an associate degree in engineering technology from an accredited two-year technical college with at least four years actual experience in the alarm industry; or (3) The applicant must hold current certification by a national training program in the field of work to be installed, serviced, or monitored and have at least five years of working experience in the alarm industry covering the actual installation of alarms. This bill replaces the educational and training criteria for a qualifying agent with the following: (1) The applicant must hold a post-high-school degree from an accredited university, college, or technical college approved by the commissioner; or (2) The applicant must hold a current certification by a national training program approved by the commissioner in the field of work to be installed, serviced, or monitored, and have at least three years of working experience in the alarm industry covering the actual installation of alarm systems. This bill deletes the present law that prohibits a qualifying agent from being the qualifying agent for more than one business location. This bill deletes the mandatory fine (minimum $1,000 and maximum $5,000 per occurrence) for any person, firm, or corporation that engages or offers to engage in alarm systems contracting without a certification or who violates the terms and conditions of any certification, license, or renewal of a certification or license. Advisory Committee This bill authorizes the commissioner to establish a detection services advisory committee to assist with the implementation of the detection services licensing program. The full text of this bill provides guidance for the commissioner in the establishment of an advisory committee.