HB197 Alabama 2013 Session

Currently, the practice of private investigation is not regulated or licensed by the state

This bill would regulate and license the practice of private investigation by private investigators

This bill would define terms; create the Alabama Private Investigation Board and provide for its membership, meetings, officers, powers, and duties; and would prohibit persons from acting as a private investigator without a license, subject to criminal punishment as a Class A misdemeanor

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

Relating to the regulation of private investigation; to create the Alabama Private Investigation Board to regulate and license the practice of private investigation; to provide for the membership, terms, filling of vacancies, powers, including disciplinary powers, and duties of the board; to provide for the application for and licensure of private investigators; to establish the Alabama Private Investigation Board Fund within the State Treasury and to provide for an appropriation from the fund for fiscal years 2013 and 2014; to provide penalties; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.