HB327 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arnold MooneyRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Alabama Private Investigation Regulatory Act, private investigator, fees clarified, qualifications, licensing, procedure and fee to reinstate inactive licenses, increase number of hours for continuing education, Secs. 34-25B-4, 34-25B-7, 34-25B-11, 34-25B-12, 34-25B-13, 34-25B-17, 34-25B-18, 34-25B-21, 34-25B-22, 34-25B-26 am'd.

Summary

HB 327 updates Alabama's Private Investigation Regulatory Act to clarify fees, strengthen licensure and background checks, allow inactive licenses with reinstatement rules, boost continuing education, and tighten penalties for unlicensed practice.

What This Bill Does

Clarifies which fees collected by the Private Investigation Board must go into the Board of Private Investigation Fund. Adds stricter licensure qualifications and requires criminal history background checks for applicants. Authorizes the board to grant inactive status to licensees and to set a rule-based process and fee for reinstatement to active status. Establishes penalties for practicing without a license, requires licensees to report arrests within 72 hours, and increases continuing education requirements.

Who It Affects

• Applicants for private investigator licensure and current licensees in Alabama will face stricter requirements (age 21+, no felony or moral turpitude convictions, background checks, board-approved exam at least twice yearly, and proof of apprenticeship/experience or related degree), plus a requirement to report arrests within 72 hours and higher continuing education standards.
• Businesses or individuals offering private investigator services who operate without a license would face administrative penalties, including fines up to $2,000 per violation and potential injunctions.

Key Provisions

• Creates and funds the Alabama Private Investigation Board Fund; all application, license, penalty, and related fees are deposited into this fund and used only to operate the board.
• Sets licensure qualifications: applicant must be at least 21, not be mentally incompetent, have no felony or adverse moral turpitude conviction, pass a board-approved exam (at least twice yearly), and provide proof of apprenticeship, investigative experience, or a related degree.
• Requires criminal history background checks for licensure applicants, including fingerprinting and FBI/state checks, with information shared with the board.
• Allows the board to grant inactive status to licensees and establish by rule the activities allowed for inactive status and the procedure and fee to reinstate to active status.
• Adds disciplinary remedies for unlicensed practice, including civil penalties up to $2,000 per violation and possible injunctions.
• Requires licensees to report arrests within 72 hours.
• Increases continuing education requirements to maintain licensure and directs the board to hold seminars (including ethics) and set related rules.
• Licenses are valid for two years, with renewal procedures, potential late fees, and display and address-change requirements; penalties and procedures around renewals are specified.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Private Investigators