HB75 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arnold MooneyRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to the Alabama Private Investigation Regulatory Act; to designate as Article 1, Sections 34-25B-1 to 34-25B-29, inclusive, Code of Alabama 1975; to amend Sections 34-25B-2, 34-25B-3, 34-25B-4, 34-25B-7, 34-25B-10, 34-25B-11, 34-25B-12, 34-25B-13, 34-25B-14, 34-25B-17, 34-25B-18, 34-25B-21, 34-25B-22, and 34-25B-26 of the Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the Alabama Private Investigation Board; to add Section 34-25B-12.1 and add a new Article 2, commencing with Section 34-25B-50 to Chapter 25B, Title 34 of the Code of Alabama 1975; to require applicants for private investigator licenses to complete education and work experience; to clarify those fees collected by the board that must be deposited into the Alabama Private Investigation Board Fund; to provide further for the qualifications for licensure as a private investigator; to provide further for criminal history background checks for applicants for licensure; to authorize the board to grant inactive status to licensees and to provide, by rule, for a procedure and fee to reinstate an inactive license; to provide for administrative penalties against any person practicing without a license; to require licensees to report arrests to the board within 72 hours; and to clarify that the number of hours of continuing education required to maintain licensure is 16 hours during the two-year license period; to license private investigator apprentices and allow apprentices to gain work experience through an internship; to provide for licensure of apprentices as private investigators after completing certain requirements; and to provide for licensure of private investigation agencies that do business in the state; 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 Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.

Summary

HB75 creates a new Alabama Private Investigation Board and establishes licensure rules for private investigators, apprentices, and private investigation agencies with education, background checks, and ongoing requirements.

What This Bill Does

It designates Article 1 as the Alabama Private Investigation Board to license and regulate private investigators, apprentices, and agencies. It requires education and work experience for licensure, strengthens criminal history checks, and allows inactive licenses with a reinstatement path. It also creates a private investigator apprentice license with an internship, licenses private investigation agencies, and sets related fees and continuing education requirements.

Who It Affects

• Private investigators and private investigator apprentices in Alabama, who must meet new education/work experience criteria, pass background checks, maintain licenses, complete continuing education, report arrests, and possibly pursue inactive status or sponsor-based internships.
• Private investigation agencies doing business in Alabama, which must be licensed, meet sponsorship and recordkeeping requirements, display licenses and license numbers, and pay applicable fees to operate in the state.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Alabama Private Investigation Board to license private investigators, private investigator apprentices, and private investigation agencies, with funds deposited into the Alabama Private Investigation Board Fund.
• Sets licensure qualifications for private investigators: be at least 21, pass criminal history background checks, have no felony conviction or disqualifying moral turpitude, and pass exams; requires at least two years of combined education/training/experience including 120 hours of field experience.
• Establishes a private investigator apprentice license supervised by a licensed PI, with an internship not exceeding 300 hours, and a path to licensure after meeting specified internship and examination requirements; allows sponsorship by experienced PIs.
• Requires criminal history background checks for initial licensure and renewals, with fingerprinting and national checks as part of the process.
• Authorizes inactive status for licensees with a board-defined reinstatement process and fees; establishes penalties for practicing without a license.
• Imposes an arrest reporting requirement: licensees must report arrests to the board within 72 hours.
• Sets continuing education at 16 hours per two-year license period, including ethics training; requires at least one ethics-focused seminar annually where feasible.
• Licenses private investigation agencies that operate in Alabama; details license fees based on agency size and domicile, and requires display of license numbers on all marketing and client documents.
• Allows the board to impose administrative penalties, including civil penalties and potential license suspension, for violations by licensees or unlicensed entities advertising PI services.
• Requires the board to publish and maintain current rules and chapter text on its website and to provide forms and processes for renewals and applications.
• Creates Article 2 for private investigation agencies and Section 34-25B-50 governing agency licensing, including domestic and foreign entity provisions and ongoing reporting/renewal responsibilities.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.