The Senate Regulatory and Reform Committee reintroduced
legislation this past Wednesday that provides for the licensure and state
oversight of security guards and security guard agencies. The bills being
reintroduced are SB 161, SB 162, SB 163, and SB 164, with SB 161 providing the bulk of
the changes. SB 161 will establish licensure, the requirements to be licensed,
the insurance guards must carry, a background check for applicants, and
requirements for employee uniforms for security guards.
An amendment was added to SB 161, which calls for the
permission to administer testing or conduct personal interviews with
petitioners to go to the townships and villages; the original bill granted
exclusive permission for these functions to the Department of Licensing and
Regulatory Affairs.
SB 162 includes additional provisions requiring
applicants to have insurance that meets specific requirements, and remove
private security agencies and security guards from regulation under the Private
Security Business and Security Alarm Act. SB 163 allows certain security guard
agencies licensed under the Occupational Code to be exempt from the “system
provider” definition. SB 164 establishes fees for a licensed person, or seeking
licensure as either a security guard agency or branch office.
The package introduced last year cleared the Senate, but
did not make it through the House. Currently, all of the bills have received
unanimous approval aside from SB 164, which Senator Marty Knollenberg (R-Troy) opposed.
The Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police also opposed the package.