HB420 Summary

• Creates private investigator apprentice licenses allowing individuals to gain work experience through supervised internships, requiring 1,500 hours of training and 24 hours of continuing education within three years before qualifying for full licensure.

• Requires private investigation agencies operating in Alabama to obtain board licenses, with at least one officer holding an active private investigator license and one principal domiciled in the state.

• Establishes inactive license status allowing licensees to temporarily suspend operations while maintaining their license, with reinstatement procedures and fees set by board rule.

• Clarifies continuing education requirements as 16 hours during the two-year license period and establishes administrative penalties up to $1,000 per day for unlicensed practice.

• Expands qualifications for private investigator licensure to include criminal background checks, two years of qualifying experience or education, and specifies which board-collected fees deposit into the Board of Private Investigation Fund.