PRINTER'S NO. 819
No. 751 Session of 1973
INTRODUCED BY ARLENE, REIBMAN, SMITH, HANKINS, STAPLETON,
MURPHY, COPPERSMITH, NOSZKA, MESSINGER, MAZZEI, O'PAKE, ROSS,
LYNCH, NOLAN, DUFFIELD, MELLOW, LAMB, CIANFRANI, MURRAY,
McCREESH AND ORLANDO, MAY 2, 1973
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, MAY 2, 1973
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of August 21, 1953 (P.L.1273, No.361), entitled
2 "An act to regulate the business of private detectives,
3 investigators and watch, guard, or patrol agencies, and the
4 licensing thereof in each county; providing penalties,"
5 requiring certain licensees to successfully complete a
6 procedures training course and adding to the powers and
7 duties of the Commissioner of Pennsylvania State Police.
8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9 hereby enacts as follows:
10 Section 1. The act of August 21, 1953 (P.L.1273, No.361),
11 known as "The Private Detective Act of 1953," is amended by
12 adding a section to read:
13 Section 6.1. Procedures Training Course.--The commissioner
14 shall establish a private detective procedures training course.
15 The administration thereof shall be the responsibility of the
16 Pennsylvania State Police. The powers and duties of the
17 commissioner in connection therewith shall be as follows:
18 (1) To implement and administer the minimum courses of study
19 and training for private detectives, investigators, watchmen,
1 guards and patrolmen.
2 (2) To issue certificates of approval to schools approved by
3 the commissioner and to withdraw certificates of approval from
4 those schools disapproved by the commissioner.
5 (3) To certify instructors pursuant to the minimum
6 qualifications established by the commissioner.
7 (4) To implement and administer courses of study and in-
8 service training for private detectives, investigators,
9 watchmen, guards, and patrolmen, licensed before the effective
10 date of this act as established by the commissioner.
11 (5) To consult, and cooperate with, universities, colleges,
12 community colleges and institutes for the development of
13 specialized courses for private detectives, investigators,
14 watchmen, guards and patrolmen.
15 (6) To consult and cooperate with, departments and agencies
16 of this Commonwealth and other states and the Federal Government
17 concerned with similar training.
18 (7) To certify private detectives, investigators, watchmen,
19 guards, and patrolmen who have satisfactorily completed basic
20 educational and training requirements as established by the
21 commissioner and to issue appropriate certificates to such
22 persons.
23 (8) To visit and inspect approved schools at least once a
24 year.
25 (9) To make such rules and regulations and to perform such
26 other duties as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to
27 implement the education and training program for private
28 detectives, investigators, watchmen, guards, and patrolmen.
29 Section 2. Subsection (a) of section 13 of the act is
30 amended to read:
19730S0751B0819 - 2 -
1 Section 13. Employes.--(a) The holder of any license
2 certificate issued pursuant to this act may employ to assist him
3 in his work of private detective or investigator as described in
4 section 2 and in the conduct of such business as many persons as
5 he may deem necessary, and shall at all times during such
6 employment be legally responsible for the good conduct in the
7 business of each and every person so employed.
8 No holder of any unexpired license certificate issued
9 pursuant to this act shall knowingly employ in connection with
10 his or its business, in any capacity whatsoever, any person who
11 has not been certified as having successfully completed the
12 private detective procedures training course provided for in
13 this act or who has been convicted of a felony, or any of the
14 following offenses, and who has not, subsequent to such
15 conviction, received executive pardon therefor removing this
16 disability: (1) illegally using, carrying or possessing a pistol
17 or other dangerous weapon; (2) making or possessing burglar's
18 instruments; (3) buying or receiving stolen property; (4)
19 unlawful entry of a building; (5) aiding escape from prison; (6)
20 unlawfully possessing or distributing habit forming narcotic
21 drugs; (7) picking pockets or attempting to do so; (8)
22 soliciting any person to commit sodomy or other lewdness; or (9)
23 any person whose private detective or investigator's license was
24 revoked or application for such license was denied by the court
25 of quarter sessions or by the authorities of any other state or
26 territory because of conviction of any of the crimes or offenses
27 specified in this section.
28 Should the holder of an unexpired license certificate falsely
29 state or represent that a person is or has been in his employ,
30 such false statement or misrepresentation shall be sufficient
19730S0751B0819 - 3 -
1 cause for the revocation of such license. Any person falsely
2 stating or representing that he is or has been a detective or
3 employed by a detective agency shall be guilty of a misdemeanor,
4 and, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine
5 of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or to undergo
6 imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or both.
7 * * *
D3L50ML/19730S0751B0819 - 4 -