This bill aims to alleviate the financial burden of licensing fees on private security guards by shifting the responsibility for these costs from the individual workers to their employers. Currently, private security guards must pay an initial licensing fee of $101 and an annual renewal fee of $95, which can be a significant barrier to entry and retention in the profession. The bill recognizes the essential role that private security guards play in public safety and seeks to promote fairness and stability within the workforce by requiring private security companies to cover these fees.

Key amendments include the requirement for private security companies to pay the application, license renewal, and endorsement fees for all their employees, while prohibiting them from deducting these costs from employees' wages. Additionally, the bill modifies existing licensing requirements by removing the fee payment as a condition for application and introduces a new section that imposes penalties on companies that violate these provisions. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 18.170.030, 18.170.040, 18.170.165
Substitute bill: 18.170.030, 18.170.040, 18.170.165