House of Representatives

SB 1317

private investigator; business consultant exemption

Sponsor: Senator Bowers

X	Committee on Commerce
	Caucus and COW
	As Passed the House

SB 1317 exempts an efficiency consultant from the licensure requirements of the private investigator when the efficiency consultant is observing consumer purchases, products or services in the public business environment.

History

Current law defines a private investigator as a person, other than an insurance adjuster or an on-duty peace officer, who engages in the business of obtaining information with reference to a person’s identity, habits, conduct, movements, whereabouts, affiliations, transactions, reputation or character. The private investigator must have a license issued by the director of the Department of Public Safety.

Often businesses in the service area hire a person, sometimes known as a mystery shopper, to pose as a customer in order to observe and provide feedback on the service of a particular business or employee. The services provided by a mystery shopper or similar service often require the efficiency consultant to be licensed as a private investigator. SB 1317 exempts an efficiency consultant from private investigator licensure requirements.

Provisions

· Defines efficiency consultant.

· Adds efficiency consultant to the list of exceptions that define a private investigator.

· Exempts an efficiency consultant from the private investigator licensure requirements when observing consumer purchases of products or services in the public environments of a business establishment if that person does not engage in any other activity that requires a private investigator’s license.

· Makes a technical change.

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· 44th Legislature Analyst Initials _______

· Second Regular Session March 2, 2000

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