Assigned to CANR                                                                                                                             FOR COMMITTEE

 


 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1317

 

private investigator; business consultant exemption

 

Purpose

 

            Exempts a business consultant from obtaining a private investigators license when performing the activities of a private investigator while observing a business for the purpose of improving customer service.

 

Background

 

            Currently, any person other than an insurance investigator or a peace officer who, for any consideration, engages in business or accepts employment to furnish, or agrees to make, or makes, any investigation for the purpose of obtaining information with reference to the location, disposition, or recovery of lost or stolen property or to the identity, habits, conduct, business, occupation, honesty, integrity, or character of a person must be licensed as a private investigator.  Licensure of private investigators is administered by the Department of Public Safety and applicants must meet licensure requirements, including posting of a bond.

 

Many businesses, especially in the service area, utilize mystery shoppers to improve their customer service.  Mystery shoppers are business consultants hired by a company to observe interactions between customers and employees.  The services provided by mystery shoppers and other similar services often require the business consultants to be licensed as a private investigator.  This legislation exempts business consultants from private investigator licensure requirements.

 

There is no discernable fiscal impact to the general fund associated with this legislation.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Exempts a business consultant from the private investigator licensure requirement when employed in the course of observing a business for the purpose of improving customer service.

 

2.      Defines “business consultant.”

 

3.      Makes technical and conforming changes.

 

4.      Provides for a general effective date.

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

January 25, 2000