Title 34 — Title 34

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Alabama Private Investigation Regulatory Act.” History: (Act 2013-306, p. 1021, §1.)

Records. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this article, it shall be unlawful for any individual to act as a private investigator or private investigator apprentice without first obtaining a license from the board. For prosecution purposes, a violation of this article is classi…

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), an application and all information on an application for licensure as a private investigator, private investigator apprentice, or private investigation agency shall be treated as confidential and shall be filed with the board on forms pre…

Each individual applicant for a license as a private investigator shall meet all of the following criteria: (1) Is at least 21 years of age. (2) Has successfully completed a criminal history background check based on criteria established by the board. (3) Has not been declared by…

(a) An individual may obtain a license as a private investigator apprentice and work under the supervision of a private investigator. (b) An applicant for a private investigator apprentice license shall meet all of the following criteria to obtain a license: (1) Be at least 18 ye…

(a) Upon receipt of an application for a license as a private investigator pursuant to this article, nonrefundable, nonprorateable application fees shall be submitted to the board by the applicant for both of the following services: (1) A request that the Alabama State Law Enforc…

(a) The board shall issue to every private investigator licensee and private investigator apprentice licensee an identification card, which shall be issued in credit card size, be permanently laminated, and contain all of the following information of the licensee: (1) Name. (2) P…

Making a false statement to the board shall be punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) and assessment of the maximum application fee. History: (Act 2013-306, p. 1021, §15.)

Upon receipt of an application and applicable fees, the board shall conduct an investigation to determine whether the statements made in the application are true. History: (Act 2013-306, p. 1021, §16.)

(a) All licenses issued or renewed under this article shall be valid for a period of two years from the month of issuance. The board shall mail to each licensee, at his or her address of record, a notice of renewal at least 60 days prior to the expiration of his or her license. A…

(a) The board may suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew any private investigator license issued by the board upon finding that the holder or applicant has committed any of the following acts: (1) A violation of this article or any rule adopted pursuant to this article. (2)…

License Fee Authorized. (a) No licensee or applicant shall be required to obtain any authorization or license from, or pay any other fee or post a bond in, any municipality, county, or other political subdivision of this state to engage in any activity regulated under this chapte…

As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) BOARD. The Alabama Private Investigation Board. (2) FELONY. A criminal offense that is defined and punishable under the laws of this state, or an offense committed outside the State of Alabama, which if…

The board may negotiate and enter into reciprocal agreements with the appropriate officials in other states to permit licensed investigators who meet or exceed the qualifications established in this chapter to operate in reciprocal states under mutually acceptable terms. History:…

The board shall routinely publish and update a copy of this article and any rules adopted under this article on the website of the board. History: (Act 2013-306, p. 1021, §21; Act 2023-397, §2.)

(a) The following acts when committed by an individual licensed as a private investigator or a private investigator apprentice, or employed by or contracting with a private investigation agency, shall constitute a violation punishable as a Class A misdemeanor: (1) To knowingly ma…

The Administrative Procedure Act shall govern all matters and procedures respecting the hearing and judicial overview of any contested case. History: (Act 2013-306, p. 1021, §23.)

This chapter does not apply to the following: (1) An employee of any business or entity that is not primarily engaged in the business of private investigation when that employee is performing duties related to his or her employment. (2) An investigation of the internal affairs of…

(a) There is created within the board a Division of Investigation that shall be the board’s official investigative agency. (b) Each licensee shall provide to the investigative division staff all records that pertain to the exact nature of the complaint under investigation and upo…

(a) Each private investigator licensee shall complete 16 hours of continuing professional education, including two hours of ethics instruction, acceptable to the board in each two-year renewable licensing period. (b) The board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this sect…

(a) Any person offering private investigation training must first be certified by the board. The board shall ensure that the instructors employed by the training provider possess both the experience and academic credentials to ensure that the curriculum and instruction will be be…

No criminal or civil action taken under this chapter precludes a prosecution or action under any other law of this state. History: (Act 2013-306, p. 1021, §28.)

The Alabama Private Investigation Board is subject to the provisions of the Alabama Sunset Law of 1981. The board shall automatically terminate on October 1, 2016, and every four years thereafter, unless a bill is passed that it be continued, modified, or reestablished. History: …

An individual may not practice private investigation or hold himself or herself out to the public as a private investigator or private investigator apprentice or use any term, title, or abbreviation that expresses, infers, or implies that the individual is licensed as a private i…

(a) There is created the Alabama Private Investigation Board. The appointing authorities shall coordinate their appointments to assure the membership of the board is inclusive and reflects the racial, gender, geographic, urban, rural, and economic diversity of the state. (b) Priv…

Members. (a) The board is declared to be a quasi-judicial body. Absent negligence, wantonness, recklessness, or deliberate misconduct, the members and the employees of the board are granted immunity from civil liability and may not be liable for damages when acting in the perform…

(a)(1) A business entity and its agents, officers, and employees, whether domiciled within or outside of this state, which employ or subcontract with private investigators, may not practice, advertise, or hold themselves out to the public as a private investigation agency without…

(a) Application for a license as a private investigation agency shall be made in writing to the board, on forms prescribed by the board, and shall include all of the following information: (1) The name of the applicant. (2) The business name and physical and email address of the …

(a) The board shall issue to each private investigation agency licensee a certification, which shall be at least 8″ x 10″ in size and shall contain the following information: (1) The name of the private investigation agency. (2) The physical address of the private investigation a…

(a) The board shall mail to each private investigation agency licensee a notice of renewal at least 60 days prior to the expiration of the license. An application for renewal shall be available for download by the licensee on the website of the board. A licensee shall report any …

The board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this article. History: (Act 2023-397, §4)

At the initial meeting of the board and each time a new member is appointed to the board, the members of the board shall select from among their members a chair to preside over meetings of the board and a vice chair to preside in the absence of the chair. History: (Act 2013-306, …

(a) There is created in the State Treasury for the use of the board a fund to be known as the Alabama Private Investigation Board Fund. All application and license fees, penalties, fines, and any other funds collected by the board related to private investigators, private investi…

of Ethics; Personnel; Legal Services. (a) The board may promulgate rules necessary to implement this chapter and accomplish its objectives subject to the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act. (b) The board may promulgate and establish canons of ethics and minimum acceptable profe…

(a) The board shall establish regular and special meetings for the purpose of transacting its business as provided by rules promulgated by the board. Notice of board meetings and meetings of the board shall comply with the Alabama Open Meetings Act. (b) A majority of the board sh…