A. Licenses authorized to be issued by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) shall be as follows:
1. Security Agency License;
2. Investigative Agency License;
3. Private Investigator License (unarmed);
4. Security Guard License (unarmed);
5. Armed Security Guard License;
6. Special Event License (unarmed);
7. Armed Private Investigator License;
8. Bail Enforcer License; and
9. Armed Bail Enforcer License.
B. Any qualified applicant meeting the requirements for more than one of the positions of private investigator, security guard, armed security guard, bail enforcer, or armed bail enforcer may be issued a separate license for each position for which qualified, or in the discretion of the Council, a combination license provided the required license fees are paid.
C. 1. A private investigator may carry a firearm, if the private investigator also performs the functions of an armed security guard, under the authority of the armed security guard license.
2. If the private investigator performs no functions of an armed security guard, the Council may issue an armed private investigator license. If a person has been issued an armed private investigator license, the Council may issue an armed bail enforcer license if the applicant is otherwise eligible and qualified. The applicant for an armed private investigator license must complete Phase I, III and IV training and pass the psychological examination and state test; provided however, active certified peace officers and retired certified peace officers shall be exempt from the psychological examination as provided in Section 1750.3A of this title, and active certified peace officers of any state, county or municipal law enforcement agency in this state shall be exempt from the Phase I, III and IV training and state test for an armed private investigator. The Council will charge the same fee for the armed private investigators license as the cost of the armed security guard license; provided however, an active certified peace officer who is an applicant for an armed private investigator or armed security guard license shall be charged only twenty percent (20%) of the required fee.
3. Any person issued an armed private investigator license may carry a concealed or unconcealed firearm when on and off duty, provided the person is in possession of a valid driver license and a valid armed private investigator license.
4. Any person issued an armed bail enforcer license may carry a concealed approved pistol, or may open-carry an approved pistol with a visible bail enforcer badge affixed to the holster or belt immediately next to the firearm while wearing clearly marked apparel designating the person as a "Bail Enforcer" or "Bail Enforcement" when actively engaged in the recovery of a defendant, subject to all rules for use and conduct of firearms promulgated by the Council. An armed bail enforcer shall be permitted to carry a concealed pistol when not actively engaged in the recovery of a defendant provided the bail enforcer badge authorized or issued by CLEET and a state-issued driver license or identification card are in the possession of the person while carrying the firearm.
D. Any identification card or badge issued to a person meeting the license requirements for an armed security guard, an armed private investigator or armed bail enforcer shall be distinct and shall explicitly state that the person is authorized to carry a firearm pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Security Guard and Private Investigator Act or the Bail Enforcement and Licensing Act. Upon receipt of the license and identification card, the armed security guard, armed private investigator or armed bail enforcer is authorized to carry a firearm subject to the respective provisions of the Oklahoma Security Guard and Private Investigator Act or the Bail Enforcement and Licensing Act and the rules promulgated by the Council.
E. The Council may issue a conditional license to a person employed by a security or investigative agency under the conditions set forth in this subsection, this statute and procedures and/or rules established by CLEET. A conditional training license may be issued to a trainee for an unarmed security guard or unarmed private investigator position, or armed private investigator position when the person has submitted a properly completed application, made under oath, subject to the conditions set forth below. The Council may also issue a conditional license pending background investigation for an unarmed security guard, armed security guard, unarmed private investigator position or armed private investigator position when the person has submitted a properly completed application, made under oath, including all required documentation pending the completed Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint check subject to the conditions set forth below, in this statute and procedures established by CLEET.
1. A conditional license, either for training or pending background investigation, shall authorize employees to perform the same functions that regular unarmed licensees perform, but subject to supervision by the employing agency as the Council may prescribe;
2. The holder of a conditional training license shall complete the necessary training requirements within one hundred eighty (180) days from the effective date of the conditional license, after which the conditional license shall expire;
3. A holder of any type of conditional license as an armed security guard or armed private investigator shall not carry a firearm in the performance of duties until after completing the required course of training including firearms training as prescribed by the Council, the completion of the required background check and application process illustrating that the applicant meets all requirements for the requested license, and having been issued a regular license by the Council;
4. A conditional license may be renewed at the discretion of the Council, if necessary to allow an applicant to complete any training required for a regular license;
5. A conditional license, whether for training or pending background investigation may be denied, suspended or withdrawn at the discretion of CLEET. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, a conditional license is not an individual proceeding and is not subject to the Administrative Procedure Act, as provided for in Section 250 et seq. of Title 75 of the Oklahoma Statutes. CLEET may deny, suspend or withdraw a conditional license by mailing, by United States Postal Service mail, a letter of withdrawal to the applicant's address on file with CLEET and to the employing agency;
6. Whenever a conditional license is issued by CLEET, the license or documentation provided to the conditional licensee shall prominently state "CONDITIONAL LICENSE" and "HOLDER IS NOT PERMITTED TO CARRY A FIREARM";
7. When the Council finds that a conditional license holder has completed the required training and is otherwise qualified for a license pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Security Guard and Private Investigator Act, the Council shall issue a regular license; and
8. The Council shall be prohibited from issuing a conditional license to a bail enforcer under the Bail Enforcement and Licensing Act.
F. A Security Agency License may be issued to an individual, corporation, or other legal entity meeting the following qualifications:
1. If the license is to be issued in the name of a legal entity other than a natural person, the applicant must furnish proof that the entity is legally recognized, such as the issuance of a corporate charter; and
2. The executive officer, manager, or other person in charge of supervising security guards in the performance of their duties shall be a licensed security guard.
G. An Investigative Agency License may be issued to an individual, corporation, or other legal entity meeting the following qualifications:
1. If the license is to be issued in the name of a legal entity other than a natural person, the applicant must furnish proof that the entity is legally recognized, such as the issuance of a corporate charter;
2. Any person, otherwise qualified, may own a private investigation agency; and
3. A self-employed private investigator who employs no other investigators shall also be licensed as an investigative agency, but shall only be required to be insured or bonded as a self-employed private investigator.
H. A Security Guard License, Armed Security Guard License, Private Investigator License, Armed Private Investigator License, or combination thereof may be issued to an applicant meeting the following qualifications. The applicant shall:
1. Be a citizen of the United States or an alien legally residing in the United States;
2. Be at least eighteen (18) years of age, except that an applicant for an Armed Security Guard License or Armed Private Investigator License shall be at least twenty-one (21) years of age;
3. Have successfully completed training requirements for the license applied for, as prescribed by the Council;
4. Be of good moral character;
5. Not have a record of a felony conviction, entry of a plea of guilty, nolo contendere, an "Alford" plea, or any plea other than a not guilty plea in a felony case naming the applicant as a defendant;
6. Not have a record of conviction, entry of a plea of guilty, nolo contendere, an "Alford" plea, or any plea other than a not guilty plea for larceny, theft, false pretense, fraud, embezzlement, false personation of an officer, any offense involving moral turpitude, any offense involving a minor as a victim, any nonconsensual sex offense, any offense involving the possession, use, distribution, or sale of a controlled dangerous substance, any offense involving a firearm, or any other offense as prescribed by the Council, as provided herein.
7. Make a statement that the applicant is not currently undergoing treatment for a mental illness, condition, or disorder, make a statement whether the applicant has ever been adjudicated incompetent or committed to a mental institution, and make a statement regarding any history of illegal drug use or alcohol abuse. Upon presentation by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training of the name, gender, date of birth, and address of the applicant to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shall notify the Council within ten (10) days whether the computerized records of the Department indicate the applicant has ever been involuntarily committed to an Oklahoma state mental institution. In the event that the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services reports to the Council that the applicant has been involuntarily committed, the Council shall immediately inform the employing agency. For purposes of this subsection, "currently undergoing treatment for a mental illness, condition, or disorder" means the person has been diagnosed by a licensed physician or psychologist as being afflicted with a substantial disorder of thought, mood, perception, psychological orientation, or memory that significantly impairs judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to meet the ordinary demands of life and such condition continues to exist;
8. Make a statement regarding misdemeanor domestic violence charges;
9. Not be a defendant in a disqualifying charge that is pending in any court in this state, another state, tribal court or pursuant to the United States Code. For the purposes of this section, "pending" includes currently being subject to a deferred sentence; and
10. Not be the subject of an order deferring imposition of judgment and sentence in any court in this state, another state, tribal court or pursuant to the United States Code for a disqualifying charge.
I. A special event license may be issued to an employee of a security agency who is hired on a temporary basis as an unarmed security guard for a particular event. An application for a special event license shall be made by the agency employing the applicant. The agency shall certify to the Council that the applicant meets the qualifications for security guards, pursuant to subsection H of this section.
J. 1. All persons and agencies shall obtain and maintain liability coverage in accordance with the following minimum standards:
2. Liability coverages and bonds outlined in this section shall be in the minimum amounts of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) for agencies, Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) for armed security guards and armed private investigators, or combination armed license; and Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for unarmed security guards and self-employed unarmed private investigators who employ no other investigators.
3. Security agencies and investigative agencies shall ensure that all employees of these agencies have met the minimum liability coverages as prescribed in this section.
4. Insurance policies and bonds issued pursuant to this section shall not be modified or canceled unless ten (10) days' prior written notice is given to the Council. All persons and agencies insured or bonded pursuant to this section shall be insured or bonded by an insurance carrier or a surety company licensed in the state in which the insurance or bond was purchased, or in this state.
5. In lieu of the requirements of this subsection, the Council may accept a written statement from a corporation which is registered with the Oklahoma Secretary of State attesting that the corporation self-insures the general operation of business for the types of liability set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this subsection.
K. Upon written notice, any license may be placed on inactive status.
L. Similar or duplicate agency names will not be issued. Each agency name must be distinguishably different.
Added by Laws 1986, c. 224, § 5, operative July 1, 1987. Amended by Laws 1987, c. 193, § 5, eff. July 1, 1987; Laws 1988, c. 200, § 3, eff. July 1, 1988; Laws 1989, c. 225, § 2, emerg. eff. May 9, 1989; Laws 1993, c. 63, § 1, eff. July 1, 1993; Laws 1995, c. 357, § 6, eff. Nov. 1, 1995; Laws 1997, c. 226, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 1997; Laws 1998, c. 286, § 8, eff. July 1, 1998; Laws 1999, c. 415, § 8, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 2000, c. 6, § 13, emerg. eff. March 20, 2000; Laws 2001, c. 312, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2001; Laws 2005, c. 155, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2005; Laws 2007, c. 360, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2007; Laws 2013, c. 121, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2013; Laws 2013, c. 407, § 29, eff. Nov. 1, 2013; Laws 2014, c. 373, § 11, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2019, c. 246, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2019.
NOTE: Laws 1999, c. 68, § 1 repealed by Laws 2000, c. 6, § 33, emerg. eff. March 20, 2000.