Illinois - CHAPTER 225. PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS
SERVICE AND SALES
PRIVATE DETECTIVE, PRIVATE ALARM, PRIVATE SECURITY, AND LOCKSMITH ACT OF 2004
ARTICLE 10. GENERAL LICENSING PROVISIONS (2006)
225 ILCS 447/10-5 (2006)
§ 225 ILCS 447/10-5. Requirement of license

Sec. 10-5. Requirement of license. (a) It is unlawful for a person to act as or provide the functions of a private detective, private security contractor, private alarm contractor, or locksmith or to advertise or to assume to act as any one of these, or to use these or any other title implying that the person is engaged in any of these activities unless licensed as such by the Department. An individual or sole proprietor who does not employ any employees other than himself or herself may operate under a "doing business as" or assumed name certification without having to obtain an agency license, so long as the assumed name is first registered with the Department.

(b) It is unlawful for a person, firm, corporation, or other legal entity to act as an agency licensed under this Act, to advertise, or to assume to act as a licensed agency or to use a title implying that the person, firm, or other entity is engaged in the practice as a private detective agency, private security contractor agency, private alarm contractor agency, or locksmith agency unless licensed by the Department.

(c) No agency shall operate a branch office without first applying for and receiving a branch office license for each location.

225 ILCS 447/10-20 (2006)
§ 225 ILCS 447/10-20. Application for license; forms

Sec. 10-20. Application for license; forms. (a) Each license application shall be on forms provided by the Department.

(b) Application for a license by endorsement shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 10-40 [225 ILCS 447/10-40].

(c) Every application for an original, renewal, or restored license shall include the applicant's Social Security number.

225 ILCS 447/10-25 (2006)
§ 225 ILCS 447/10-25. Issuance of license; renewal; fees

Sec. 10-25. Issuance of license; renewal; fees. (a) The Department shall, upon the applicant's satisfactory completion of the requirements set forth in this Act and upon receipt of the fee, issue the license indicating the name and business location of the licensee and the date of expiration.

(b) An applicant may, upon satisfactory completion of the requirements set forth in this Act and upon receipt of fees related to the application and testing for licensure, elect to defer the issuance of the applicant's initial license for a period not longer than 6 years. An applicant who fails to request issuance of his or her initial license or agency license and to remit the fees required for that license within 6 years shall be required to resubmit an application together with all required fees.

(c) The expiration date, renewal period, and conditions for renewal and restoration of each license, permanent employee registration card, and firearm authorization card shall be set by rule. The holder may renew the license, permanent employee registration card, or firearm authorization card during the 30 days preceding its expiration by paying the required fee and by meeting conditions that the Department may specify. Any license holder who notifies the Department on forms prescribed by the Department may place his or her license on inactive status for a period of not longer than 6 years and shall, subject to the rules of the Department, be excused from payment of renewal fees until the license holder notifies the Department, in writing, of an intention to resume active status. Practice while on inactive status constitutes unlicensed practice. A non-renewed license that has lapsed for less than 6 years may be restored upon payment of the restoration fee and all lapsed renewal fees. A license that has lapsed for more than 6 years may be restored by paying the required restoration fee and all lapsed renewal fees and by providing evidence of competence to resume practice satisfactory to the Department and the Board, which may include passing a written examination. All restoration fees and lapsed renewal fees shall be waived for an applicant whose license lapsed while on active duty in the armed forces of the United States if application for restoration is made within 12 months after discharge from the service.

(d) Any permanent employee registration card expired for less than one year may be restored upon payment of lapsed renewal fees. Any permanent employee registration card expired for one year or more may be restored by making application to the Department and filing proof acceptable to the Department of the licensee's fitness to have the permanent employee registration card restored, including verification of fingerprint processing through the Department of State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation and paying the restoration fee.

225 ILCS 447/10-35 (2006)
§ 225 ILCS 447/10-35. Examination of applicants; forfeiture of fee

Sec. 10-35. Examination of applicants; forfeiture of fee. (a) Applicants for licensure shall be examined as provided by this Section if they are qualified to be examined under this Act. All applicants taking the examination shall be evaluated using the same standards as others who are examined for the respective license.

(b) Examinations for licensure shall be held at such time and place as the Department may determine, but shall be held at least twice a year.

(c) Examinations shall test the amount of knowledge and skill needed to perform the duties set forth in this Act and be in the interest of the protection of the public. The Department may contract with a testing service for the preparation and conduct of the examination.

d) If an applicant neglects, fails, or refuses to take an examination within one year after filing an application, the fee shall be forfeited. However, an applicant may, after the one-year period, make a new application for examination, accompanied by the required fee. If an applicant fails to pass the examination within 3 years after filing an application, the application shall be denied. An applicant may make a new application after the 3-year period.


225 ILCS 447/10-40 (2006)
§ 225 ILCS 447/10-40. Licensure by endorsement

Sec. 10-40. Licensure by endorsement. The Department shall promulgate rules for licensure by endorsement without examination and may license under this Act upon payment of the fee an applicant who is registered or licensed under the laws of another state, territory, or country if the requirements for registration or licensure in the jurisdiction in which the applicant was licensed or registered were, at the date of his or her registration or licensure, substantially equal to the requirements then in force in Illinois and that state or country has similar requirements for licensure or registration by endorsement. Applicants have 3 years from the date of application to complete the application process. If the process has not been completed in 3 years, the application shall be denied, the fee forfeited, and the applicant must re-apply and meet the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.

225 ILCS 447/20-5 (2006)
§ 225 ILCS 447/20-5. Exemptions; private alarm contractor

Sec. 20-5. Exemptions; private alarm contractor. (a) The provisions of this Act related to the licensure of private alarm contractors do not apply to any of the following:

(1) A person who sells alarm system equipment and is not an employee, agent, or independent contractor of an entity that installs, monitors, maintains, alters, repairs, services, or responds to alarm systems at protected premises or premises to be protected if all of the following conditions are met:

(A) The alarm systems are approved either by Underwriters Laboratories or another authoritative entity recognized by the Department and identified by a federally registered trademark.

(B) The owner of the trademark has authorized the person to sell the trademark owner's products and the person provides proof to the Department of this authorization.

(C) The owner of the trademark maintains and provides, upon the Department's request, proof of liability insurance for bodily injury or property damage from defective products of not less than $ 1,000,000 combined single limit. The insurance policy need not apply exclusively to alarm systems.

(2) A person who sells, installs, maintains, or repairs automobile alarm systems.

(3) A licensed electrical contractor who repairs or services fire alarm systems on an emergency call-in basis or who sells, installs, maintains, alters, repairs, or services only fire alarm systems and not alarm or other security related electronic systems.

(b) Persons who have no access to confidential or security information and who otherwise do not provide security services are exempt from employee registration. Examples of exempt employees include, but are not limited to, employees working in the capacity of delivery drivers, reception personnel, building cleaning, landscape and maintenance personnel, and employees involved in vehicle and equipment repair. Confidential or security information is that which pertains to employee files, scheduling, client contracts, or technical security and alarm data.

225 ILCS 447/20-10 (2006)
§ 225 ILCS 447/20-10. Qualifications for licensure as a private alarm contractor

Sec. 20-10. Qualifications for licensure as a private alarm contractor. (a) A person is qualified for licensure as a private alarm contractor if he or she meets all of the following requirements:

(1) Is at least 21 years of age.

(2) Has not been convicted of any felony in any jurisdiction or at least 10 years have elapsed since the time of full discharge from a sentence imposed for a felony conviction.

(3) Is of good moral character. Good moral character is a continuing requirement of licensure. Conviction of crimes other than felonies may be used in determining moral character, but shall not constitute an absolute bar to licensure.

(4) Has not been declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be incompetent by reason of mental or physical defect or disease, unless a court has subsequently declared him or her to be competent.

(5) Is not suffering from dependence on alcohol or from narcotic addiction or dependence.

(6) Has a minimum of 3 years experience of the 5 years immediately preceding application working as a full-time manager for a licensed private alarm contractor agency or for an entity that designs, sells, installs, services, or monitors alarm systems that, in the judgment of the Board, satisfies the standards of alarm industry competence. An applicant who has received a 4-year degree or higher in electrical engineering or a related field from a program approved by the Board shall be given credit for 2 years of the required experience. An applicant who has successfully completed a national certification program approved by the Board shall be given credit for one year of the required experience.

(7) Has not been dishonorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States.

(8) Has passed an examination authorized by the Department.

(9) Submits his or her fingerprints, proof of having general liability insurance required under subsection (c), and the required license fee.

(10) Has not violated Section 10-5 of this Act [225 ILCS 447/10-5].

(b) A person is qualified to receive a license as a private alarm contractor without meeting the requirement of item (8) of subsection (a) if he or she:

(1) applies for a license between September 2, 2003 and September 5, 2003 in writing on forms supplied by the Department;

(2) provides proof of ownership of a licensed alarm contractor agency; and

(3) provides proof of at least 7 years of experience in the installation, design, sales, repair, maintenance, alteration, or service of alarm systems or any other low voltage electronic systems.

(c) It is the responsibility of the applicant to obtain general liability insurance in an amount and coverage appropriate for the applicant's circumstances as determined by rule. The applicant shall provide evidence of insurance to the Department before being issued a license. Failure to maintain general liability insurance and to provide the Department with written proof of the insurance shall result in cancellation of the license.

225 ILCS 447/20-15 (2006)
§ 225 ILCS 447/20-15. Qualifications for licensure as a private alarm contractor agency

Sec. 20-15. Qualifications for licensure as a private alarm contractor agency. (a) Upon receipt of the required fee and proof that the applicant has a full-time Illinois licensed private alarm contractor-in-charge, which is a continuing requirement for agency licensure, the Department shall issue a license as a private alarm contractor agency to any of the following:

(1) An individual who submits an application and is a licensed private alarm contractor under this Act.

(2) A firm that submits an application and all of the members of the firm are licensed private alarm contractors under this Act.

(3) A corporation or limited liability company doing business in Illinois that is authorized by its articles of incorporation or organization to engage in the business of conducting a private alarm contractor agency if at least one executive employee is licensed as a private alarm contractor under this Act and all unlicensed officers and directors of the corporation or limited liability company are determined by the Department to be persons of good moral character.

(b) No private alarm contractor may be the private alarm contractor-in-charge for more than one private alarm contractor agency. Upon written request by a representative of an agency, within 10 days after the loss of a licensed private alarm contractor-in-charge of an agency because of the death of that individual or because of the termination of the employment of that individual, the Department shall issue a temporary certificate of authority allowing the continuing operation of the licensed agency. No temporary certificate of authority shall be valid for more than 90 days. An extension of an additional 90 days may be granted upon written request by the representative of the agency. Not more than 2 extensions may be granted to any agency. No temporary permit shall be issued for loss of the licensee-in-charge because of disciplinary action by the Department related to his or her conduct on behalf of the agency.

(c) No private alarm contractor, private alarm contractor agency, or person may install or connect an alarm system or fire alarm system that connects automatically and directly to a governmentally operated police or fire dispatch system in a manner that violates subsection (a) of Section 15.2 of the Emergency Telephone System Act [50 ILCS 750/15.2]. In addition to the penalties provided by the Emergency Telephone System Act [50 ILCS 750/0.01 et seq.], a private alarm contractor agency that violates this Section shall pay the Department an additional penalty of $ 250 per occurrence.

225 ILCS 447/20-20 (2006)
§ 225 ILCS 447/20-20. Training; private alarm contractor and employees

Sec. 20-20. Training; private alarm contractor and employees. (a) Registered employees of the private alarm contractor agency who carry a firearm and respond to alarm systems shall complete, within 30 days of their employment, a minimum of 20 hours of classroom training provided by a qualified instructor and shall include all of the following subjects:

(1) The law regarding arrest and search and seizure as it applies to the private alarm industry.

(2) Civil and criminal liability for acts related to the private alarm industry.

(3) The use of force, including but not limited to the use of nonlethal force (i.e., disabling spray, baton, stungun, or similar weapon).

(4) Arrest and control techniques.

(5) The offenses under the Criminal Code of 1961 [720 ILCS 5/1-1 et seq.] that are directly related to the protection of persons and property.

(6) The law on private alarm forces and on reporting to law enforcement agencies.

(7) Fire prevention, fire equipment, and fire safety.

(8) Civil rights and public relations.

(b) All other employees of a private alarm contractor agency shall complete a minimum of 20 hours of training provided by a qualified instructor within 30 days of their employment. The substance of the training shall be related to the work performed by the registered employee.

(c) It is the responsibility of the employer to certify, on forms provided by the Department, that the employee has successfully completed the training. The form shall be a permanent record of training completed by the employee and shall be placed in the employee's file with the employer for the term the employee is retained by the employer. A private alarm contractor agency may place a notarized copy of the Department form in lieu of the original into the permanent employee registration card file. The form shall be returned to the employee when his or her employment is terminated. Failure to return the form to the employee is grounds for discipline. The employee shall not be required to complete the training required under this Act once the employee has been issued a form.

(d) Nothing in this Act prevents any employer from providing or requiring additional training beyond the required 20 hours that the employer feels is necessary and appropriate for competent job performance.

(e) Any certification of completion of the 20-hour basic training issued under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, and Locksmith Act of 1993 or any prior Act shall be accepted as proof of training under this Act.