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Provided By BSIS on December 24, 2021

The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (Bureau) woud like to inform you about recent changes made to the Firearms Training Manual and recently enacted legislation affecting those regulated under the Private Security Services Act.

Firearms Training Manual

The Bureau has updated the Firearms Training Manaul to replace the term “alien” with “immigration” pursuant to statutory changes enacted by Assembly Bill 1096 (Luz Rivas, Chapter 296, Statutes of 2021). Further, outdated statutes were replaced. Lastly, the Bureau’s logo was updated on the cover page.

The updated version will be available beginning on Friday, December 31, 2021. Please reach out to the Bureau via e-mail at Facilitiesandinstructors.dca@dca.ca.gov for a copy of the updated manual or download the updated manual from the Bureau’s website at www.bsis.ca.gov.   

Recently Enacted Legislation

Unless otherwise specified, the provisions of the enacted legislation go into effect on January 1, 2022. Applicable Business and Professions Code (BPC) provisions have been cited for reference. Please note, however, the BPC on the leginfo website will not be updated until January 1, 2022. To review the updated code sections prior to

January 1, 2022, please refer directly to the bill.

1. Senate Bill 607 (Min and Roth, Chapter 367, Statutes of 2021)

This bill requires an applicant for a firearms permit to pass the assessment required pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 7583.47 prior to submitting their application to the Bureau. As such, the Bureau is no longer required to deny the applicant a firearms permit for failing the assessment. Further, this bill specifies that the applicant must pass the assessment within the 6 months preceding the date the application is submitted to the Bureau. This bill would allow an applicant who has failed the assessment to retake the assessment no sooner than 180 days after the results of the previous assessment are provided to the Bureau. (Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 7583.22, 7583.23, 7583.24, 7583.29, and 7583.47.)

2. Assembly Bill 229 (Holden, Chapter 697, Statutes of 2021)

This bill:

1. Expands the power to arrest course and training in the carrying and use of firearms to include appropriate use of force topics, effective January 1, 2023. (Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 7583.5, 7583.6, 7583.7, and 7585.)
2. Clarifies that an armed (firearm or baton) security guard may only work for a licensed private patrol operator or a political subdivision of the state. (Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 7583.3 and 7587.9.)
3. Expands the circumstances under which a private patrol operator must submit a written report (incident report) to the Bureau, clarifies the report must be submitted within 7 business days, and increases the fine amount for failure to submit an incident report as required by law. (Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 7583.2 and 7587.8.)
4. Clarifies security guard training requirements and amends security guard and private patrol operator training record retention requirements. (Bus. & Prof. Code § 7583.6.)

3. Assembly Bill 830 (Flora, Chapter 376, Statutes of 2021)

This bill:

1. Prohibits a Bureau-certified firearms training instructor from certifying their own firearms permit application requirements. (Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 7583.23 and 7583.32.)
2. Authorizes the Bureau to automatically suspend a license that is not in good standing with the Secretary of State, Franchise Tax Board, or both, and authorizes the Bureau to reinstate the license once the license is in good standing and upon payment of the reinstatement fee. (Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 7587.11 and 7588.)
3. Clarifies what is to be included in an “endorsed verification of licensre.”
   (Bus. & Prof. Code § 7588.)

Department Wide Bills

1. Assembly Bill 107 (Salas, Chapter 693, Statutes of 2021)

This bill requires the Bureau to issue a temporary license to an applicant that is married to, or in a domestic partnership, or other legal union with an active duty member of the military who is assigned to a duty station in California if they meet a specified set of eligibility criteria, effective July 1, 2023. Further, this bill requires the Department of Consumer Affairs to submit an annual report to the Legislature containing specified information relating to the professional licensure of veterans, servicemembers, and their spouses and requires DCA to publish information pertinent to all licensing options available to military spouses on its home page. (Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 115.6, 115.8, and 115.9.)

2. Senate Bill 607 (Min and Roth, Chapter 367, Statutes of 2021)

This bill requires Department of Consumer Affairs’ boards and bureaus to waive the licensing fees for an applicant who is married to, or in a domestic partnership or other legal union with, an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is assigned to a duty station in this state under official active duty military orders and holds a current license in another state, district, or territory of the United States in the profession or vocation for which the applicant seeks a license, effective July 1, 2022. (Bus. & Prof. Code § 115.5.)

3. Assembly Bill 1096 (Luz Rivas, Chapter 296, Statutes of 2021)

Under current law, the term "alien" is used in various California Codes to refer to a person who is not a citizen or national of the U.S. This bill revises the term "alien" to instead refer to these persons using other terms that do not contain "alien." In the PI Act, PSS Act and Alarm Company Act the term is changed to "immigration.” (Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 7583.23, 7583.32, and 7585.8.)

For most recent updates about the Bureau please visit the Bureau's website at www.bsis.ca.gov.

Thank you.

Bureau of Security and Investigative Services