225 ILCS 447/5-10

(225 ILCS 447/5-10)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)

Sec. 5-10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Address of record" means the designated address recorded by the Department in the applicant's application file or the licensee's license file, as maintained by the Department's licensure maintenance unit.

"Advertisement" means any public media, including printed or electronic material, that is published or displayed in a phone book, newspaper, magazine, pamphlet, newsletter, website, or other similar type of publication or electronic format that is intended to either attract business or merely provide contact information to the public for an agency or licensee. Advertisement shall not include a licensee's or an agency's letterhead, business cards, or other stationery used in routine business correspondence or customary name, address, and number type listings in a telephone directory.

"Alarm system" means any system, including an electronic access control system, a surveillance video system, a security video system, a burglar alarm system, a fire alarm system, or any other electronic system that activates an audible, visible, remote, or recorded signal that is designed for the protection or detection of intrusion, entry, theft, fire, vandalism, escape, or trespass, or other electronic systems designed for the protection of life by indicating the existence of an emergency situation. "Alarm system" also includes an emergency communication system and a mass notification system.

"Applicant" means a person or business applying for licensure, registration, or authorization under this Act. Any applicant or person who holds oneself out as an applicant is considered a licensee or registrant for the purposes of enforcement, investigation, hearings, and the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

"Armed employee" means a licensee or registered person who is employed by an agency licensed or an armed proprietary security force registered under this Act who carries a weapon while engaged in the performance of official duties within the course and scope of the employee's employment during the hours and times the employee is scheduled to work or is commuting between the employee's home or place of employment.

"Armed proprietary security force" means a security force made up of one or more armed individuals employed by a commercial or industrial operation or by a financial institution as security officers for the protection of persons or property.

"Board" means the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Board.

"Branch office" means a business location removed from the place of business for which an agency license has been issued, including, but not limited to, locations where active employee records that are required to be maintained under this Act are kept, where prospective new employees are processed, or where members of the public are invited in to transact business. A branch office does not include an office or other facility located on the property of an existing client that is utilized solely for the benefit of that client and is not owned or leased by the agency.

"Canine handler" means a person who uses or handles a trained dog to protect persons or property or to conduct investigations.

"Canine handler authorization card" means a card issued by the Department that authorizes the holder to use or handle a trained dog to protect persons or property or to conduct investigations during the performance of the holder's duties as specified in this Act.

"Canine trainer" means a person who acts as a dog trainer for the purpose of training dogs to protect persons or property or to conduct investigations.

"Canine trainer authorization card" means a card issued by the Department that authorizes the holder to train a dog to protect persons or property or to conduct investigations during the performance of the holder's duties as specified in this Act.

"Canine training facility" means a facility operated by a licensed private detective agency or private security contractor agency wherein dogs are trained for the purposes of protecting persons or property or to conduct investigations.

"Corporation" means an artificial person or legal entity created by or under the authority of the laws of a state, including without limitation a corporation, limited liability company, or any other legal entity.

"Department" means the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

"Email address of record" means the designated email address recorded by the Department in the applicant's application file or the licensee's license file, as maintained by the Department's licensure maintenance unit.

"Emergency communication system" means any system that communicates information about emergencies, including but not limited to fire, terrorist activities, shootings, other dangerous situations, accidents, and natural disasters.

"Employee" means a person who works for a person or agency that has the right to control the details of the work performed and is not dependent upon whether or not federal or state payroll taxes are withheld.

"Fingerprint vendor" means a person that offers, advertises, or provides services to fingerprint individuals, through electronic or other means, for the purpose of providing fingerprint images and associated demographic data to the Illinois State Police for processing fingerprint based criminal history record information inquiries.

"Fingerprint vendor agency" means a person, firm, corporation, or other legal entity that engages in the fingerprint vendor business and employs, in addition to the fingerprint vendor licensee-in-charge, at least one other person in conducting that business.

"Fingerprint vendor licensee-in-charge" means a person who has been designated by a fingerprint vendor agency to be the licensee-in-charge of an agency who is a full-time management employee or owner who assumes sole responsibility for maintaining all records required by this Act and who assumes sole responsibility for assuring the licensed agency's compliance with its responsibilities as stated in this Act. The Department shall adopt rules mandating licensee-in-charge participation in agency affairs.

"Fire alarm system" means any system that is activated by an automatic or manual device in the detection of smoke, heat, or fire that activates an audible, visible, or remote signal requiring a response.

"Firearm control card" means a card issued by the Department that authorizes the holder, who has complied with the training and other requirements of this Act, to carry a weapon during the performance of the holder's duties as specified in this Act.

"Firm" means an unincorporated business entity, including but not limited to proprietorships and partnerships.

"Licensee" means a person or business licensed under this Act. Anyone who holds oneself out as a licensee or who is accused of unlicensed practice is considered a licensee for purposes of enforcement, investigation, hearings, and the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

"Locksmith" means a person who engages in a business or holds oneself out to the public as providing a service that includes, but is not limited to, the servicing, installing, originating first keys, re-coding, repairing, maintaining, manipulating, or bypassing of a mechanical or electronic locking device, access control or video surveillance system at premises, vehicles, safes, vaults, safe deposit boxes, or automatic teller machines.

"Locksmith agency" means a person, firm, corporation, or other legal entity that engages in the locksmith business and employs, in addition to the locksmith licensee-in-charge, at least one other person in conducting such business.

"Locksmith licensee-in-charge" means a person who has been designated by agency to be the licensee-in-charge of an agency, who is a full-time management employee or owner who assumes sole responsibility for maintaining all records required by this Act, and who assumes sole responsibility for assuring the licensed agency's compliance with its responsibilities as stated in this Act. The Department shall adopt rules mandating licensee-in-charge participation in agency affairs.

"Mass notification system" means any system that is used to provide information and instructions to people in a building or other space using voice communications, including visible signals, text, graphics, tactile, or other communication methods.

"Peace officer" or "police officer" means a person who, by virtue of office or public employment, is vested by law with a duty to maintain public order or to make arrests for offenses, whether that duty extends to all offenses or is limited to specific offenses. Officers, agents, or employees of the federal government commissioned by federal statute to make arrests for violations of federal laws are considered peace officers.

"Permanent employee registration card" means a card issued by the Department to an individual who has applied to the Department and meets the requirements for employment by a licensed agency under this Act.

"Person" means a natural person.

"Private alarm contractor" means a person who engages in a business that individually or through others undertakes, offers to undertake, purports to have the capacity to undertake, or submits a bid to sell, install, design, monitor, maintain, test, inspect, alter, repair, replace, or service alarm and other security-related systems or parts thereof, including fire alarm systems, at protected premises or premises to be protected or responds to alarm systems at a protected premises on an emergency basis and not as a full-time security officer. "Private alarm contractor" does not include a person, firm, or corporation that manufactures or sells alarm systems only from its place of business and does not sell, install, monitor, maintain, alter, repair, replace, service, or respond to alarm systems at protected premises or premises to be protected.

"Private alarm contractor agency" means a person, corporation, or other entity that engages in the private alarm contracting business and employs, in addition to the private alarm contractor-in-charge, at least one other person in conducting such business.

"Private alarm contractor licensee-in-charge" means a person who has been designated by an agency to be the licensee-in-charge of an agency, who is a full-time management employee or owner who assumes sole responsibility for maintaining all records required by this Act, and who assumes sole responsibility for assuring the licensed agency's compliance with its responsibilities as stated in this Act. The Department shall adopt rules mandating licensee-in-charge participation in agency affairs.

"Private detective" means any person who by any means, including, but not limited to, manual, canine odor detection, or electronic methods, engages in the business of, accepts employment to furnish, or agrees to make or makes investigations for a fee or other consideration to obtain information relating to:

(1) Crimes or wrongs done or threatened against the United States, any state or territory of the United States, or any local government of a state or territory.

(2) The identity, habits, conduct, business occupation, honesty, integrity, credibility, knowledge, trustworthiness, efficiency, loyalty, activity, movements, whereabouts, affiliations, associations, transactions, acts, reputation, or character of any person, firm, or other entity by any means, manual or electronic.

(3) The location, disposition, or recovery of lost or stolen property.

(4) The cause, origin, or responsibility for fires, accidents, or injuries to individuals or real or personal property.

(5) The truth or falsity of any statement or representation.

(6) Securing evidence to be used before any court, board, or investigating body.

(7) The protection of individuals from bodily harm or death (bodyguard functions).

(8) Service of process in criminal and civil proceedings.

"Private detective agency" means a person, firm, corporation, or other legal entity that engages in the private detective business and employs, in addition to the licensee-in-charge, one or more persons in conducting such business.

"Private detective licensee-in-charge" means a person who has been designated by an agency to be the licensee-in-charge of an agency, who is a full-time management employee or owner who assumes sole responsibility for maintaining all records required by this Act, and who assumes sole responsibility for assuring the licensed agency's compliance with its responsibilities as stated in this Act. The Department shall adopt rules mandating licensee-in-charge participation in agency affairs.

"Private security contractor" means a person who engages in the business of providing a private security officer, watchman, patrol, guard dog, canine odor detection, or a similar service by any other title or name on a contractual basis for another person, firm, corporation, or other entity for a fee or other consideration and performing one or more of the following functions:

(1) The prevention or detection of intrusion, entry, theft, vandalism, abuse, fire, or trespass on private or governmental property.

(2) The prevention, observation, or detection of any unauthorized activity on private or governmental property.

(3) The protection of persons authorized to be on the premises of the person, firm, or other entity for which the security contractor contractually provides security services.

(4) The prevention of the misappropriation or concealment of goods, money, bonds, stocks, notes, documents, or papers.

(5) The control, regulation, or direction of the movement of the public for the time specifically required for the protection of property owned or controlled by the client.

(6) The protection of individuals from bodily harm or death (bodyguard functions).

"Private security contractor agency" means a person, firm, corporation, or other legal entity that engages in the private security contractor business and that employs, in addition to the licensee-in-charge, one or more persons in conducting such business.

"Private security contractor licensee-in-charge" means a person who has been designated by an agency to be the licensee-in-charge of an agency, who is a full-time management employee or owner who assumes sole responsibility for maintaining all records required by this Act, and who assumes sole responsibility for assuring the licensed agency's compliance with its responsibilities as stated in this Act. The Department shall adopt rules mandating licensee-in-charge participation in agency affairs.

"Public member" means a person who is not a licensee or related to a licensee, or who is not an employer or employee of a licensee. The term "related to" shall be determined by the rules of the Department.

"Secretary" means the Secretary of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

(Source: P.A. 102-152, eff. 1-1-22; 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-309, eff. 1-1-24.)