§ 45:19A-3 — Licensing of security officer companies; requirements.

3. a. No person shall engage in the business of a security officer company, or advertise or hold out a business to be a security officer company, unless the business is licensed by the superintendent as set forth in this section. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. b. An application to be licensed as a security officer company shall be submitted to the superintendent by each owner and operator of the company, on a form and in a manner prescribed by the superintendent, and shall contain the following information: (1) the full name, age, which shall be at least 25 years, and residence of the owners or operators of the security officer company; (2) the full and complete employment history of the owners or operators; (3) that the owners or operators have five years' law enforcement experience and are no longer employed by or attached in any capacity whatsoever to a law enforcement agency, or five years' experience working in a supervisory or management capacity for a licensed security officer company; provided, however, if a security officer company will be owned by a non-profit organization, only the operator or operators shall be required to have law enforcement experience or experience working for a licensed security officer company as set forth in this paragraph; (4) the municipality and location of the security company's principal place of business and any office, bureau, agency or subdivision of the company; and (5) such further information as the superintendent may require to show the good character, competency and integrity of the owners or operators of the security officer company. Each application shall be accompanied by the written approval, for each owner or operator of the security officer company, of not less than five reputable citizens who have known the applicant for at least three years preceding the date of application and who shall certify that the applicant is a person of good moral character and behavior. With regard to an application that is submitted by a security officer company that will be owned by a non-profit organization, to the extent applicable, the requirements set forth in this subsection shall be satisfied by the submission of information regarding an appropriate officer, director, member, or associate of the non-profit organization. Any person who shall knowingly make a false statement in or knowingly omit any material information from the application required by this subsection shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree in addition to any other crime or offense specified by law. c. No security officer company shall be licensed under the provisions of this section if any owner or operator of the company has been convicted, as indicated by a criminal history record background check performed pursuant to the provisions of this section, of: a crime of the first, second, third or fourth degree; any offense involving the unlawful use, possession or sale of a controlled dangerous substance as defined in N.J.S.2C:35-2; or any offense where the issuance of a license would be contrary to the public interest, as determined by the superintendent. The fingerprints of each owner or operator and the written consent of the owner or operator shall be submitted to the superintendent for a criminal history record background check to be performed. The superintendent shall compare these fingerprints with fingerprints on file with the State Bureau of Identification in the Division of State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation consistent with applicable State and federal laws, rules and regulations. The owner or operator shall bear the cost for the criminal history record background check, including all costs of administering and processing the check. d. The superintendent, when satisfied with the examination of any application and such further inquiry and investigations as he shall deem proper as to the good character, competency and integrity of the applicant, shall issue a license to an approved security officer company upon payment of a fee in an amount established by the superintendent by rule and regulation and execution of a bond in a manner, form and amount satisfactory to the superintendent as established by rule and regulation. The license shall be renewable every two years upon payment of a renewal fee in an amount established by the superintendent by rule and regulation. The license may be revoked or suspended by the superintendent for a violation of any of the provisions of this act or for other good cause. e. The revocation or suspension of any license by the superintendent shall be subject to notice and a hearing. f. A person who, as an owner or operator of a licensed security officer company employs a security officer who is not registered with the superintendent as required under section 4 of this act shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree in addition to any other crime or offense specified by law. Each violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense. Each owner and operator of a licensed security officer company shall be liable, accountable and responsible for the actions and conduct in connection with the employer's business of each security officer employed by the company. g. A security officer company shall require each person in its employ to execute and furnish a verified statement, to be known as an "employee's statement," which shall set forth the employee's full name, age, residence, place and date of birth and such other information as the superintendent shall require by rule or regulation. The security officer company shall retain in safe keeping each "employee's statement." The superintendent shall at all times be given access to and may from time to time examine each "employee's statement" retained by the security officer company as provided in this subsection. h. A security officer company shall immediately but in no case after 48 hours, notify the superintendent if a security officer is terminated for cause at any time. L.2004,c.134,s.3; amended 2023, c.320, s.2.