(a) Commencing on May 21, 2009, any security guard, armed security guard, or contract security company providing private security services in this state shall apply to the board for a license. Any security guard, armed security guard, or contract security company providing security services in this state before May 21, 2009, may continue to engage in business operations pending a final determination by the board, provided such security guard, armed security guard, or contract security company files an application for license. This chapter shall not abrogate the terms of a contract existing on May 21, 2009.

(b) An application for licensure shall include all of the following information:

(1) The full name, home address, post office box, and actual street address of the business of the applicant.

(2) The name under which the applicant intends to do business.

(3) The full name and address of any partners in the business, principal officers, directors, and business manager, if applicable.

(4) The names of at least three unrelated and disinterested persons to be used as references for board inquiries regarding the character, standing, and reputation of the applicant.

(5) Such other information, evidence, statements, or documents as may be required by the board.

(c)(1) A contract security company applying for a license shall include proof that the business entity has at least one person in its employ serving as a qualifying agent who is licensed by the board as a security guard that, in addition to meeting the requirements of subsection (d), possesses three years of experience as a manager, supervisor, or administrator with a contract security company or possesses three years of supervisory experience with any federal, military, state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency.

(2) No person may serve as the qualifying agent for more than one contract security company without prior written approval of the board.

(3) A contract security company shall notify the board within 10 working days if the qualifying agent for the company ceases to perform his or her duties as qualifying agent and shall obtain a substitute qualifying agent within 30 days after the original qualifying agent ceases to serve. The board may grant an extension to the company for good cause, for not more than three months.

(d) Every applicant for licensure shall provide the following to the board:

(1) Proof that the applicant is 21 years of age or older, or 18 years of age if the person is not allowed to carry any type of firearm in the course of his or her employment with the contract security company.

(2) Proof that the applicant is a citizen of the United States or, if not a citizen of the United States, a person who is legally present in the United States with appropriate documentation from the federal government.

(3) A statement of the applicant, made under oath, declaring all of the following:

a. That he or she has never been convicted in any jurisdiction of the United States of any felony or crime involving moral turpitude for which a full pardon has not been granted.

b. That he or she has never been declared, by any court of competent jurisdiction, incompetent by reason of mental defect or disease, and competency has not been restored.

c. That he or she is not suffering from habitual drunkenness or from narcotics addiction or dependence. The board may require certified results of medical tests for drug or alcohol use.

(e) In addition to the requirements of subsection (d), an applicant for certification or renewal shall submit to the board a form, sworn to by the applicant, containing the name, date of birth, and Social Security number for completion of a criminal history background check. The applicant shall submit two complete sets of fingerprints to the board. The board shall submit the fingerprints to the Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI) for a state criminal history record check. The fingerprints shall be forwarded by the ABI to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for a national criminal history record check. Costs associated with conducting a criminal history background check shall be borne by the applicant. The board shall keep information received pursuant to this section confidential, except that such information received and relied upon in denying the issuance of a certificate of qualification for a license to a security officer in this state may be disclosed if necessary to support the denial.

(f) Applications for licensure shall be filed with the board on a form developed by the board. The board shall prescribe the procedures and methods of submission, consideration, and disposition of applications. An applicant corporation incorporated under the laws of this state or any other state shall be required to qualify with a certificate of authority issued by the Secretary of State and shall designate an agent for service of process. The applicant shall be issued a license or denied a license in writing within a reasonable period after receipt by the board of all required information.

(g)(l) Each contract security company requesting or renewing a license shall pay a security license fee upon application to be determined by the board that does not exceed three hundred fifty dollars ($350) and may not be increased more than fifty dollars ($50) per licensing period. A license shall expire on September 30 and an application for renewal shall be submitted to the board before October 1. A renewal application may not be accepted by the board after October 31. The board may impose a reasonable late fee on renewals not filed by October 1. The board shall promptly notify an applicant if the board refuses to issue or renew a license. An applicant or licensee may appeal any decision of the board and may request a hearing, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, on the decision of the board to refuse to issue or renew a license. A licensee may continue to engage in the security business while his or her renewal application is pending.

(2) Each security officer or armed security officer requesting or renewing a license shall pay a nonrefundable security license fee to the board upon application to be determined by the board that does not exceed one hundred dollars ($100) and may not be increased more than twenty-five dollars ($25) per licensing period. The license issued to a security officer or armed security officer shall expire two years from the date of issuance. If the board refuses to issue or renew a license, the applicant or licensee shall be promptly notified. The applicant or licensee may appeal any decision of the board and may request a hearing, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, on the refusal of the board to issue or renew a license. A licensee may continue to serve as a security officer or armed security officer while his or her renewal application is pending. The board may impose a reasonable late fee on renewals not filed before the date of expiration of the license.

(h) No license issued pursuant to this chapter shall be assigned or transferred by operation of law or in any other manner. A new license for an assignee or transferee of a business shall be applied for using the same procedures and requirements as set forth in this chapter for an initial license applicant. The security operation of a security company may continue until the final disposition of the pending license application.

(i) The current license certificate or duplicate copy of the certificate shall be posted and displayed at all times at all business offices of the licensee within the state.

(j) The board shall be notified within 30 days of any changes in officers, directors, or management of a licensee or any changes that may reasonably affect the right of a licensee to hold a license under this chapter.