As of October 1, Virginia locksmiths and the locksmith industry in the Commonwealth became subject to new registration, licensing and training requirements promulgated on an emergency basis by DCJS in July, 2008.

 

The new regulations are the result of legislation enacted by the 2008 Session of the General Assembly and signed by Governor Kaine. The legislation, House Bill 462, was introduced at the industry’s request by Delegates Dave Albo and Dave Marsden.

 

The legislation added locksmiths and businesses providing locksmith services to the private security-related services that are subject to DCJS licensing and registration requirements. The law exempts retail merchants who sell locks or make keys at their business locations; and it adds two representatives of the locksmith industry to the Private Security Services Advisory Board.

 

To prepare to implement the new law, DCJS’ Private Security staff convened a committee of industry representatives to assist in developing the emergency regulations, including minimum training standards. The new rules, in the form of emergency regulations, were published in the Virginia Register in July. Permanent regulations are currently being promulgated under the Administrative Process Act and available for review on the Virginia Townhall website.

 

            The emergency regulations require any company providing locksmith services in the state to be licensed by DCJS. Among other requirements, a business seeking licensing must designate one of its employees as a Compliance Agent, responsible for assuring that the business complies with state regulations and the law; the agent must meet minimum requirements set out in the regulations, including completion of 6 hours of entry-level training.

 

Any individual providing locksmith services must register with the Department and comply with minimum requirements, including completing 18 hours of entry-level training. The training requirement, however, can be waived if the applicant can show that he/she has been providing locksmith services for at least two years.

 

 Lisa McGee, Chief of the Private Security Services at DCJS, said, “Staff members have worked diligently to help eligible individuals meet the new requirements prior to October 1. In addition, we are providing technical assistance and compliance training for affected businesses to ensure that companies and their employees can understand and comply with the new requirements.”

 

The start of the 2009 Session of the General Assembly saw the introduction of several bills related to regulation of locksmiths, some of which would substantially alter the new requirements; one would repeal the regulatory requirements altogether. As of the writing of this article, three of those bills were not reported out of committee. Once remaining bill which adds an exemption for individuals who provide keycutting services is still remaining.

 

Details on the licensing and registration requirements are posted on the DCJS website, at http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/pss/special/locksmith.cfm.