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On Monday, over 70 California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI) members took time from their busy schedules to participate in the annual legislative day at the California State Capitol.

Attending from Bakersfield were Private Investigators Joe M. Serrano, Past Director for the San Joaquin District, Riley Parker, current Director and Andrew Hansen, current Director at Large.

Members met, as constituents, with 58 members of the State Legislature, State Senators and Assembly members and their staff.  State Senator Tom Harman, author of the CALI sponsored SB 202 which establishes a continuing education requirement for licensed private investigators, spoke to the attendees about the bill.

This bill would assist California consumers, who hire private investigators, by providing a mechanism for licensed investigators to be knowledgeable of the many new laws in the ares of privacy rights and ethics, as well as updates in legal and technological developments.

Connie Trujillo, Acting Chief of the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) also spoke to legislative day participants regarding her commitment to ferreting out those investigators who operate unlicensed.

A number of important bills were also lobbied in addition to the continuing educaiton measure.  Those bills would:

-Provide the use of credit reports for employment purposes in most instances.

-Provide flexibility in the provision of meals and rest periods.

-Remove the artificial discretion in providing concealed weapon permits.

-Subject more entities to the public record act.

-Require redaction of schools and government buildings from web-based maps.

JIm Zimmer, CALI President said, "Thanks to the dedicated efforts of CALI members, our relationships with our elected and appointed officials will be enhanced, and knowledge of the issues important to our profession will be increased." and Francie Koehler, Legislative Chair, stated, "The theme was "We are Professionals" and we certainly looked professional on Monday".