Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §8109-A is enacted to read:

§8109-A.__Permit to arrest

1.__Arrest permit.__The commissioner shall issue an arrest permit to any private investigator duly licensed under this chapter who makes application to the commissioner and who meets the requirements of this section allowing the private investigator to make a lawful arrest of any person in arrears in the payment of a fine.

2.__Education requirement.__The education requirement for an arrest permit, which must be met before the issuance of the permit, includes the successful completion of suitable training by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in the laws pertaining to arrest and in firearm use and certification.

3.__Renewal of permit.__An arrest permit is valid for 2 years and is, unless revoked or suspended, renewable biennially.

4.__Permit fee.__The fee for the original arrest permit is $250, a portion of which covers the cost of the training requirement in subsection 2.__The commissioner shall set the fee for renewal of an arrest permit by rule.

5.__Payment of compensation.__The commissioner shall establish by rule the procedure for compensating a private investigator an amount equal to 10% of the outstanding fine owed by each person lawfully arrested by the private investigator.

6.__Rules.__The commissioner shall adopt rules to implement this section.__Rules adopted under this section are routine technical rules under Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

SUMMARY

This bill authorizes the Commissioner of Public Safety to issue an arrest permit to a licensed private investigator who meets the necessary qualifications. The arrest permit enables a private investigator to arrest any person in arrears of payment of a fine.