BSIS FIREARMS PERMIT - ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT FOR SECURITY GUARDS

August 14, 2018

1. Why is the assessment required?

A new law went into effect on July 1, 2018 that requires a BSIS security guard registrant seeking to associate (click for explanation of associate) a BSIS Firearms Permit to the guard registration to complete an assessment to demonstrate that he/she is capable, at the time the assessment is completed, of demonstrating appropriate judgment, restraint and self-control for the purposes of carrying and using a firearm when performing security guard duties. (Business and Professions Code Section 7583.23 and 7583.47).





2. When will BSIS begin the assessment process?

As required by law, BSIS began the assessment process on July 1, 2018. The bureau anticipates persons who submitted their BSIS Firearms Permit Initial Application or Request to Associate a Firearms Permit form the first week of July, who will need to complete the assessment (see Item 3), to begin receiving the assessment notification (see Item 8) sometime during the middle to end of August 2018.

Because the bureau's historical initial firearms permit application processing time runs 6 to 8 weeks for a non-deficient application and the legal requirement that all other activities relating to the firearms permit application be completed before the person takes the assessment, the bureau anticipates issuing assessment notices (see Item 8) around 6 to 8 weeks from the date the application or request for association is submitted.





3. Who Must Complete the Assessment?

Assessment Required

A BSIS security guard registrant who submits an application for an initial BSIS firearms permit on or after July 1, 2018 will need to complete and pass the assessment as a condition for issuance of the firearms permit.

A person who holds a BSIS firearms permit and obtains an initial security guard registration on or after July 1, 2018 and requests to associate (click for explanation of associate) the registration to the firearms permit will need to complete and pass the assessment as a condition to have the registration associated with the permit.

A person who obtains a BSIS firearms permit on or after July 1, 2018 that is associated with another qualifying license at issuance, and subsequently requests to associate (click for explanation of associate) it with his/her security guard registration will need to complete and pass the assessment to have the registration associated with the permit.

Assessment Not Required

A person who holds a BSIS security guard registration and a BSIS firearms permit before July 1, 2018 who requests to associate (click for explanation of associate) them on or after July 1, 2018 will not need to complete the assessment to have the registration associated with the permit. The association must involve both the guard registration and firearms permit held before July 1, 2018 for the assessment not to be required.





4. Are there other situations where the assessment will be required?

Scenarios involving the association (click for explanation of associate) of a security guard registration with a firearms permit outside those listed in Item 3 will be handled on a case-by-case basis. NOTE: The bureau cannot advise whether completion of the assessment is required based on information provided by phone or email. The bureau will only make these determinations after a complete analysis of the information in the application or request to associate documents.





5. What is the name of the assessment?

The assessment is named the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16pf), which is a personality test used in various settings including employers of protective services personnel (e.g., police officers, firefighters and security guards). However, scoring standards were established specific to the legal requirement of appropriate judgment, restraint and self-control for the purposes of carrying and using a firearm while performing armed security guard duties.





6. Where do I complete the assessment?

The bureau has contracted with PSI Services LLC (PSI) to administer the 16pf assessment. PSI is an industry leader in administering licensing, credentialing and public safety tests and has 23 testing centers located throughout California where the assessment can be taken.

For additional information on completing the assessment, please review PSI's Firearms Assessment Information Bulletin.





7. What is the assessment fee?

The fee is $60.00. The fee is paid directly to PSI (see Item 6) and must be paid before an assessment appointment can be scheduled. PSI accepts major credit cards, debit cards and pre-paid credit cards. PSI also accepts cashier's checks and money orders.

For additional information on fee payment information, please review PSI's Firearms Assessment Information Bulletin.





8. How will I know if I need to Complete the Assessment?

If required to take the assessment, the bureau will mail you a Notice of Eligibility for Assessment that includes information on how to contact PSI and how to schedule an assessment-administration appointment.

As required by law, after the bureau has determined that the applicant has satisfied all other requirements for a Firearms Permit (complete application, satisfactory completion of the firearms training course, no Department of Justice prohibition to possess a firearm, etc.), the bureau will issue the Notice of Eligibility for Assessment. Based on the bureau's licensing process times, the bureau anticipates mailing out the first notices around the middle to end of August 2018 (see Item 2). Thereafter, the bureau anticipates notices being mailed out about 60 days from the date a non-deficient application is submitted and about 21 days from the date information is submitted to remedy a deficient application. For Request to Associate a BSIS Firearms Permit Forms, the bureau anticipates the notices will be mailed about 45 days from submission.





9. How Do I Schedule an Appointment to take the Assessment?

The Notice of Eligibility for Assessment (see Item 8) provides information on how to schedule an appointment. Only those persons who receive a Notice will be able to schedule an appointment.

For additional information on appointment scheduling, rescheduling, and cancellations, please review PSI's Firearms Assessment Information Bulletin.





10. What Happens After I Complete the Assessment?

Before you leave the assessment site, PSI staff will provide you with a BSIS Firearms Assessment Participation Notice. Keep this notice for your records. You will not be provided your assessment results or score by PSI (see Item 11).





11. How will I Know My Assessment Results?

Pursuant to the provisions of Business and Professions Code Section 7583.47, PSI only provides the bureau with the assessment results of "Demonstrate" or "Did Not Demonstrate" depending on your assessment score. Based on the result received, the bureau will take the following steps.

Demonstrate Results

Application for Firearms Permit: If your security guard registration is in current, clear status, the Bureau will issue you a BSIS firearms permit. If your registration is not in current, clear status, the bureau will issue you a letter stating that no further action will be taken regarding the firearms permit application until your registration is current and clear.

If your security guard registration is in current, clear status, the Bureau will issue you a BSIS firearms permit. If your registration is not in current, clear status, the bureau will issue you a letter stating that no further action will be taken regarding the firearms permit application until your registration is current and clear. Request to Associate Firearms Permit with Security Guard Registration: If both the permit and registration are in current, clear status, the Bureau will issue you a BSIS firearms permit. If either the permit or registration are not current and clear, the bureau will issue you a letter stating that no further action will be taken on the association until both are in current, clear status.

Did Not Demonstrate Results

Application for Firearms Permit: The bureau will issue you a letter stating that your application for a firearms permit is denied. The denial letter will include information on the process to appeal the denial.

The bureau will issue you a letter stating that your application for a firearms permit is denied. The denial letter will include information on the process to appeal the denial. Request to Associate Firearms Permit with Security Guard Registration: The bureau will issue you a letter stating that your request to associate the firearms permit with the guard registration is denied. The denial letter will include information on the process to appeal the denial.





12. How long will it take for the bureau to provide me a response identified in Item 10?

The bureau anticipates issuance of the firearms permit, the no further action letter, or the denial letter about 21 business days from the date the individual completed the assessment.





Do not call or email the Bureau for your assessment results. For confidentiality reasons, assessment results will not be provided or discussed by telephone or email.

To stay up-to-date on assessment and other BSIS activities, subscribe to the bureau's Interested Parties email list at https://www.bsis.ca.gov/subscriptions.shtml as well as routinely check this webpage for the next several weeks.