Senate substitute moves constable licensure to Department of Professional Licensing

The Senate on Feb. 24 substituted and advanced a bill to move the licensure of constables from county and municipal control to the Department of Professional Licensing (DOPL). The sponsor, Senator Kellamore, said the change responds to Salt Lake County’s decision to stop licensing constables and would preserve licensure and oversight statewide.

Kellamore told colleagues the substitute clarifies licensure requirements such as raising the age to 21, requiring a set number of training hours and post‑certification, and creating an explicit deputy and apprentice constable licensure track. He said constables would continue to serve in civil process functions and could still contract with cities or counties for specific duties.

Senators asked procedural and oversight questions at the floor explanation. Senator Cullimore noted statutes previously allowed constables to operate statewide and voiced counties’ concern that local licensing authority could create inconsistent standards. Kellamore said DOPL was chosen after discussions with the Department of Public Safety and DOPL staff and pointed to similar moves earlier in the year that placed private investigator and bail-bonds licensing under DOPL.

The Senate adopted the substitution by voice vote on the floor. Sponsor comments indicated work will continue on a fiscal note and on rules implementing the licensure transition. If enacted, DOPL would be expected to promulgate licensing rules defining hours, training, and the apprenticeship pathway.

Quote from the floor: "Some of these are just technical changes... we're moving the licensure of constables from counties and cities to DOPL," Senator Kellamore said on the floor.

Next steps: The substituted bill will continue through the legislative process; the floor record indicates further administrative rule-making and fiscal detail will follow if the bill proceeds.