Compiled and Edited by ALAN H. CROWE NAPPS Administrator
CALIFORNIA AB 2493 (Pacheco) - Process Service. Prohibits a court, as a condition of establishing
reasonable diligence in serving a defendant, from requiring that a search be made of public
databases-including DMV records-where access to residential addresses is restricted. Permits a
registered process server to levy more than once under the same writ of execution,
provided the writ is still valid; deletes the existing recoverable service fee of $1.50 for
serving debtor's employer with a writ of execution, and allows as a recoverable cost the amount
actually incurred in effecting service. This bill was sponsored by the California Association
of Photocopiers and Process Servers (CAPPS). Introduced 2/21/02. Passed House and Senate.
***Signed by the Governor 7/16/02***
KANSAS HB 2771 (Judiciary) - Process Service. Existing law provides a variety of methods to
serve garnishment process in Kansas, including first class mail, telefacsimile or Internet
electronic mail. This bill requires garnishees to furnish a fax number or an e-mail address to
which garnishment process could be served. In the case of e-mail, service is complete upon
receipt of a reply generated by the garnishee. The supporters of this bill were two banking
associations and the Kansas Credit Attorneys Assn. Introduced 2/5/02; Passed House and Senate.
***Signed by Governor 5/29/02***
MICHIGAN SB 929 (Hoffman) - Private Investigators. This legislation is a major overhaul of the existing
law which licenses and regulates private detectives and investigators in Michigan. It was
supported by the Michigan Council of Private Investigators and there is an excellent summary
and analysis of the legislation on its website at www.mcpihome.com Introduced 12/13/01/
***Signed by the Governor 6/21/02; effective 10/1/02***
SB 992 (Peters) - Private Investigators. Engaging in business as a PI without a license is a
misdemeanor under current Michigan law, with offenders receiving 90 days in jail or probation
and $1,000 fine. This legislation, however, elevated the offense to a Class F Felony with a
statutory maximum of four years' imprisonment and a $5,000 fine. Introduced 1/9/02.
***Signed by Governor 6/27/02; effective 10/1/02***
TENNESSEE HB 2570 (Buck) - Process Servers. This legislation amends Section 16-15-901 of
the Tennessee Code to add the following language pertaining to who may serve process in general
sessions court - "(b) A civil warrant, attachment or any other leading process used to initiate
an action in general sessions court and subpoenas or summons may be served by any person
designated by the party, or the party's attorney, if represented by counsel, who is not a party
to the action and is not less than 18 years of age. ... The process server must be identified by
name and address on the return." Under existing Tennessee Law, anyone over the age of 18 may
serve circuit court papers, however, the sheriff has had total control over the
appointment/licensing of persons who serve general sessions court papers. The author of the
legislative fiscal note makes some interesting estimates, i.e. that sheriffs' offices in
Tennessee collect over $11 million in fees from serving process, with 75% of this coming from
process served out of general sessions court, and that the passage of this legislation will
cause the sheriffs to suffer a net decrease in revenues in excess of $2 million. The Tennessee
State Association of Professional Process Servers (TAPPS) was a strong supporter of this bill.
Introduced 1/23/02. ***Signed by Governor 5/29/02; effective 7/1/02***
