Bulgarian Parliament amends private security laws

The Bulgarian Parliament has passed amendments to the Private Security Activities Act during its second reading. The changes, introduced by the Council of Ministers, aim to expand the pool of individuals eligible to work in the private security sector.

Key provisions include the removal of the requirement for security employment contracts to be a person's primary job, allowing for additional employment. The law also expands the scope of those who can contract for personal protection; while previously limited to individuals such as owners or managers, legal entities can now contract security services for their employees or officials facing real threats.

Additionally, the amendments include managers of commercial companies and legal entities within the regulated categories. The legislation also adjusts the composition of the Advisory Council for Cooperation on Private Security Activities to align the number of National Police representatives with the number of authorized representatives from security associations. To ensure parity with traders registered in other EU member states, EEA countries, or Switzerland, the law introduces a state fee for issuing certificates based on a specific tariff.