As you know, a number of CALSAGA member companies had difficulty responding to client demands for higher staffing levels during the recent wildfires in Southern California.  To address this concern, CALSAGA has introduced legislation this year that would permit security officers from other states to perform security functions in California during a declared State of Emergency in our state. 

The legislation would require BSIS to pre-certify states that have similarly high training and background standards to California, so that the temporarily imported officers would not decrease public safety or the higher standards we have all sought in California.

Our legislation, Senate Bill 1209, authored by Senator Abel Maldonado (R - Santa Maria) passed out of the Senate Business & Professions Committee on March 24 by a 6-0 vote.  The bill has a long way to go in the legislative process, but we pleased that it cleared its first hurdle.

It is important for members to also note that SB 1209, while addressing an important public policy goal, could also serve as a legislative vehicle for other important public policy changes we may need that develop later in the year.

CALSAGA’s other top public policy priority this year is reform of the rules for meal and rest breaks.  On this front, a comprehensive, employer-sponsored bill, Senate Bill 1539 by Ron Calderon (D - Montebello) made it out of its first committee hearing.  However, the operative language of SB 1539 was stripped out, and replaced with language stating the Legislature intends to address the need to reform meal and rest break laws.  This is a common legislative practice with controversial and complex legislation that need time to negotiate solutions.  We are pleased that the first legislative committee has agreed in principle that the issue needs to be addressed.

In the meantime, CALSAGA continues to believe that Assembly Bill 1711 by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine (D - Van Nuys) could serve as important legislation to address some meal and rest break reforms for the private security industry.  The legislation needs further refinement, but we believe it has the potential to provide meal and rest break relief for our industry.  While we remain hopeful, as do all employers, that the comprehensive reform contemplated in SB 1539 continues to gain strength, we will also closely watch AB 1711 as a compromise opportunity.

There will be a lot more with both issues in the coming months, so stay tuned!