Recap from BSIS Advisory Committee and SB 666 Hearing

On Tuesday, November 18, representatives from private security, alarm and locksmith companies, repossessor agencies and private investigators discussed the challenges and obstacles facing their industries as part of BSIS Chief Paul Johnson’s Advisory Committee. 

BSIS has been holding these meetings throughout the state since 2006.  CALSAGA applauds the Bureau for their continued commitment to hold these meetings, which we believe helps facilitate communication between the State and the various regulated industries. 

CALSAGA President Mark Miller updated the committee on the efforts of our industry since the committee last met, mentioning that CALSAGA had recently held its Annual Conference and explained that the Association will focus much of its resources in 2009 on securing meal period reform, as well as rolling out an extensive marketing effort, aimed at educating consumers, the public and elected officials on the role the private security industry plays in California.

Following the Advisory Committee meeting, BSIS also held a public hearing on Senate Bill 666.  As a reminder, SB 666 was sponsored by CALSAGA and authored by Senator Abel Maldonado (R – Santa Maria), which for first time required training for proprietary security officers, with a curriculum to be developed by BSIS after consulting with an Advisory Committee of interested parties.  Earlier this year, the committee agreed upon a 16 hour initial training program with 2 hours of continuing education each year thereafter. 

Representatives from Disney, AEG/STAPLES Center and Holiday Inn, among others, testified in support of the proposed training curriculum.  One of the concerns raised in the hearing was the lack of BSIS authority to regulate proprietary employers. In response, the consortium of proprietary employers promised to continue to work with CALSAGA and BSIS to make it clear the employers of proprietary security should be subject to state registration as well.

CALSAGA Deputy Association William Hodges was also on hand to testify in support of the curriculum and agreed that a host of issues need to be resolved legislatively, including providing some clarification in the Private Security Services Act. 

To read a full transcript of Hodges’ testimony, click here. 

In closing, we are cautiously optimistic that the proposed training curriculum is one step closer to implementation.  We will continue to keep you updated as information becomes available.