AB 2128 by Assemblyman Ted Gaines, (R-Roseville) continues to make progress as it is expected to be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee on August 2. As you may remember, this bill would raise the minimum general liability requirement from $500,000 to $1,000,000 and extend the requirement to all PPO’s. This bill would further require PPO’s to provide proof of insurance when applying for or renewing a PPO license through BSIS, and would continue our efforts to professionalize the private security industry.

 

We anticipate that this bill will pass out of the Senate Appropriations Committee where it will then be sent to the Senate Floor to be voted on. If the bill passes out of the Senate, it will make one last stop on the Assembly Floor for concurrence, due to amendments, and will finally be sent to the Governor’s desk to be signed or vetoed.

 

In addition to our sponsored legislation, CALSAGA has been tracking AB 2626 by Assemblyman Dave Jones (D-Sacramento).  AB 2626 would expand the duties of a security officer employed by the Sheriff of Sacramento County to include the security and protection of the property of an entity whose primary business supports national defense, or whose facility is qualified as national critical infrastructure, or who stores or manufactures material that, if compromised, would compromise national security or pose a danger to residents of the County of Sacramento.

 

While AB 2626 would create the perception that security officers employed by the Sheriff of Sacramento County are equivalent in training and preparation for the job, this is simply not the case. In fact, the training requirements for these security officers, Penal Code (PC) 832, is inherently different from the training that private security officers are required to complete under California Business and Professions Code 7583.6. Officers trained under PC 832 are not required to undergo training such as weapons of mass destruction, access control and hazmat awareness, all highly critical issues facing the safety of California’s infrastructure.

 

The roles of a security officer protecting a facility are inherently different from those of a peace officer, or even a security officer trained under public law enforcement authority. To put the two in competition would create perceptions that they are the same and that one may have greater authority in the eyes of the law. Thus, for the purposes of the association, CALSAGA strongly opposes the legislation and has submitted a letter of opposition to the author.

 

You can view that opposition letter by clicking here.

 

AB 2626 is currently in the Senate awaiting a floor vote, and if approved, will head to the Governor for signature or veto.  That will be our best chance to kill the bill, and to that extent, CALSAGA will be lobbying the Governor’s Office to veto. 

 

Finally, we continue to lobbying for meal period reform, and anticipate that our best opportunity for reform will come in the waning days of the current legislative session.  We will keep members updated with information as it becomes available, so stay tuned.