To:         CALSAGA members

From:     Jeff Flint, Association Manager

Re:         LEGISLATIVE ALERT – Support letters needed for Senate Bill 666

Date:      June 20, 2007

As you know, CALSAGA is sponsoring Senate Bill 666, authored by Senator Abel Maldonado (R - Santa Maria) this year to extend minimum training standards to proprietary security, as they currently exist on contract security. 

SB 666 would mandate that proprietary security officers (PSOs) complete the same 40 hour training requirement as contract security officers.  CALSAGA maintains that all security officers in California, whether contract or proprietary should be held to the same standard.  Furthermore, we believe that SB 666 will add yet another level of protection to consumers and the public.

There is a certain level of trust and expectation from the public that a security officer has been properly trained, through a background check and holds a current license with the state regulatory agency.

SB 666 is scheduled to be heard on June 26 at 9:00 a.m. by the Assembly Business and Professions Committee.  As you know, SB 666 recently made it out of the Senate on a 31-2 vote and now needs to make it through the Assembly in order for Governor Schwarzenegger to sign it. 

CALSAGA has worked hard in recent years to further professionalize the security industry, sponsoring the 40 hour training requirement in AB 2880 in 2003 and SB 194 in 2005, which made it mandatory for PSOs to register with State and go through a DOJ and FBI background check.  Additionally, we have developed training curriculum that allows companies to comply with the laws and an online database where records can be inserted and stored.

Despite our efforts, there appears to be some growing opposition from groups that do not want to comply with minimum training standards.  Specifically, the management company that runs Staples Center and Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, which operate in house security, have opposed SB 666.  They claim they already do training and do not need state mandated minimums.  Attached is their letter opposing SB 666, and our response.  

However, AEG (which owns and runs Staples Center and Home Depot Center) has a lot of political clout, so we need to make sure that members of the Assembly Business & Professions committee hear from our members – the real security experts.

Because the hearing is next week, we ask that you submit letters of support to the Chair of the Assembly Business and Professions Committee, Assemblyman Mike Eng (D - Monterey Park) and a copy of the letter to Senator Abel Maldonado no later than Monday, June 25.  You can use the attached letter as an example, but we ask that you take the time to submit your own letter by customizing it with your own thoughts, even if it is just a few paragraphs.

We also ask that you FAX US A COPY of your letter before you mail it.  Fax us at (916) 930-0702.

If you have any questions, please contact William Hodges at (916) 930-0552.  Please keep in mind that these letters do make a difference and we really appreciate your involvement.