NASCO announces 2007 legislative agenda

Nov 28, 2006 12:44 PM

The National Association for Security Companies (NASCO), representing contract-security firms employing nearly 450,000 security officers, recently announced its federal and state legislative agenda for 2007.

On the state level, NASCO plans to introduce legislation in Mississippi to implement state licensing of security companies, registration of security officers and training requirements. The state is one of 10 without any licensing or regulatory requirements.

Here are the other state laws NASCO is focusing on:

* New Jersey: Legislation to repeal the recently enacted 7 percent sales tax on security services.

* Arizona: Legislation to regulate proprietary security officers under consideration for the 2007 session.

* District of Columbia: The "Enhanced Professional Security Amendment Act" calls for a new training program totaling 40 hours.

* New York -- NASCO is considering the creation of a sustained lobbying presence in New York addressing sales tax on security services.

* Ohio: Mandatory training requirements being considered by the Department of Homeland Security.

* Utah: An increase in training requirements (currently a total of 24 hours for all regulated security officers).

At the federal level, NASCO's proposed 2007 budget includes dedicated federal lobbying resources. Among the issues:

* NASCO will continue to monitor and encourage the Department of Justice's progress in the full implementation of the Private Security Officer Employment Authorization Act of 2004. At the same time, NASCO's outreach to states not presently authorized to process security officers' fingerprints through the FBI's criminal history record database will continue as an educational effort.

* Although NASCO successfully lobbied to extend contract security services for a two-year period through the Department of Defense Authorization Act of 2007, efforts to make the authorization permanent will need to begin once the election changes are clear and nay shifts in control have settled. The authorization also included a reduction in the total amount of contracting at the rate of 10 percent annually, NASCO is committed to investigating the intent of this reduced force language.

* In the event that H.R. 5893, the "Private Security Officer Employment Enhancement Act", is re-introduced, NASCO will follow its path and become involved if legislative action ensues.

For more information about NASCO advocacy activities and resources, visit www.nasco.org

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