Access Control
& Security Systems

With the passage of the Homeland Security Bill last week, all U.S. states have begun to re-address security issues.

In Arizona, officials have organized a large-scale drill concentrating on bioterrorism preparedness. Hundreds of volunteers will pretend to be victims of a biological attack, with officials getting practice at dispensing vaccines and other antibiotics.

In Florida, officials are pleased to learn that many of the stricter screening measures to be implemented by the Senate's port security bill have already been put into place. All of the state's 14 deep-water ports have re-issued security badges, conducted background checks o employees and implemented stricter screening methods as part of a state bill passed in 2001.

At a meeting of the Republican Governors Association, some state officials expressed worry over mounting Homeland Security costs. Kansas Gov. Bill Graves told The Associated Press that his state is expecting a $310 million budget shortfall -- the worst in Kansas history.

Outgoing Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating told The AP that money sent from Washington so far isn't enough allow states to buy the equipment it needs.

This month in Access Control

• Opening Up About Door Closers
• An Enterprise Approach
• The Framework For Open Systems
• On A Higher Plane
• More from April's issue