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Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Meeting Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Committee Members in Attendance
Jon Sargent, California Alarm Association (CAA)
Steve Reed, Public Member
Mark Miller, Calif. Assn. of Licensed Security Agencies, Guards & Associates (CALSAGA)
Cathy Kester, Department of Justice (DOJ)
Jim Diaz, California Institute for Professional Investigators (CIPI)
Nick Savala, California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI)
Steven Wachtel, Professional Investigators of California (PICA)
Glenn Younger, California Locksmith Association (CLA)
Committee Members Absent
Rodney Pierini, Public Member
John Brueggeman, California Locksmiths Association (CLA)
Jimmy Hunt, California Association of Licensed Repossessors (CALR)
Steve Leibrock, Sacramento County Sheriffs Department
Joe Valenzuela, Sacramento Police Department
Stephen Marvin, Southern California Security Association (SCSA)
Department of Consumer Affairs, Executive Staff
Patricia Harris, Deputy Director
Michael Santiago, Legal Counsel
Guest Speakers
Rosario Marin, Secretary of State and Consumer Services
BSIS Staff in Attendance
Paul M. Johnson, Chief
Rolando Taeza, Outreach Coordinator
Noreene DeKoning, Bureau Representative
Inez Cortez, Bureau Representative
Jennifer Rosillo, Bureau Representative
Welcoming Remarks and Introductions
Paul Johnson, Chief of the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, called the meeting to order at 9:06 a.m. John Sargent led the committee in the Pledge of Allegiance. Chief Johnson welcomed and thanked everyone for attending. Chief Johnson then announced that this was his final Advisory Meeting because he is retiring. Advisory committee members, Bureau staff, and members of the public introduced themselves.
Chair Report
Jim Diaz addressed the Committee and stated how active they were over the past year. Mr. Diaz told the committee that he attended a prelude meeting to the PACT (Professionals Achieving Consumer Trust) Summit, which was held by Consumer Affairs Director Carrie Lopez and Secretary of State and Consumer Services Rosario Marin. Committee chairs and presidents from each Board and Bureau were invited to attend the prelude meeting along with representatives from the Governor's Office.
Mr. Diaz continued by informing the Committee that the Private Investigator Exam and Private Patrol Operator Exam were completed in early November 2008. The process for both exams began in March and continued through the budget crisis. Both exams will be available in the first quarter of 2009. He further stated that rewriting of the Alarm Company Operator's exam and Repossessor's exam would begin in the first quarter of 2009.
Bureau Updates
Chief Johnson stated that Rolando Taeza is continuing his outreach and education visits. He has completed over 2,000 visits since 2005. As a result, enforcement efforts to crack down on unlicensed activity have increased. Most recently, the Bureau partnered with Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) and local law enforcement in Bakersfield on a sting regarding unlicensed activity.
Chief Johnson concluded his updates by informing the Committee that the Bureau is working on providing a link on the web site to allow the consumer to access an accusation against a license.
SB 666 – Proprietary Private Security Officer Update (Regulation)
Chief Johnson informed the Committee of the continued legislation for the Proprietary Private Security Officer training requirements. Chief Johnson stated that the Bureau held two advisory committee meetings, with members from the proprietary industry and public, to discuss and develop a training curriculum to present to the Bureau. He continued by announcing that the Bureau would hold a Regulatory Hearing later in the day to allow the public to make comments regarding the proposed training curriculum.
Legislative Update
Glenn Younger, President of the California Locksmith Association (CLA), informed the Committee that Governor Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 2592 on September 30, 2008. Assembly Bill 2592 revises the Locksmith Act and becomes effective on January 1, 2009. This Bill contains some substantial changes to the Locksmith Act.
Committee Member Updates
Mark Miller, Calif. Assn. of Licensed Security Agencies, Guards & Associates (CALSAGA), announced that Roy Rahn was succeeding him as President of CALSAGA beginning January 1, 2009. Mr. Miller recognized the many changes that have taken place within the industry, including aggressive enforcement and increased outreach and education. Mr. Miller stated that California's security industry continues to be the largest security market in the nation; making it a model that other states seek to emulate.
Mr. Miller stated that there are approximately two hundred thousand security officers working in California. He also stated that the security industry has lost three officers in the line of duty this past year. With California's security industry being the most regulated in the nation, CALSAGA is a driving force behind increasing pay and respect for security officers. Mr. Miller concluded his comments by stating that CALSAGA looks to focus on a Public Relation's Campaign in 2009 to inform the public of the importance of a security officer's role.
Steven Wachtel, President of the Professional Investigators of California Association (PICA), thanked Chief Johnson for his continued enforcement toward unlicensed activity. Mr. Wachtel stated that the three Private Investigator's Associations should begin putting pressure on the Yellow Pages and online companies to include a disclaimer, for anyone advertising private investigative services, that this is a licensed profession and require a license number be listed. Mr. Wachtel concluded by stating that the PI Act needed to include the requirement of licensure of PI employees.
Nick Savala, California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI), expressed his thanks to Chief Johnson by stating how happy he was that the Bureau has acted more like a partner with the PI Industry rather than a regulatory body. He continued to state that the Bureau listened to the industry when they expressed the need for a new Private Investigator's test, and applauded the Bureau's efforts to draw attention to unlicensed activity. Mr. Savala concluded his comments by stating CALI received overwhelming support on SB 1282 and the bill passed through both houses. However, it was vetoed due to no budget being signed. However, CALI will propose and support the bill again in the next legislative session.
Steve Reed, Public Member, stated that his security staff, at Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento, is considered proprietary; however, all his security officers are required to hold a security guard license. Mr. Reed informed the Committee that his organization is being granted the ability to "tap into" the Police Department's system and gain the capability to run license plate checks in the mall parking lots.
Jim Diaz, Representative of the California Institute for Professional Investigators (CIPI) believes they have an author to help draft a piece of legislation that would require employees of Private Investigators to be licensed. This law would require passing a background check. This requirement would assist the Bureau in verifying the amount of hours each person completes when applying for a PI license. Mr. Diaz continued by stating a process was needed to allow PI's to work undercover and use aliases. Mr. Diaz then challenged the Committee and industry to get a LEAPS counterpart in the Northern California area. In conclusion, Mr. Diaz thanked Chief Johnson for all his effort in partnering with the security industries and law enforcement agencies.
Cathy Kester, Department of Justice (DOJ), commended Chief Johnson for the vast improvements he made at DOJ in the application program. Ms. Kester informed the Committee that the people of California voted no on all propositions and prop 5 would have allowed offenders to go into diversion programs. Ms. Kester stated that had prop five (5) passed DOJ could have been looking at increased delays in backgrounds due to incomplete information. Ms. Kester further stated that DOJ struggled through the budget impasse, and the application review unit was slightly behind because overtime was not allowed and there was no backfilling of vacant positions. Ms. Kester pointed out that currently the Bureau receives subsequent rap sheets on licenses in order to take the necessary steps to determine if any disciplinary action is required. Currently the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) does not have the capability of providing subsequent rap sheets; however, it is something they are working on implementing by late 2012.
Glenn Younger, California Locksmith Association (CLA), stated the Bureau is always a work in progress. He noted that the locksmith industry would continue to move forward, regarding changes in the Locksmith Act. Mr. Younger gave a list of goals the industry wished to accomplish in the near future: communicate with law enforcement, reach out to those unlicensed locksmith, contribute funds to educate consumers, and work closely with other organizations.
Rosario Marin, Secretary of State and Consumer Services, spoke briefly. She welcomed and thanked everyone for attending Consumer Affairs' first PACT Summit. Secretary Marin expressed how important it was for the different Boards and Bureaus to develop partnerships with each other. By bringing all the Boards and Bureaus together in one place is the first step to making this possible.
Public Comments
Penny Taylor, a licensed security guard, addressed the Committee with her concerns on the security guard education requirements, training, conflicts of interest, and ethics in the industry. Ms. Taylor stated she felt the industry would be better served if community colleges were also allowed to administer security guard training. A community college would allow for classroom instruction, video training, practical exercises, and continued education. Ms. Taylor went on to state that armed security guards would be better prepared at making decisions if they were required to complete the P.O.S.T. training courses regarding the use of firearms.
Adjournment
Chief Johnson stated that during his time at the Bureau, he always tried to find a common balance and was never willing to compromise public safety for expediency. Chief Johnson thanked everyone for attending and adjourned the meeting at 12:04 p.m.
