Legislative News

News Desk Update - 11/23/2009 Please call Justin Hakes, External Affairs Manager, for details at (202) 463-3156.

Follow us on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/WorkforceFrdm -Wall Street Journal editorial- "Obama Union Rules, A federal agency rips up 75 years of labor policy"-"The National Mediation Board, which oversees labor relations in the air and rail industry, this month moved to overturn 75 years of labor policy. The board plans to stack the deck for organized labor in union elections. Under a proposed rule, unions would no longer have to get the approval of a majority of airline workers to achieve certification. Not even close. Instead, a union could win just by getting a majority of the employees who vote. Thus, if only 1,000 of 10,000 flight attendants vote in a union election, and 501 vote for certification, the other 9,499 become unionized. This radical break with precedent is the handiwork of President Obama's appointees to the three-member board: Harry Hoglander, once president of a pilots union, and Linda Puchala, former president of the Association of Flight Attendants. "

Full editorial: http://bit.ly/5wWCbk -Wall Street Journal column- "Capitalism by Proxy Fight"- "It's no secret that sometime in the fall of 2008, the waters of the Potomac River began to flow into the Hudson. With the vast underwriting of Wall Street financial firms by the government, a handful of corporate executives received a searing education on Washington rules under klieg lights.Now the world of politics is about to intrude on all corporations, importing the noisy paraphernalia of campaigns, spin, opposition research and the demonization of individuals into the election of board directors. Few executives are prepared. This brave new world will erupt in 2010 once the Securities and Exchange Commission votes early in the year to issue new rules to mandate more liberal 'access to the proxy'-which it is almost certain to do. In theory, granting shareholders the right to nominate board members at corporations' expense will bring about shareholder democracy, creating competitive elections and forcing executives to defend their business decisions. In practice, access to the proxy promises longer and more intense debates, if not chaos. Top executives, no matter how well they run their business, will be forced to mount counter-campaigns to fend off a range of well-funded players with multiple agendas. They will be besieged by institutional investors with grudges and union pension funds with political agendas, as well as powerful special interest groups."

Full column: http://bit.ly/7bFjzr -Politico- "GOP eyes McDonnell strategy"-"'We put our opponent in such a box on state issues like taxes and federal issues like [the Employee Free Choice Act] and cap-and-trade that he was kind of out carved out in no man's land,' McDonnell boasted. 'So I think we actually created to some degree the lack of enthusiasm for the other side because he was never really appealing to his base.'" Full article: http://bit.ly/4rqgJk -WFMZ-TV, Allentown, PA- "Local Union Leader Resigns Over Boy Scout Flap"- http://bit.ly/65namo

This page will be for Legislative news in the State of Georgia and from the Southeast Region of the United States.

If you have any news that you feel should be posted here, please email the information to Kevin Franklin at kdfranklincpp@gmail.com for consideration. The information will be reviewed by the Greater Atlanta Chapter Executive Committee. As news becomes available, we will post it on this page, including the quarterly newsletters from The Georgia Licensing Boards. The first issue is posted below. Just click the link:

*GA Professional Licensing Boards Newsletter Issue #2

*GA Professional Licensing Boards Newsletter

The National Association of Security Companies (NASCO) regularly provides updates on pending and enacted legislation affecting the Security Profession & Industry on a national basis. The NASCO reports will be posted here as they become available.

These reports provide the latest legislative news that affect the Security Profession & Industry from across the US and can be accessed by clicking on the following links:

NASCO Pending State Legislation 07-22-09

Nasco Pending State Legislation 07 15 09

Legislative and Government Regulation – State of Georgia

The Security and Private Detective businesses in Georgia are regulated by the State of Georgia Professional Licensing Board. The board that specifically oversees these businesses is The Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies made up of the following members:

James "Tripp" Mitchell, Chairman
Gary A. Baker, Cognizant Member
John Villines
Chief Woodrow W. Blue, Jr.
Vernon M. Keenan
Mr. Robert F. Warner
Patricia Mincey

This constitutes the prescribed seven members: two private detectives, two private security businessmen, two state, county or municipal law enforcement officers and one consumer member. Typically, the Board meets six times each year. Board meetings are open to the public, with the exception of executive session, in which confidential matters such as complaints, disciplinary items, and applications are discussed.

Probably more than the regulatory boards in most states, this board in Georgia operates "in the sunshine" and welcomes the attendance of the professionals in our industry and the public in general at their meetings. Over the last 5 years, the board has undertaken to improve the private security industry in Georgia by adopting a more stringent training and continuing education requirement for Security Officers and Private Detectives and by vigorously pursuing those who break the rules and suspending their licenses. The requirements of Security Companies and Officers are in line with the standards that are advised by ASIS International. You can read the newsletter of the Board at their website at:

http://www.sos.ga.gov/plbnews/detectives/default.htm

On the below site you can link to Licensing Information, Laws, Policies and Rules and an FAQ page that covers most of the questions that are most commonly asked about the licensing process.

http://www.sos.ga.gov/plb/detective/default.htm

Come back often to this page on the ASIS Atlanta website to stay up to date on the latest changes or proposed changes in the legislation that affects our industry.

Alabama House Bill 60