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 THE
OAKLEY REPORT
By Keith Oakley
ASSIST LOBBYIST
lobbyist@assisttexas.org
The 81st session of the Texas legislature is over and ASSIST has survived yet another sunset! With the support of sunset staff, DPS, PSB, Representative Kolkhorst and Senator Hinojosa, we came out of the process with a pretty darn good bill. We are currently working with PSB and DPS as they go through the process of promulgation the new rules to comply with the mandates called for by the legislature in the Sunset bill.
PSB chairman John Chisum has appointed a committee made up of industry representatives to work through the new rules. Two of the issues of particular interest deal with the amount of time an employer have to complete the application process for new hires, and the posting of criminal offenses at the PSB for which a person may not qualify for a license.
I want to take this opportunity to also thank Chairman Todd Smith, (R-Uless) and Senator Kel Seliger, (R-Amarillo), for passing HB
3147. The bill makes the offense of taking or attempting to take a weapon from a commissioned security officer the same as from a peace officer.
I also want to thank Tom Gaylor and Randal Kuykendall of the Texas Municipal Police Association, and Brian Hawthorn and Gary Chandler with the Texas DPS Officers Association, for their efforts in helping us fight legislation that would have exempted all county jail employees from the requirement of Sec. 1702 of the occupations code. If the bill had passed, all employees of county jails, including secretaries and custodians, would have been able to work as private security officers without a license, without insurance and without training.
We had a great session with lots of help from ASSIST members. Our legislative director, Walt Roberts, was in Austin almost every week of the session. Bob Burt also burned up the miles between Houston and Austin and he helped me analyze about 5,000 bills. Our new ‘rising star’ on the legislative front has to be Alan Trevino. Alan testified numerous times this session and always did a great job. The committee members are always impressed when they hear of his many years with DPS and as a member of the Governor’s protective detail.
I feel that our legislative efforts, year after year, are really beginning to pay off. We have earned the respect of many in the legislature and I believe also at DPS. And, our LEAPS efforts are also beginning to really pay off at the legislative level. We have a better working relationship with law enforcement representatives in Austin than ever before.
During this past session we teamed up with TMPA and the DPS Officers Association to fight bad legislation and we gained the support of both groups in the passage of HB 3174. With private security and law enforcement working together in the legislature we can win many future victories.
This is all due to the continued efforts of ASSIST members. Our local LEAPS programs have brought private security and law enforcement into an era of cooperation that is unprecedented.
I know that with the continued efforts of our members, and our LEAPS programs, we will continue to gain a stronger voice in Austin for all of private security in Texas.
The more they know about our business, the better they will be able to make informed decisions. You are always welcome to contact me at:
Lobbyist@assisttexas.org, to find out more about our legislative efforts.
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