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An
ounce of prevention
By Walt Roberts
ASSIST Executive Vice President
By all accounts, ASSIST has just experienced a successful legislative session. Mainly due to the work of Keith Oakley, our legislative liaison, the ASSIST Executive Board for their continuing support and the efforts of the legislative committee, Bob Burt, Dan Walker, Dan Flores, Alan Trevino and President Parker. Without this ongoing trust and commitment, we would have not seen the same outcome and soon-to-be laws passed. I must also commend Michael Kelly and Valerie Fulmar on the Security Professions Legislative Meeting and Day at the Capital. By the attendance and contribution of our colleagues in the other categories of security, we made a formidable group of professionals. Walking the halls as a concerted effort made our profession look and demonstrated that many of our goals are mutual and attainable. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this.
In January of 2009, the 81st session of the Texas Legislature will begin. Where does ASSIST want to be? Hopefully, at the front, leading causes for our profession and business to prosper and protect the citizens of Texas.
This work begins now! How can you help? We, the security officer portion of the profession, have a lot to offer. Our officers and their families vote, and what person running for office does not want a vote? State representatives and senators in your area maybe up for re-election now; you see where we are going. Pick the one you want, get out there and help; contribute, time, money and work and they will remember you and be sensitive to your cause in 2009. That�s what we need.
In many of the meetings I hear the same problem: it�s hard to collect money from certain clients � what can ASSIST do to help? For the past two sessions, we have tried unsuccessfully to get a lien bill passed. But I think I have a plan. Last session, we watched the staffing industry try to get a bill through and it didn�t make it. So now we are reaching out to the staffing, janitorial and lawn care industries, trying to get a coalition together to write a bill we all can use and support. We feel this multiple-industry approach will provide more grassroots support, more boots on the ground in Austin in 2009 and a better understanding of the overall loss to the state in revenue due to these collection issues.
In closing, let me also thank CLEAT Chris McGill and all the other police associations and organizations for both their help and support. Sometimes we find ourselves on opposite ends of the fence, but for me this session was not one of those.
Chief Rick Watson and Lt. Gary Title of the Dallas Police Department and Steve Lyons of the Houston Police Department were a pleasure to work with and open to the causes we had in common. It is my understanding that prior to the next session, many departments want to meet with the ASSIST legislative team and prepare for those fights where we have common ground.
Walt Roberts (469) 533-3311, [email protected]
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