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IN
THE NEWS
A special thanks to our legislative heroes
BY DAN FLORES
It seems that each time the Texas Legislature meets, the future of our profession hangs in the balance. As you know by simply changing one word in state law, the legislature can forever change the way we do business in Texas.
Legislators often times introduce these bills in response to newspaper headlines or situations that may have occurred in their districts. Well intended bills can often have devastating unintended consequences on our business.
The ASSIST legislative team works diligently to educate legislators about issues facing the security profession so that they may make informed decisions. Although they all have the state�s best interest in mind, some legislators listen better than others.
ASSIST owes a debt of thanks to many legislators, but there are a few who have truly distinguished themselves on issues important to the future of security in Texas.
State Representative Pat Haggerty, (R-El Paso). Haggerty�s door has always been open to ASSIST. He has consistently fought for our issues. He has sponsored, and passed, more legislation important to our profession than any other member of the Texas Legislature � ever! We are truly lucky to have a friend like Pat Haggerty.
State Senator Mike Jackson, (R-Pasadena). ASSIST has often turned to Mike Jackson for help in the Senate. Jackson has proven himself to be a skilled negotiator and tough fighter as he has passed bill after bill strengthening security laws for Texas. He has the respect of his fellow senators and serves as chairman of the Senate Nominations Committee.
State Representative Joe Driver, (R-Garland). As chairman of the powerful House Law Enforcement Committee, Joe Driver has tremendous influence on security issues in our state. Driver works closely with ASSIST to ensure a better regulatory environment for our profession. He sponsored, and passed, the omnibus security bill during this past session. That one bill alone may result in more improvements in the regulation of our profession than any other bill ever passed.
State Senator Kel Seliger, (R-Amarillo). This past session was our first session to work closely with Kel Seliger. He stepped up to the plate for the security profession and hit a home run! He sponsored the omnibus security bill in the Senate and saved the legislation from certain doom. The deadline for passing bills out of the Senate had passed at midnight. Seliger convinced the senate to extend the time, and he kept fighting until he had passed the bill at after 2 a.m., on the final day! It was a moment that we shall never forget.
Although we owe many legislators a debt of thanks, these four statesmen that I have mentioned are our true legislative heroes. I urge each ASSIST member to let them know that their efforts on our behalf have not gone unnoticed.
Sun City Security appoints new partner
On Jan. 1, Sun City Security Service, Inc., (current owners, Dave Scepanski and Bruno Torres Jr.) announced the appointment of new partner, Jessie Ruelas. Sun City Security has maintained professional security and patrol services to the El Paso area for 30 years.
Ruelas joined Sun City Security in 1999 as a Security Officer. He has also held the positions of operations manager, trainer and manager. He now specializes in physical security, security operations and tactical field operations. He advises on a wide range of matters in these fields and is regularly involved in ASSIST, LEAPS, the Hotel/Motel Association and other trade arbitrations. Ruelas� military experience as a Army retired sergeant major has played a significant role in his success with Sun City Security. As an increasingly important member of the security community, Ruelas plays a key role in ASSIST by being the El Paso region president.
Join us in congratulating Ruelas on his promotion and in wishing him continued success.
Mark L. Smith appointed to Texas PSB
Thank you, everyone, for your support, efforts and contributions in getting me this Appointment to the Texas Private Security Board. A big thanks goes to George Craig for ably serving on the board for the last 12 years. Craig has sacrificed his personal time, time away from his business, and money out of his own pocket to serve the Security Industry and the citizens of Texas. Prior to his appointment, Craig and I and several others came together and concluded that we needed someone on the board that the Industry could talk to. Craig has served all of us extremely well in this first phase of our endeavor. Now I hope to do as well in carrying on our mission into the future � keeping someone on the board that the Industry can talk to.
Now comes your part. As you know, ASSIST serves as the voice of the security industry in the state of Texas and has earned the respect of the legislature and the DPS Private Security Bureau, our regulatory and licensing agency. Therefore, I encourage all of you to get involved with ASSIST at every level possible if you want to have any input into the laws and rules that affect your business. ASSIST was instrumental in the formation of the agency at its inception. To assure the continuation of their voice, it is very important to keep a strong president at the helm of ASSIST, as he will be the ultimate spokesperson for all of your concerns or rules you want passed.
Here is how it will work: I believe that in order to present a professional, informed and solid force in Austin, we must be organized. I do not believe in doing things at the last minute by the seat-of-the pants. It goes without saying that as one person, it will not be possible for me to speak with everyone who has an opinion or concern. Therefore, to keep it manageable, the best way to make your voice heard is to communicate with the members of the ASSIST state executive board who will decide on the issues to be brought before the Texas PSB. Then the president of ASSIST will communicate these issues to me along with the logic and reasoning behind them. Any issue that the organization wishes to be heard must be provided to me at least two weeks before each meeting of the Texas PSB so that I have time to absorb and digest it. The Texas PSB meets only four times a year, so it is vitally important that you have your act together if you want your issues on the agenda.
Finally, I want you to know that I am committed to upholding the long tradition of our family to serve the security industry and the citizens of Texas just as my father and uncle did. To do so, I will need the help of the collective brain power that exists in the ASSIST organization. As time goes on, I will have more to say. But for now, I know how and why I got this appointment, and I will not let you down.
Thank you again for your support.
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