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ASSIST anticipates a busy legislative session
Bob Burt, Executive Vice President
The security profession, again, can expect a lot of security-related legislative proposals during this current legislative session. Many of the issues are minor, but necessary, clarifications or additions to current law. Last session, legislation was passed allowing commissioned security officers, after appropriate training, to carry pepper spray in amounts similar to those amounts allowed to be carried by police officers. The original intent was to include all security officers and we should be able meet that goal this time.
Another issue relates to clarifying the conditions whereby a commissioned officer may carry a weapon while in performance of, or in transit to and from their duty post.
Other issues include removing the statutory requirement of shotgun training, allowing Texas juries to consider capital murder in the murder of a security officer, increased penalties for operating without a license or hiring someone who does not have a license, protecting security service providers from theft of service, and establishing a method whereby security service providers can maintain liability insurance or an accepted equivalent.
In addition, the use of taser guns has become an issue which merits our attention.
We will continue to oppose measures that weaken the security of our state and nation. This includes attempts to weaken regulation of individuals performing security services and attempts to weaken criminal background checks and training of those individuals.
These are just a few of the issues we will face. As always, the unexpected will turn up, but we know that, and Keith Oakley is great in keeping us one step ahead.
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