This is where many licensing issues get bogged down. Not every state is
fortunate to have an association riding herd over regulation.
I realize that we are fortunate in that respect, but it needs to start
somewhere. This is a 34 year old Association. It has not always been as
strong as it is today. Six years ago, the Association was handed over to a
new Board of Directors. The Association's executive director quit 8 months
earlier, we had a mortgage of $375,00 dollars on a 7,000 square foot
building of which only about a 1000 ft was being used for storage, there was
a little over $2,000 dollars in the bank with over $20,000 dollars in
accounts payable. Our membership had dwindled to about 120 members. We had
exactly 30 days until the next mortgage payment was due and three months
before membership renewal billing could go out and really no way of getting
it out. Since that date, we are now pushing towards 700 member companies to
include every one of the nationals. The building has been sold, and our
training programs are being sought by other states. We have a lobbyist in
Tallahassee and under my term as President, spearheaded the Southeast
Security Alliance made up of 7 states. Our membership does not include those
other states. We are now in the process of searching out a lobbyist for
Washington DC. My point is, where there is a will, there is a way. We
virtually started over with nothing and in six years got to where we are
today. Sounds like a long time but when you figure the first two years were
strictly spent on rebuilding burnt bridges and regaining the memberships
trust, it hasn't been that long.
Take AZ, the concept of skills licensing isn't opposed by all. The opposition
is over the group backing regulation and how that licensing translates to job
skills. There is nothing in the proposed licensing regulation that requires an
alarm tech to understand the difference between a contact and a hair plug.
There is a solution. It is called Tiered Licensing.
However, a skilled alarm technician with years of hardwire installation
experience capable of installing complex alarm systems, cannot be licensed if
they don't know how to compute the resistance of a wire over a given distance
with 3 splices in a specific gauge, exposed to a particular temperature. So
whenever the term "electrical licensing" is mentioned, some envision that very
scenario.
Lobby for change. Tiered Licensing. Everyone gets what they want and
everyone goes home happy.
That, is the unfortunate reality. It's always someone else's problem, or it
will always be handled by someone else. I've said it many times, you can count
the number of alarmcos that show up for regulatory meetings on your hand, but
need a calculator to add up the number of alarmcos at an ADI Expo.
Serve food and give away free screwdrivers with jellybeans. Some vendor will
sponsor the meeting to get an audiance.
In all fairness, there have been proposals that have sprung up out of the blue.
True, there are ample opportunities to be involved before that proposal
becomes law, but this is where many sit back, waiting for others to deal with
it.
Apathy
Also, some proposals remain within the closed knit community of the
backers, disguised as something else.
Political tricks to ward off opposition.
Unfortunately, that's not the normal case. Many simply look at the title and
decide it doesn't impact them.
Most don't read the system manuals let alone a proposed bill.
However, in that proposal may can be a
provision that will impact another industry.
It is refered to as a "train". They will attach things to a bill that has
little to no opposition. The bill doesn't have to be related at all. Again,
it is a political trick. The sponsor of a non controversial bill must agree
to let a bill, that may be in jeopardy, attach itself to the safe bill. It
is a favor and there will be the promise of a return. They need to be
careful not to allow to many trains because it can kill a bill.
The sad fact remains,
there are many laws that are passed and have to be revised because of it's
impact on trades not intended to be covered by the law.
It is happening right now because of a revision in the Florida Building
Code. Unfortunately, no gets on the technical advisory committee because of
appointments. We are working on that as we speak. The problem right now,
through someones infinite wisdom, one cannot install an access control
system in a building that has been listed as a building with an "assembly
occupancy". It will get fixed, but right now permits are being declined.
Now probably a good time to also mention the often layman's misinterpretation
of laws. Not every law is enforced exactly as written, applicable as written
because of superseding regulations, or mean what people think they mean. In
AZ, many city laws require that a company that provides monitoring where the
police are called for response, MUST BE LICENSED! Now on the surface, that
seems pretty cut and dry, but under the surface, the city considers a
registered company (out of state with no direct presence in this state and
nothing more than letting the city know who you are, how to contact you, etc,
on a simple form) as a licensed company even though they don't have an actual
license. It's not only the words but the intent and not only the intent but
the words. Something for attorneys to earn their fees.
No attorneys! They interpete things wrong as well. Better a committee
representing the industry meet with powers to be and get it changed. That is
where we started. If the present government won't listen, the industry needs
to lobby to get in new city government. That is what happened in Palm Beach.
Get a copy of the Palm Beach County Ordinance and see what is printed on the
cover. Written by the County of Palm Beach and the Alarm Association of
Florida. This happened back in that first two years we were rebuilding and
it was through a committee from the industry.
Position papers are often mistaken as grass roots, in the trench support. Bob,
understand that Florida is the complete exception, not the rule. Although I
wish every alarm association mirrored yours, not going to happen so long as
responsibility and accountability is for the other guy.
United we stand, divided we fall. How old is that and what don't they
understand?
Lastly, the anti-any regulation crowd keeps thinking they are winning because
of those few laws they got pushed back, not realizing that the next variation
will blow them over and be twice as bad as the first. I'm sure you've seen
proposals that are designed not for passage but to feel out the opposition and
to get them to tip their hand. If a regulation is proposed and the anti
regulation crowd goes through their laundry list of cost, inconveniences, or
necessity, guarantee the next time the cost issue will be addressed, counter
arguments to inconveniences will be addressed, and why it's necessary will be
addressed. Kinda leaves them naked and passage assured.
They can carry a big stick, but, the industry is over 100 years old. Many of
the old timers have been around a long time. What is the life expectentcy of
an elected offical? Don't give up, don't take "no" for an answer, it is not
an option. They have to listen to you. You, your family, and colleuges (sp)
are voters. Conduct yourself professionally with facts, and don't go away.
Meet with everyone and don't come off as self-serving. Does it take time, of
course it does, but unemployement is not in my future plans and shouldn't be
in anyone elses either.
You and I are on the same page, Rob and I hope our conversations raise some
"how to" questions from others that want to protect their livlihood from
what they fear and strive for regulation that is fair and works for
everyones benefit. It can be done.
Bob4Secur
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