DATE: May 22,1995

TO: MEMBERS OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE

FROM: Joe D. Gurm, Chairman Emmett Sheppard, Vice-Chairman Walter Hinojosa, Coordihator/Treasurer

RE: HB2958

The United Labor Legislative Committee opposes the Longoria Amendment and urges you to remove it from HB 2958.

The language in this amendment has been filed each session for the last five sessions and has failed to get out of committee because it would create bad public policy. This amendment would allow untrained, unlicensed reserve peace officers to work off-duty security jobs. Under the provsions of this amendment, these untrained "weekend cops," many of whom lack the qualifications to be a full-time peace officer, would be allowed to wear uniforms, carry guns, and work unsupervised at banks, shopping malls, and other areas. These untrained guards would also take jobs away from regular peace officers who depend on outside jobs to supplement their incomes and support their families.

For these reasons, we urge you to remove the Longoria Amendment from HB 2958. JDG:ES:WH:pm opein 298/afl-cio

House Bill 405 by Longoria was filed January 3 in an effort to exempt Reserve Peace Officers from regulation by. T.B.P.I.P.S.A. The bill was referred to the Committee on Public Safety on February 1. 1995

This bill would be bad for our Industry because It would allow police agencies to add reserves which could then work extra Jobs unregulated by our board and would create the potential for abuse of public services. The bill wouldbe bad for the taxpayers of Texas because when reserve peace officers to work extra Jobs, they don't have to collect the sales tax like all licensed security companies do.

What does this mean to YOU - the Texas security officer on the job? It means that these reserve peace officers will be available for and bidding on many of the types of Jobs that YOU are now working! Many licensed security companies across our state are already suffering from this unfair competition.

This is one of the major bills our association is working to defeat in this session of the Texas Legislature. Members of our organization will travel to Austin In March to talk to legislators, and we are also working with a professional lobbyist to help pass bills that are good for our Industry and defeat bills that I are bad for us.

What can YOU do about It? YOU, the Texas professional security officer, can help us help you In a number of ways.

1. Join A.S.S.I.S.T. As an associate / employee member.

The cost is $25 per year Ask your Personnel Manager or captain about this membership today. If your company is not a member of *AS.S.I.S.T.. encourage them to Join.

You can join. even if your company is not a member. by writing to the state AS.S.l.S.T. Secretary/Treasure Mark Smith; A.S.S.I.S.T., P.O. 803029. Dallas Tx. 75380. Or if you wish, tell your Captain you want to donate $1 from every pay check to the A.S.S.l.S.T. Legislative effort. - If your company does not already participate In this program ask them to contact Mark for details.

2. Protest the bill exempting the reserve peace officers from our act. clip the letter below and mail or fax It to the committee, or write your own letter.

We need to mount a STRONG campaign to get a friend of volunteer peace officers named as chairman of the Public Safety Committee. . . Rep. Terry Keel. He is on the committee, is the former Sheriff of Travis County, came to San Antonio when we had the rally at Sea World, and has supported changes to the Private Security Act.
Otto Vehle, National Director - Reserve Law Officers Association of America

Oakley is now the Exec. V.P. of A.S.S.I.S.T. and will be their lobbyist against any and all legislation in upcoming Session that has anything to do with Reserves or smells like anything to do with that subject.

Oakley was witnessed at a meeting of the organization stating that he purposely blocked any legislation in the last Session dealing with this subject, and that he himself owns a security company and doesn't want anything to compromise the status of the laws to allow non-paid officers to take away "off-duty" jobs.

The pressure needs to be placed on other Members of Legislature, and the Speaker to appoint a skilled, knowledgeable candidate to the Chair of the House Public Safety Committee. If possible, former Sheriff of Travis County Rep. Terry Keel who is a member of the Committee now.