Airport screeners.
The Transportation Security Administration has issued guidelines
for airports to use in deciding whether to retain federal
screeners or return to the use of private screening companies.
Under laws passed after September 11, as of November 19,2004,
airports may start applying for the right to use contract
security services.
As
the guidelines explain, the TSA will set standards, conduct
oversight, and enforce compliance with all screening requirements.
However, airports that opt to go for private screeners will
have greater flexibility in managing their workforce.
In either case, screeners will be paid from the same federal
funds.
Port
security. A new report for the Government Accountability
Office concludes that the Coast Guard's plan to review all
vessel security plans has faced numerous challeges and should
be updated. As of the beginning of June, the report
notes, the Coast Guard had reviewed only half of the 6,400
vessel plans submitted by the July 1 deadline set out in federal
law. The GAO further questions whether the Coast Guard's
compliance inspections, also required by law, wil be timely
and thorough. These on-site compliance inspections will
be difficult to carry out, according to the report, because
it is unclear whether the Coast Guard will have enough inspectors,
a training program sufficient to prepare the inspectors, and
adequate guidance to generate consistent reviews.
Concealed
weapons. A bill (H. R. 218) that would exempt
off-duty and retired law enforcement personnel from compliance
with concealed-weapons laws has been approved by both houses
of Congress.
Persons
covered under the bill would be exempt from state and local
concealed-weapons laws except in certain circumstances.
The bill would not supercede state laws that allow private
property owners to ban firearms on their property. Similarly,
the bill would not apply to state or local goverment buildings
where firearms are prohibited.
The
bill has been sent to President Bush for his signature.
He is expected to sign.
Mike's
note: Is there no end to special treatment for police?
Preemployment
screening. A bill (H.R.4022) introduced by
Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ) would allow the owners of private
security companies to access the FBI's criminal database through
the National Crime Information Center. Owners of contract
security companies would be required to check the database
for any criminal activity committed by prospective employees;
it also would require an anual check of current employees.
Those found to have a criminal history would not be allowed
to work for a private security company.
Under
the provisions of the bill, companies would have to maintain
the confidentiality of the criminal records checks.
They would also have to ensure that the information was used
properly and seen only by those involved in the employment
decision at hand.
The
bill also requires that the information from the record check
be destroyed after a hiring decision is made or within 180
days of receiving the data, whichever occurs first.
HR
4022 has one cosponsor and has been referred to the House
Education and Workforce Committee's Subcommittee on Employer-Employee
Relations and the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee
on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Another
bill, S.1743, would allow companies with in-house security
officers to access the same federal criminal database to do
background checks on job candidates, but would not require
it. It has been voed out of commitee and is pending before
the full Senate.
Mike's
note: It would be a great advance for the industry if the
in-house people were required to meet the same minimum standards
the contract people must meet. |
