Past Meetings

July 21, 2008

The information listed below is provided as a brief summary of events that took place during the most recent PIRSAC meeting in Orlando, FL.

• Connie Crawford was introduced as the new Director of the Division of Licensing and she is well received by the licensees and the PIRSAC Council
  
  
• John McCarthy was introduced as the new Asst. Director of the DOL
  
  
• April Howard has received a promotion within the DOL and will be leaving Connie’s staff.
  
  
• Due to budget constraints the DOL was not permitted to replace or hire any new staff to assist with the increase in work load the Division has received in the past and now they have been permitted to hire to REPLACE positions as they come available. Still no NEW positions are being filled.
  
  
• The DOL is still fighting the Trust Fund issues they have been fighting for over 4 years now. The closing of the Regional Offices may be back on the table.
  
  
• DOL is going with flatbed scanners for fingerprint cards to reduce the time line for fingerprint results which will increase processing of new licenses/renewals.
  
  
• The Utility Companies proposed a “Mutual Aid Agreement” between states to bring in Armed Security Officers during a State of Emergency and the proposal is still being considered.
  
  
• Port Security Training Program is still being processed.
  
  
• SB 948 – Concealed Weapons permits will be extended to 7 years instead of 5 as it is currently.
  
  
• SB 1952 was passed in 2007 requiring new licensees to take a test on Chapter 493 for new MA, M and C licensees. Current Licensees are “Grandfathered” and will not be required to take the test. If your MA, M or C license expires for a period exceeding 1 year, the licensee will have to take the test to receiving licensure. Effective 9/1/08 PI interns (Class CC licensees) will be required to take a 40 hour course prior applying for their CC license. The curriculum is currently under review and schools teaching the course will be required to be DOE certified.
  
  
• The DOL will not be introducing new legislation for 2009 session. Most of what they will submit will be house cleaning measures to clean up 493.
  
  
• The DOL would like to go to an on-line application process for license application submission and is currently looking at ways to validate/notarize the application.
  
  
• The DOL has sent out over 16,000 suspension letters for D Licensed officers who have NOT met the 16 hour requirement within 180 days. That means that a portion of the 16,000 D Licensed Officers were not able to work until they completed the class and submitted the training certificate with their fee to the DOL Regional Office. A suggestion was made by the DOL that the industry consider requiring all licensees to go through the full 40 hour course prior to submitting their application and working. Discussion included the tracking nightmare for employees requiring the additional 16 hours, availability of the 16 hour classes, S/O’s and companies financial burden while the employees license is suspended, etc. There could still be a 24 hour and 16 hour course, but applicants cannot submit their application until they completed all 40 hours. FASCO volunteered to poll their membership as to their ideas and concerns. The PIRSAC council voted and unanimously supported the 40 hour up front course, pending results from FASCO.
  
  
• DOL proposed that employers encourage employees to go to the Regional Office if employees are renewing their licenses and have the Regional Office stamp their application which will enable them to continue to work. Mailing renewals to Tallahassee is risky due to the slow process the DOL is having with processing applications. If a licensee mails an application and it is not PROCESSED and entered into the system prior to the expiration date, the licensee will NOT be able to work.
  
  
• The DOL suggested that if the industries regulated by Chapter 493 had legislation that they wanted to submit or have the DOL consider, they need to do so by March each year.
  

Next meeting will be in Jacksonville, FL on September 11, 2008 at 1201 Riverplace Boulevard, (904) 398-8800.