September 30, 2020
Security Training Center® Management Update
Welcome to the Security Training Center® Management Update. This newsletter is specifically for security guard operations and training managers. It is short, to the point. Stay appraised of changes to California laws and regulations relating to the security industry.
New Law May Affect Private Security Industry
Governor Gavin Newsom signed California AB 2655 into law this week. The law is in response to first responders taking photos of the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash and selling them to the media. Byrant's widow filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for emotional distress. "The lawsuit, which was filed on Sept. 17, alleges that 'no fewer than eight sheriff’s deputies at the crash site pulled out their personal cellphones and snapped photos of the dead children, parents and coaches.'"
The new law "make[s] it a misdemeanor for a first responder, as defined, who responds to the scene of an accident or crime to capture the photographic image of a deceased person for any purpose other than an official law enforcement purpose or a genuine public interest." Breaking the law may result in a misdemeanor charge and up to a $1,000 fine. In addition, the law requires employers of first responders to notify them of the new prohibition.
The law goes into effect on January 1, 2021.
The key to the security industry is how "first responder" is defined:
"PC 647.9.(c). For purposes of this section, 'first responder' means a state or local peace officer, paramedic, emergency medical technician, rescue service personnel, emergency manager, firefighter, coroner, or employee of a coroner."
A private security guard may fall into the "rescue service personnel" category. It might be easier, and less expensive, to update policies and post orders to prohibit unauthorized and inappropriate crime scene photographs than challenge the new law in court.
References
AB 2655, Gipson. Invasion of privacy: first responders. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB2655
Kobe Bryant's Widow Sues L.A. County Sheriff Over Crash Site Photos https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/22/us/vanessa-kobe-bryant-lawsuit.html
The Wait is Over: Immediate Forms and Certificates Delivery
Security Training Center® today announced the implementation of immediate guard card application delivery for online courses. In a major update to the Security Training Center® Learning Management System (LMS), students have immediate access to pre-filled guard card applications, certificates of completion, and application submission instructions. There is no additional cost for this program enhancement. The implementation applies to all existing and future online courses.
"This is a significant enhancement for our individual students as well as our corporate partners," stated Alex Haddox, M.Ed., CFO of Security Training Center.® "Our competitors only offer certificates of completion to their online students, which is often out of compliance with state regulations," he continued. "We always offered full and pre-filled applications to our students in full regulatory compliance. However, there was a two-day delay for manual processing. That delay has been eliminated."
Online students can access their Transcripts page, 24x7, and download their forms and certificates on demand, right after completing their course. There is no waiting. There are no problems with disappearing emails. There are no problems with lost certificates. The certificates and forms are always available when desired.
"This is also a huge boon to our corporate partners," explained Mr. Haddox. "Our corporate partners have 24x7 access to their staff profiles, and with them, their certificates and forms. Managers can download copies of the certificates directly from the LMS for their training compliance records. They no longer must ask, and wait, for their staff to provide copies. That is a significant win."
With the astronomical growth experience by Security Training Center® in 2020, the certificate and form automation system is a scalable solution. Whether there are 1,000 certificates in a month, or 100,000, Security Training Center® can easily handle the volume.
Information and instructions can be found here:
https://www.stconlineguardcard.com/faq/completion-paperwork.shtml