TMA Joins APCO Int’l to Advocate Passing the 911 SAVES Act
The Monitoring Association is urging security industry pros to write their senators and representatives to support bipartisan efforts for the legislation.
The 911 SAVES Act would require the federal government to reclassify public safety telecommunicators as Protective Service Occupations in the federal Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). (Jim Bartlett Team Rubicon)
VIENNA, Va. — The Monitoring Association (TMA) has joined with APCO Int’l, the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals, in calling upon security industry professionals to support the 911 Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services (SAVES) Act.
The Act would require the federal government to reclassify public safety telecommunicators as Protective Service Occupations in the federal Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).
The SOC, a vast catalog of occupations maintained for federal statistical purposes, currently classifies these occupations as administrative/clerical in nature, which TMA, APCO and other groups consider inaccurate and a disservice to the lifesaving work and dedication of these professionals.
Public safety telecommunicators should be categorized among a broad range of “protective” occupations that include: lifeguards, gambling surveillance officers, fish and game wardens, parking enforcement workers, firefighters, and playground monitors, among others.
In announcement, TMA states, “Reclassification is common sense, and about getting public safety telecommunicators the recognition they deserve for the work they do every day to protect and save the lives of the public and first responders.”
Those interested can support the 911 SAVES Act by sending a letter of support to those representatives who support the Act or a letter to request support.
The links below lead to a dynamic form on APCO’s website where individuals can provide key contact information and the appropriate letter is sent automatically to your representatives and senators. The process takes just minutes to complete.
- Ask your U.S. Senator to support the 911 SAVES Act
- Ask your U.S. Representative to support the 911 SAVES Act
At a press conference earlier this year celebrating the bill’s introduction, APCO Executive Director and CEO Derek K. Poarch joined several members of Congress who sponsored the bill and other leaders offering their support.
“The work performed by public safety telecommunicators is nothing short of extraordinary, and it is 100% ‘protective.’ Passage of the 9-1-1 SAVES Act will be a win for public safety and APCO’s going to do everything it can to help make sure it happens,” said Poarch.
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