Legislative Watch: ESA-Backed Bill Gains Momentum

A bill supported the Electronic Security Association (ESA)that would give security installation companies access to the FBI criminal database for background checks was approved last month by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The "Electronic Life Safety and Security Systems Federal Background Check Act" was actually approved as part of an amendment to another bill, the "Child Protection Improvements Act.”

According to John Chwat, director of Government Relations for ESA, the legislation simply secures permission from Congress and the Department of Justice to give ESA members in states that do not have licensing or federal background check requirements for security installers access to the FBI database. "This is a legal process that those industry groups which are not law enforcement or states have to get Congress to permit them to access that database," Chwat explained.

The bill will now go before the entire Senate for a vote. Though the legislation must also still receive approval in the House, Chwat is hopeful that it could become law before the end of the year. More info: www.securityinfowatch.com/10783147