6 Sep 2011

State Policy Digest will help SIA members become more aware of state policies

The Security Industry Association (SIA) launched a new quarterly publication, State Policy Digest, which will provide a review of the previous quarter's state legislative proposals, activities and trends impacting the electronic and physical security industry.

State Policy Digest will help SIA members become more aware of state policies that impact their business and SIA's involvement with those issues. The publication will include a synopsis and analysis of each state bill that SIA has monitored or taken a position on through its State and Local Policy Working Group. This group regularly reviews state issues affecting the development, use and sale of electronic physical security solutions and helps shape SIA's support of or opposition to these initiatives.

"Advocacy at the state level is critically important for SIA members," said Kathleen Carroll, Director of Government Relations, HID Global, and Chair of SIA's State and Local Policy Working Group. "State legislation can have a significant impact on our ability to do business in individual states. Our working group has been extremely effective at the state level, educating state lawmakers about the consequences -- negative or positive -- of proposed legislation concerning security products and services. As a result, our efforts in support of or opposition to various state bills have generated positive outcomes for our industry."

Jim Gingo, President, TransTech Systems, added, "SIA's reputation for advocating for our industry on Capitol Hill is very strong and valued by SIA members. But monitoring local and regional issues affecting their members is also an important, growing part of their Government Relations effort. It is comforting to know that there is a strong and reputable organisation like SIA watching out for more obscure local, municipal and state legislation that could significantly impact all our bottom lines."