The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named Virginia Del. Jay Leftwich, Jr. (R-Chesapeake) and Virginia Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) as the 2022 recipients of the SIA Legislator of the Year Award.
The 2022 awardees will be honoured at the SIA GovSummit 2022, SIA’s annual government security conference, which will take place from May 24 to May 25, 2022, in Washington, D.C, USA.
SIA Legislator of the Year Award
The SIA Legislator of the Year Award is presented annually to members of Congress and other elected officials, who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in advancing legislation and policies that encourage the effective use of technology solutions, in order to enhance public safety and security, and protect critical infrastructure.
In 2022, Sen. Surovell and Del. Leftwich authored landmark biometrics legislation for the US state of Virginia (S.B. 741 and H.B. 1339) that was enacted in late April – a bipartisan measure to establish statewide rules for law enforcement use of facial recognition technology.
Landmark biometrics legislation for US state of Virginia
The measure establishes key requirements and restrictions that address privacy, civil liberties
The measure establishes key requirements and restrictions that address privacy, civil liberties and accuracy concerns, while at the same time, ensuring that appropriate technology tools can be used effectively, in order to help solve crimes and assist citizens in need.
While this legislation was one of the most thoroughly debated bills during the session, it was also one of the most amended, incorporating input from both sides of the aisle that strengthened the measure and helped win majority support from both parties in each chamber.
Strengthening public safety
Continually stressing to their colleagues that it was the right thing to do, in order to strengthen public safety in state of Virginia, Surovell and Leftwich worked relentlessly throughout the legislative process, to achieve its enactment.
Jake Parker, the Senior Director of Government Relations at Security Industry Association (SIA), said “A key policy priority for SIA is advocating for measures that promote the responsible and effective use of facial recognition technology, and we applaud Sen. Surovell and Del. Leftwich’s tireless efforts to pass legislation that addresses concerns about the technology, while ensuring law enforcement agencies are leveraging the software to benefit the communities they serve.”
Responsible use of facial recognition technology
Jake Parker adds, “This diligent work will help law enforcement appropriately leverage facial recognition to aid criminal investigations, fight human trafficking and help the citizens of Virginia. We congratulate Sen. Surovell and Del. Leftwich on being named SIA’s 2022 Legislators of the Year and look forward to recognising them at SIA GovSummit.”
Del. Leftwich has been rooted in Chesapeake, Virginia, his entire life – after graduating from Chesapeake Public Schools
Del. Leftwich has been rooted in Chesapeake, Virginia, his entire life – after graduating from Chesapeake Public Schools, he furthered his education at James Madison University then obtained his J.D. from the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond.
2022 Legislators of the Year
Leftwich returned to Chesapeake to launch his career and is a partner at Basnight, Kinser, Leftwich & Nuckolls, P.C., where he has been since 1988. He successfully won election to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2013 to represent Virginia’s 78th District, located in Chesapeake. He currently serves on the following committees: Chair of General Laws, Courts of Justice and Privileges and Elections.
Sen. Surovell was elected as Virginia’s 36th District State Senator in November 2015 and sworn in on January 13, 2016, representing Fairfax, Prince William and Stafford counties, and the towns of Occoquan, Dumfries and Quantico.
Vast public services experience
He currently serves on the Transportation, Commerce and Labour, Judiciary, Privileges and Elections, and Rehabilitation and Social Services Committees, and is the Senate Majority Caucus Vice Chair. Surovell is also on the Virginia Water Board and was appointed to serve on the Virginia High Speed Rail Commission, by the Senate Committee on Rules in 2016.
From 2009 to 2015, Surovell served as the State Delegate for the 44th District. He served as the House Caucus Chair from 2014-2015 and as Campaign Chair from 2012 to 2014. He also served on the Counties, Cities and Towns Committee and Science and Technology Committee for six years and the Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee for four years.
Served on the Virginia Broadband Advisory Council
The SIA Legislator of the Year Award will be presented on May 24, 2022, at a special award ceremony
Surovell was appointed by the Speaker of the House to serve on the Virginia Broadband Advisory Council from 2014 to 2016. Surovell is a Co-Founding Partner and Owner of Surovell Isaacs & Levy PLC, an 18-attorney law firm, based in Fairfax. He is an avid hiker and biker, and lives with his wife and four children in the Mount Vernon area.
The SIA Legislator of the Year Award will be presented on May 24, 2022, at a special award ceremony, during SIA GovSummit 2022. Each year, SIA GovSummit brings together government security leaders with private industry technologists for top-quality information sharing, networking and education on security topics affecting federal, state and local agencies.
SIA GovSummit 2022
SIA GovSummit 2022 will be held from May 24 to May 25, 2022, as an in-person conference at the National Association of Home Builders headquarters, located in downtown Washington, D.C., USA.
In addition to featuring a cadre of security industry leaders, the 2022 SIA GovSummit will include insights from experts at DHS, the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, the Architect of the Capitol, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and more.
The event is free for all government employees, including U.S. and international federal, state, county and municipal-level staff, plus all military, law enforcement and public safety personnel.