A bipartisan effort is underway in Congress to reclassify public safety telecommunicators (PSTs) as Protective Service Occupations. Currently, the federal Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) classifies PSTs as administrative/clerical in nature, something APCO has been fighting to correct.
This week, Congresswoman Norma Torres (D-CA) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) sent a letter to their colleagues in the House of Representatives seeking support for a draft bill that would fix the SOC by appropriately classifying PSTs with other "Protective" occupations. With their respective backgrounds as a 9-1-1 dispatcher and FBI agent, they understand the lifesaving nature of the work performed by PSTs.
APCO has been working closely with Rep. Torres' office to craft a simple legislative solution. The bill is expected to be introduced later this month. In the meantime, Reps. Torres and Fitzpatrick are building a coalition of co-sponsors. APCO will continue to champion this effort as we have for the past number of years and will provide updates as they become available.
For more information on the SOC and reclassification effort, visit www.apcointl.org/soc.