As mentioned in a recent eNews, there is progress in the U.S. House of Representatives for legislation that would reclassify public safety telecommunicators as Protective Service Occupations (as opposed to administrative/clerical occupations) in the Standard Occupational Classification. Yesterday Congresswoman Norma Torres (D-CA) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the 9-1-1 SAVES Act, a bill that would appropriately reclassify public safety telecommunicators with other "Protective" occupations. At a press conference celebrating the bill’s introduction, APCO Executive Director and CEO Derek Poarch joined other leaders offering their support. Poarch said, “The work performed by these professionals 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 that happens.”
We need your help. TAKE ACTION NOW by clicking this link - https://www.apcointl.org/government-relations/take-action - and filling out a form to generate an email to your U.S. Representative, asking them to co-sponsor this common sense, zero-cost bill to reclassify public safety telecommunicators as Protective Service Occupations. Please share this link over social media and encourage your friends, family and colleagues to take action too.
APCO will provide updates as they become available and may request that you take further action as this bill moves through the legislative process and has a companion bill introduced in the Senate.
For more information on the SOC and reclassification effort, visit apcointl.org/soc.
