Irving, Texas, May 30, 2008 - Members of the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) took their messages direct to the nation’s capitol during the association’s second Day on Capitol Hill, in a successful grassroots effort to educate national legislators about the concerns of electronic life safety and security professionals. One of the highlights of the two-day event was the announcement by Congressman Paul C. Broun, M.D. (R-GA) of the introduction of H.R. 5920 the “Electronic Life Safety and Security & Systems Federal Background Check Act,†legislation which was supported by NBFAA.
H.R. 5920 directs the Attorney General to permit the electronic life safety, security and systems profession to access the FBI database and to provide employers with relevant criminal history record information. The bill provides for various goals and standards that the industry would encourage the Attorney General to consider in promulgating rules for this access, as well as privacy protections and employee rights.
The NBFAA believes that employees of the industry need to undergo federal criminal background checks not only for the employer but to protect American citizens and provide the most professional services possible in these times of terrorism and increased criminal activity. This bill represents NBFAA’s success in educating lawmakers about this issue. Background checks for the industry have been one of the legislative issues that the association has been pursuing on behalf of its members and the public.
In addition to background checks, other legislative issues that NBFAA members discussed with their representatives during the Day on Capitol Hill included the “Secure America’s Homes and Businesses Act†and the “Long Term Care Life Safety Actâ€.
