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Assembly panel advances bill to expand private security de-escalation training after mixed testimony
Summary
Sen. Smallwood Cuevas’s SB 1203, the Stand for Security Act, would add de-escalation hours and require a regional training capacity analysis; labor witnesses urged action after on-the-job injuries, while industry groups warned of large costs. The committee passed the bill to labor and employment.
Senator Smallwood Cuevas urged the Business and Professions Committee to support SB 1203, the Stand for Security Act, saying it would "modernize training standards, strengthen accountability, and establish a clear professional pathway for private security guards." She told the committee she would accept future amendments requiring the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services to perform a regional training capacity analysis before prohibiting employers from delivering training.
"To deescalate is not a luxury. It is a necessity," said Latasha Reed, a 17-year security officer and SEIU USWW member, who described repeated encounters with people in mental-health crisis and other violent incidents in which she had little training to respond safely. Sebastian Avalos Tizon, another security officer, recounted being stabbed on the job and later losing his position while recovering; he urged the committee to require additional de-escalation instruction.
Industry representatives mounted a strong opposition. Dean Grafila, testifying for Allied Universal, said the bill "goes much further than is necessary" and projected the legislation would impose substantial annual costs on employers and could push customers to replace staff with automated technology. David Chandler of CalSaga stated the measure "adds 18 hours on top of our already nation-leading 40 hour standard" and warned that forcing employers to outsource training to 3rd parties that "don't yet exist at scale" could create bottlenecks and staffing shortfalls.
Committee members debated coauthorship and whether to require a market analysis before prohibiting employer-delivered training. The chair and multiple members expressed sympathy for officers injured on the job and emphasized the need to ensure training infrastructure exists before imposing new delivery rules. Assemblymember Addis moved the measure; following a roll call, the committee ordered SB 1203 to the committee on labor and employment.
What happens next: SB 1203 will go to the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment for further consideration, where authors expect to take amendments including a regional training-capacity study before any employer-delivery prohibition takes effect.
