SIA, ESA Express Support for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

The Electronic Security Association (ESA) and the Security Industry Association (SIA) are part of a community of security professionals unified by the mission of keeping people and property safe. Following inexplicable and senseless school security tragedies that occur far too often in this nation, most recently in Uvalde, Texas, we commit ourselves to support reasonable initiatives to protect young children who simply deserve a safe place to learn. We recognize that that there is not a single solution to preventing incidents of school violence, but our nation clearly needs to do more.

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is one such measure that deserves support in Congress.

Our members support a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to bolstering school safety and security. Modern, effective security infrastructure is just one of many essential components to a comprehensive approach to school safety – but it’s a critical one. When other prevention efforts fail, measures that address security vulnerabilities can help deter, limit and enhance the response to school violence.

We all agree that schools should be the safest places children can be – safer than any other environments outside of their homes. Yet many schools still struggle with the cost of meeting security needs, as well as effectively implementing the right policies and procedures that are critical to the effectiveness of any security measure. People, process, training and technology are complementary components of an effective school security and violence prevention strategy.

Among its provisions, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act would increase assistance to schools investing in security improvements through the STOP School Violence Act by providing an additional $100 million for School Violence Prevention Program grants administered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over the next five years. This vital program continues to receive far more qualified applications than can be awarded with existing funding. This legislation proposes a 40% increase over current funding levels, which will help address critical needs identified by school districts. As part of a coalition of parent groups and organizations from the education, public safety and solutions provider communities, we have long advocated for bolstering assistance through DOJ school safety grants.

We also strongly support the inclusion of the Luke and Alex School Safety Act within this bipartisan measure. Named in honor of Luke Hoyer and Alex Schachter, two students killed in the 2018 attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the Luke and Alex School Safety Act codifies the multiagency clearinghouse of school safety best practices and resources provided at SchoolSafety.gov, bolstering this work and ensuring it continues to grow and improve. This clearinghouse provides critical resources for implementing balanced, holistic school safety programs across a range of topics from mental health to school climate and emergency planning. Within physical security, SchoolSafety.gov includes the PASS Safety and Security Guidelines for K-12 Schools developed by the nonprofit Partner Alliance for Safer Schools. We strongly recommend that all schools and districts download and use these free guidelines as they develop, evaluate and seek the necessary funding to implement school safety programs.

In our view, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act takes meaningful steps that address both threats and vulnerabilities in our nation’s schools and communities. We urge Congress to swiftly pass this legislation, which will make our schools safer and ultimately save lives.

Featured

  • Trends Keeping an Eye on Business Decisions

    Today, AI continues to transform the way data is used to make important business decisions. AI and the cloud together are redefining how video surveillance systems are being used to simulate human intelligence by combining data analysis, prediction, and process automation with minimal human intervention. Many organizations are upgrading their surveillance systems to reap the benefits of technologies like AI and cloud applications. Read Now

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • The Impact of Convergence Between IT and Physical Security

    For years, the worlds of physical security and information technology (IT) remained separate. While they shared common goals and interests, they often worked in silos. Read Now

  • Unlocking Trustworthy AI: Building Transparency in Security Governance

    In situations where AI supports important security tasks like leading investigations and detecting threats and anomalies, transparency is essential. When an incident occurs, investigators must trace the logic behind each automated response to confirm its validity or spot errors. Demanding interpretable AI turns opaque “black boxes” into accountable partners that enhance, rather than compromise, organizational defense. Read Now

  • Seeking Innovative Solutions

    Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. You may recognize these terms as the “5 Phases” of a grieving process, but they could easily describe the phases one goes through before adopting any new or emerging innovation or technology, especially in a highly risk-averse industry like security. However, the desire for convenience in all aspects of modern life is finally beginning to turn the tide from old school hardware as the go-to towards more user-friendly, yet still secure, door solutions. Read Now

New Products

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.