Recently we told you about job killer bill SB 1203 and the opposition letter that CALSAGA sent to the author.
The association’s objections to the bill are not necessarily about the increased training requirements but rather how the training must be administered. SB 1203 forces employers to fund training run by SEIU – a labor organization lacking security industry expertise. Additionally, it inserts unnecessary third-party control into hiring and training processes, and imposes costly mandates that will disrupt operations and workforce stability.
We need your help!
This fight is going to require all of us working together.
Included below is a letter template that you can use to personalize with your letterhead and signature. Please send the finalized letter to staff@calsaga.org so that it can be distributed to different senators’ offices at the capitol.
Dear Senator,
On behalf of the private security industry and the clients we serve, I respectfully urge you to oppose SB 1203 in its current form.
Our company is a member of the California Association of Licensed Security Agencies, Guards & Associates (CALSAGA) which represents more than 400 companies and approximately 300,000 security professionals across California. Our industry plays a critical role in supporting public safety, particularly as law enforcement agencies face ongoing staffing shortages.
California already leads the nation in security officer training requirements, including 40 hours of training and mandated in-person instruction on Powers to Arrest and Use of Force. SB 1203 would significantly expand these requirements without evidence that doing so will improve safety outcomes.
Instead, SB 1203 will create serious unintended consequences:
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- Increased Costs to Businesses and Government – The bill will impose over $1 billion annually in combined costs from training mandates and wage impacts. These costs will be borne not only by private employers, but also by state and local governments.
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- Hiring Bottlenecks and Reduced Efficiency – SB 1203 restricts who can provide required training, forcing employers to rely on third parties (rather than qualified security professionals!) and eliminating efficient, employer-led training programs. This will create delays in hiring and onboarding new officers.
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- Growth of Unregulated Security Activity – Higher costs and regulatory burdens will push some operators out of the legal market and incentivize unlicensed providers to fill the gap. This undermines public safety and disadvantages compliant companies.
- Job Loss and Increased Automation – As labor costs rise, businesses will increasingly turn to cameras, AI, and other technologies in place of human security officers—reducing jobs and weakening the human presence that supports law enforcement.
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California is preparing for major global events, including the FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. Now is the time to strengthen—not restrict—our security workforce.
While we share the goal of maintaining high training standards, SB 1203 as written will have the opposite effect: fewer trained officers, higher costs, and increased risk to public safety.
For these reasons, I respectfully urge you to vote NO on SB 1203.
We welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively on solutions that enhance safety without harming jobs or access to security services.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Company Name]
Proud member of CALSAGA
