The Monitoring Association (TMA) has joined with APCO International, the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals, in calling upon security industry professionals to support the bipartisan, bicameral 9-1-1 SAVES Act, a zero-cost bill that would fix the federal classification by grouping public safety telecommunicators with other "protective" occupations.

The federal government currently classifies 9-1-1 operator positions as administrative/clerical in nature, in the same group as secretaries, office clerks and taxicab dispatchers.

TMA believes public safety telecommunicators should be categorized as protective service occupations, which includes a broad range of "protective" occupations: lifeguards, gambling surveillance officers, fish and game wardens, parking enforcement workers, firefighters and playground monitors, among others. 

Those interested can support the 9-1-1 SAVES Act by sending a letter of support to their state representative or senator.