Alexandria, VA – The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International welcomed the introduction of the 911 Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services (SAVES) Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. The 911 SAVES Act would recognize 9‑1‑1 professionals (known as public safety telecommunicators) for the lifesaving work they perform every day. The Act would require the federal government to reclassify public safety telecommunicators as Protective Service Occupations in the federal Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).
The SOC, a vast catalog of occupations maintained for federal statistical purposes, currently classifies these occupations as administrative/clerical in nature, which is inaccurate and a disservice to the lifesaving work and dedication of these professionals. U.S. Representatives Normal J. Torres (CA-35) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) drafted a bipartisan, zero-cost legislative solution to appropriately reclassify public safety telecommunicators as Protective Service Occupations. Torres, a former public safety telecommunicator, and Fitzpatrick, a former FBI Special Agent, understand the protective nature of the work performed by America’s 9-1-1 professionals. Following the bill’s introduction in the House, APCO International launched a grassroots advocacy campaign for the nation’s 100,000 public safety telecommunicators and their supporters to encourage their Representatives to co-sponsor the bill.
At a press conference celebrating the bill’s introduction, APCO Executive Director and CEO Derek K. Poarch joined several members of Congress who sponsored the bill and other leaders offering their support. Poarch said, “The work performed by public safety telecommunicators is nothing short of extraordinary, and it is 100% ‘protective.’ Passage of the 9-1-1 SAVES Act will be a win for public safety and APCO’s going to do everything it can to help make sure it happens.”
About APCO International® (www.apcointl.org)
APCO International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide - and the welfare of the general public as a whole – by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach.
