July 9, 2013 MISA Meeting

The next MISA meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at the HUNAN MANOR CHINESE RESTAURANT in Columbia, MD. At this time, we will be distributing plaques for new members and for those members who have not yet received membership plaques. We will also be reveiwing changes to the MISA website and we will be hearing from various committees. We will also have updates concerning MSP and other issues of concern to our professions.

The menu for this meeting will be different than the last dinner:

APPETIZERS  (everyone gets  two apiece):

      A. Lettuce Wrapped Chicken

      B. Spring Roll

ENTREES ( each table will be served with all 5 entrees)

     A. General Tso’s Chicken

     B. Hunan Manor Shrimp

     C. Crispy Fish Filet-Hunan Style

     D. Seasonal Garden Delight

     E. House Combination Lo-Mein

DESSERTS:  Ice Cream & Fortune Cookies

     The HUNAN MANOR RESTAURANT is located at 7091 Deepage Drive, Columbia, MD  21045. The cost per person is $30.00 (different menu = different cost).   To make reservations, call Bob Hoffman at 410-977-6613 or respond by email to checkmt@attglobal.net . 

Here is a summary of the bills that passed the 2013 Session of the Maryland General Assembly that may be of interest to the membership. All will take effect on October 1st, 2013, unless otherwise noted.

1. )      The death Penalty law was repealed. No more death sentences in MD.

2.)     Gas tax increases by 10 t0 12 cents /gallon by 2015. After that, automatic increases will occur and there does not appear to be a cap. Gov. O’Malley tried three previous times to do this and has succeeded this session. This will have a direct, immediate effect  for anyone who uses automobiles for work. Included in this gas tax bill was a $3.50 fee increase for vehicle registrations. Keep the gas tax increases when bidding on contracts.

3.)      HB 001- Cannabimimetic Agents-Prohibition passed. This makes synthetic marijuana  illegal to use, possess manufacture or sell.

4.)     HB 0057/SB 0355 – Office of Health Care Quality-Abuser Registry Workshop-Creates a task force to begin on June 1, 2013 to report to the Governor and specified committees on or before January 1, 2014.

5.)     HB 0060-Lynette’s Law-Criminal Law-Professional Counselors and Therapists-Conduct-Prohibiting specified counselors or therapists from engaging in sexual acts, conduct or vaginal intercourse with a person receiving counseling or therapy.

6.)     HB 0687-Commission on Child Custody Decision making-Begins July 1, 2013 with report due to Governor and specific committees ny December 1, 2014.

7.)     HB 1006-Criminal Records-Shielding-Nonviolent Misdemeanor Convictions. This takes effect October 1, 2013. There is a specific list of crimes that a defendant under the age of 26 can request be shielded and thus will not be entered into Maryland Judiciary Case Search and you will also NOT be able to view it in the courthouse. This list includes : possession of Marijuana, drinking, theft under $100, domestic violence and other offenses. This law will impact any background checks that you do for anyone 26  or under.

8.)     SB 0004-State Personnel-Applicants for Employment-Criminal History Records Check-Prohibits specified authorities in the Judicial, Executive or Legislative branches from doing background checks or criminal history checks on job applicants until AFTER they have been interviewed or perhaps not at all in some cases.

9.)     SB 0068-Comptroller-Monitoring or Recording of Telephone Calls-Training and Quality Assurance-Allows recording of employees from call centers but not from individual employees’ phones. Takes effect July 1, 2013. This bill does the same for the Central Collection Unit.

10.)      SB 0075-Motor Vehicle Administration-Investigative Division-Issuance of Citations: An employee of the Investigative Division may  issue citations to the same extent as police officers under certain circumstances.

11.)     SB 0228-Criminal law-Use of a handgun in a Crime of Violence or Felony-Statute of Limitations:  This provides that a person who uses a handgun in the commission of a crime 0f violence or a  felony is not covered by the one year Statute of limitations.

12.)     SB 0281/HB 0294- Firearm Safety Act of 2013- Takes effect on October 1, 2013. There were more than 20 amendments to this bill which is not 62 pages long. Senator Chris Shank argued in an attempt to get our professions excluded. Armored car guards were exempted. You must make application for a Handgun Qualification License to purchase a handgun. This includes a $100 application fee,  LiveScan fingerprint fee, and within 3 years prior to application must have 4 hours of training by a qualified  handgun instructor to include: classroom instruction on State Firearms laws, home firearm safety, and  handgun mechanisms and operations. There is MUCH more to this bill and we will be updating  members at later dates. This will cost you more time and money and will effectively cause MSP Licensing Division to come to an almost complete halt.

13.)      SB 0554-Private Process Service Licensing. MISA worked with members of the Mid-Atlantic Association and the bill was WITHDRAWN. It is expected that there will be  Ad Hoc Committee work to come up with a better idea along the lines of registering with the Court. It is expected that we will be attending future meetings. Member Lew Neuwelt worked very closely with Delegate Liz Bobo’s office on this issue.

The following individuals were elected to serve on the 2013 MISA Board at the April 9th meeting. Feel free to contact any Board member with questions, ideas or concerns.

President ; Robert E. Hoffman (Checkmate Investigative Services, Inc.)
cell: 410-977-6613
1-800-686-6026

Vice Pres. -Investigations: Christopher. Kaszak
(Brown, Kaszak & Associates)
443-605-8124

Vice Pres.-Security: Larry Lorence
(Colonial Security International, inc.)
301-753-1688

Secretary : Gladys Holliday
(Shirley A. Banks Enterprises, Inc-Private Investigators)
240-604-5818

Treasurer: Dale Cranford
Corporate Intelligence Services
443-758-0256

Director: Gary Hagy
(Executive Investigation Bureau, Inc.)
410-444-9223

Director: Mike O’Neal
Alpha Security, Inc.)
301-292-3000

Director: Kimberly Yourick
(Kimberly Yourick & Associates, )
240-286-2978

The next MISA meeting will be held at the HUNAN MANOR Chinese Restaurant located in Columbia, MD from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM ON April 9, 2013.
Among the emergency agenda items will be an election for officers and the Board of Directors; group health and liability insurance; changes at the Licensing Division; Special Police Officer commissions; and upcoming changes to Case Search. We need people to step up and become active in the association. Kathy Morris will give a synopsis of the legislation that passed in the 2013 Legislative Session affecting our professions. Please make every effort to attend this important meeting.
NOMINATION BALLOTS ARE AVAILABLE NOW. CLICK ON THE MEMBERS PAGE THEN CLICK ON THIS BALLOT.
We will also be collecting 2013 dues.
The menu for the meeting is as follows:

APPETIZERS: (EVERYONE GETS 2)
A. EGG ROLL
b. BBQ ‘ed SPARE RIBS

ENTREES (everyone gets 5 ! )
A. HONEY SESAME CHICKEN
B. WALNUT SHRIMP
C. BEEF with MIXED VEGETABLES
D. SUPREME CRISPY EGGPLANT
E. HOUSE COMBINATION FRIED RICE

DESSERTS: FRESH ORANGES & FORTUNE COOKIES.
CASH BAR
Cost per person is $25.
Please RSVP to BOB HOFFMAN or 410-977-6613 at your earliest convenience.

We have lost one of our loyal soldiers. Frank Alessi passed away on June 5, 2012. His most recent post for MISA was as the Historian. He has held nearly every MISA Board position throughout his career. He helped many start their p.i. and security businesses. He enjoyed being a certified handgun instructor. Frank always had a grand story to tell. He was there to help structure the original MD Private Detective Act in 1954. He testified in Annapolis many times. Frank will be greatly missed.

Arrangements:
On June 5, 2012 FRANCIS D. ALESSI “Duane” “Frank”, beloved husband of Joan M. Alessi (nee Eppig). Devoted father of Richard D. and wife Mary G. Alessi and Stephen M. Alessi. Loving grandfather of Stephanie G. Alessi and great-grandfather of 2.
Friends may call at the Johnson Funeral Home, 8521 Loch Raven Blvd. (beltway exit 29B) on Friday, June 8th from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9p.m.
Services and Interment private. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to the American Diabetes Association, 800 Wyman Park Dr., Suite 110, Baltimore, MD 21211.