Executive Summary
The Boston City Council Committee on Government Operations held a hearing on August 11, 2026, to discuss Docket #1541, an ordinance establishing a 40-hour minimum training requirement for unarmed security guards. Sponsored by Councilors Henry Santana and Ruthzee Louijeune, the proposal seeks to standardize safety protocols, including CPR, de-escalation, and emergency response, across the city's 9,000-person security workforce. While labor representatives from 32BJ SEIU and frontline workers testified to the necessity of these standards for personal and public safety, industry stakeholders raised concerns regarding the 40-hour mandate's feasibility, the exclusion of for-profit trainers, and the potential economic impact on small, minority-owned businesses. The committee emphasized that this hearing is the start of a broader dialogue, with future working sessions planned to refine the ordinance's language and implementation timeline.
Meeting Information
- Date: August 11, 2026\n* Time: 10:06 AM\n* Governing Body: Committee on Government Operations\n* Meeting Type: Public Hearing\n* Chair: Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune (Vice Chair)\n* Councilors in Attendance: Henry Santana, Erin Murphy, Edward Flynn, Liz Breadon, Sharon Durkan, John Fitzgerald, Benjamin Weber, Miniard Culpepper.
Docket #1541: Ordinance Establishing Minimum Training Requirements for Unarmed Security Guards
The hearing focused on Docket #1541, which proposes the following mandates for unarmed security guards in Boston:\n1. Initial Training: 40 hours of exclusively in-person classroom instruction.\n2. Annual Training: 8 hours of recurring annual training.\n3. Employer Responsibility: All training must be employer-paid, including wages for the time spent in training.\n4. Certified Providers: Training may only be provided by federally tax-exempt nonprofit organizations.\n5. Enforcement: Penalties of $300 per guard, per day for non-compliance.\n\nKey Quote from Lead Sponsor Henry Santana: "Establishing minimum standards in areas such as CPR, first aid, Overdose Response, De-escalation, Behavioral Health and Emergency Preparedness is an investment in both workers and the communities they serve."
Administration Testimony
Lou Mandarini (Senior Advisor for Labor Policy) and Jody Sugarman-Brosin (Deputy Chief of Worker Empowerment) provided the administration's perspective:\n* Support for Concept: The administration supports the ordinance's goals of enhancing public safety and economic mobility through portable credentials.\n* Implementation Timeline: Officials noted that a permitting and certification system would need to be operational by July 1, 2027.\n* Capacity Concerns: The Office of Labor Compliance and Worker Protections is a small department (three staff members) and would require additional resources and due diligence to operationalize the permitting system.
Advocate and Worker Panel
Representatives from 32BJ SEIU and frontline security guards testified in favor of the ordinance:\n* Kevin Brown (32BJ SEIU): Stated that 61% of the workforce identifies as Black and emphasized that the cost of the 32BJ training fund is approximately $312 per year per officer. He noted, "You can't put a price on safety."\n* Stanley Washington III (Security Guard): Shared that he received zero training before being expected to handle mental health crises at the Boston Public Library. He stated, "Training should not come after someone gets hurt. It should come before anyone gets hurt."\n* Samuel Gomes Rodriguez Jr. (Security Guard): Criticized current virtual training methods, noting that CPR training conducted via video without practice dummies is insufficient for real-world emergencies.\n* Tanya Powell-Brown (Security Guard): Described the challenges of dealing with 'hatchet fights' and overdoses with minimal professional guidance.
Public Testimony and Industry Concerns
Several industry representatives and small business owners expressed opposition or requested modifications:\n* Herbie DuVernay (One Worker Group): Argued that the 40-hour in-person requirement would disadvantage minority-owned businesses and create barriers for part-time workers and students.\n* Steve Ametay (NASCO): Cited Philadelphia's recent implementation struggles, where a similar 40-hour mandate was reduced to 12 hours due to lack of infrastructure.\n* Terry Williams (One United Bank): Expressed concern that the ordinance would reduce flexibility and increase costs for small firms that hire local security.\n* Liam O'Connell (Securitas): Questioned whether the city has the jurisdiction to override state-level registration schemes and noted that guards lack civil immunity when intervening in violent incidents.
Councilor Discussion and Next Steps
Councilors raised several points for future working sessions:\n* Outreach: Councilors Edward Flynn and Erin Murphy questioned the lack of initial outreach to BECMA and small business owners.\n* Training Format: Councilor Sharon Durkan raised concerns about the burden of 'exclusively in-person' training for low-income workers.\n* Standardization: Council President Liz Breadon noted that Massachusetts lacks a statewide standard, leaving a gap that the city must fill.\n* Outcome: No vote was taken. Lead sponsor Henry Santana committed to holding working sessions to refine the legal language and address the concerns of small businesses and large institutions.