CAA News

A collection of legislative updates, event news, and board insights

  • All
  • Guest Editorial
  • Legislation
Money in jar

Jun 11 2021

Bills & Budgets: Legislative Update

By Edelstein Gilbert Robson & Smith | Jun 11, 2021 | Legislation
June marks the halfway point in the legislative calendar. By early June,  most bills must pass out of the house they were introduced in to keep moving. The only exceptions are urgency bills and constitutional amendments which must be passed on a 2/3 vote of the Legislature.
Full Article

May 28 2021

Is Gov. Newsom Gaining in Popularity? Legislative Update…

By Edelstein Gilbert Robson & Smith | May 28, 2021 | Legislation
Many of our updates in the last year have focused on the challenges Governor Newsom has been facing. It isn’t a stretch to say that he has held the office during the most challenging moment in history since World War II, and arguably ever.
Full Article

May 28 2021

CAA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: JUNE is here!

By Mike Salk | May 28, 2021 | Guest Editorial
Here we are mid-2020 and finally things are coming back to life.  A new comfort level with being “out and about” is provided by vaccines and encouraging statistics of a declining pandemic.  Businesses, shops, stores, restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, etc., are all coming back to life.
Full Article
Solar Energy

May 28 2021

Dealer Perspective…#33

By Tony Smith | May 28, 2021 | Guest Editorial
The last few articles have attempted to show the growing interaction between the security industry and the solar rooftop opportunity.  Solar rooftop (with batteries) within a mini-grid environment would likely have eliminated much of the damage from the “Texas freeze” a few months ago.  Texas has its own interconnecting grid that covers the entire state.  All of the interconnecting switches, valves and other components required a winter upgrade, which did not happen.  When a portion of the system froze, the entire grid went down and the state went into a deep freeze.
Full Article
Legislation Update May 7th

May 14 2021

Legislative Update – May 14th

By Edelstein Gilbert Robson & Smith | May 14, 2021 | Legislation
The big news in the California Capitol is the release of the Governor’s May Revision to the 2021-22 State Budget that he proposed to the Legislature in January. This revised budget document is supposed to reflect updated tax revenues and spending trends to better enable the Legislature to pass a balanced budget on June 15 for the fiscal year that will begin on July 1.
Full Article

May 3 2021

Legislative Update April 30th

By Edelstein Gilbert Robson & Smith | May 3, 2021 | Legislation
April 30 marked the first significant legislative deadline of the 2021 legislative session whereby bills had to pass out of policy committees in the house of origin before being considered by the fiscal committee. This session, consistent with recent years, we have seen a plethora of employment-related legislation that would impose various requirements on all California employers. With the pandemic, bills of this nature have increased, with legislators proposing expansion of leave offered to…
Full Article

Apr 29 2021

Positive Reviews = Higher RMR for Alarm Companies

By Brian Plant | Apr 29, 2021 | Guest Editorial
There is another new study that points to a direct correlation between customer reviews and revenues for the businesses who receive them. Conducted by a leading social analytics firm and the Paley Center for Media, this study measured exactly how much more people were willing to pay for products based on the reviews they had…
Full Article

Apr 29 2021

Dealer Perspective…#32

By Tony Smith | Apr 29, 2021 | Guest Editorial
Over the last few months, we have written about the growth prospects and necessity of rooftop solar especially here in California and the West.  Many pundits predict that the number of new solar homes will be approximately 30 million, with most of them in California.  The truth may be that the number might be larger…
Full Article

Apr 29 2021

Taxes to Follow COVID

By MitchReitman | Apr 29, 2021 | Guest Editorial
After a year of coping with COVID lockdowns and reduced revenues the potential increase in business and individual tax rates may be our next challenge.  President Biden has suggested raising federal rates on businesses and the wealthy to pay for his forthcoming infrastructure bill and programs to combat inequality and climate change. Under his proposed…
Full Article

Apr 29 2021

Payroll Tax Pitfalls

By MitchReitman | Apr 29, 2021 | Guest Editorial
Payroll taxes and withholding present a tempting source of working capital for a small business.  Payroll tax payments are easy to divert because there isn’t really an invoice (at first).  Payroll taxes and withholding are ‘voluntarily’ reported on IRS Form 941 (Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return) and paid via direct deposit to the IRS.  The…
Full Article

Upcoming Events

From regional networking luncheons to the major conventions, the CAA and its regional associations will host a number of exciting events this year. 

  • CAA Spring Convention 2021

    Our annual Spring conference will be live and in person in Palm Springs, CA at the Hilton Convention Center. Online registration is open now! RSVP, and view and sign up for seminars. 

  • Regional Chapter Events

    Local events are being held every month throughout the state. Join your local chapter for fun opportunities to network and learn from your peers.

Register Now

Browse All Upcoming Events & Register Online Now

View & Register
IMG_7402-620x465

About the CAA

The California Alarm Association develops and manages programs to benefit members and to promote the growth of professionalism in the electronic security industry throughout the state of California. Membership dues provide the foundation for funding these programs, but we rely on the financial support of individuals and companies to expand existing programs and launch new initiatives. These non-dues revenues are critical for the protection of the industry in which we all make our livelihood, and to preserve our ability to enhance public safety in our communities.

Mission

  1. Serve our members and associates by being the industry advocate and liaison with public safety agencies, government bureaus, and licensing, standards and regulation bodies.
  2. Serve the people of California by being a reliable and trusted resource for safety and security information and services.

Vision

Promote growth, professionalism and innovation in the security industry, and to make all Californians safer and more secure.

Resources

For a complete listing, please visit our Resources Page

Regulatory 

Bureau of Security and Investigative Affairs (BSIS) http://www.bsis.ca.gov
(916) 322-4000

Contractors State License Board
http://www.cslb.ca.gov

Associations

Electronic Security Association (ESA) 
http://www.esaweb.org 
(888) 447-1689
Fax: (214) 260-5979 

National Training School (NTS)

(866) 636-1687 

California Automatic Fire Alarm Association (CAFAA) 
http://www.cafaa.com 

WBFAA UATC Apprenticeship Program 
http://www.wbfaa.net

Alarm Response Information

Security Industry Alarm Association (SIAC) 
http://www.siacinc.org 
http://www.pleaserespond.org

Security Industry Trade Magazines

Security Magazine 
http://www.securitymagazine.com

Security Distributing & Marketing 
http://www.sdmmag.com

Security Systems News 
http://www.securitysystemsnews.com

Security Director News 
http://www.securitydirectornews.com

Security Products 
http://www.secprodonline.com

Cygnus 
http://www.securityinfowatch.com

Security Sales & Integration 
http://www.securitysales.com

Campus Safety 
http://www.campussafetymagazine.com

GSN: Government Security News 
http://www.gsnmagazine.com

Upcoming Events
Latest News
East Bay Alarm Association
Golden Gate Alarm Association
Greater Los Angeles Security Alarm Association
Greater Valley Alarm Association
Inland Empire Alarm Association
Mid-Cal Alarm Association
Redwood Alarm Association
Sacramento Area Alarm Association
San Diego Security Association
Silicon Valley Alarm Association

Become An Association Member Today

There's a place for you at the California Alarm Association. Sign up online today to join one of the fastest growing and progressive industry associations.
Apply Now