National Association of Security Companies (NASCO)

Raising the Bar for Security 

Pica & Associates represents the National Association of Security Companies (NASCO), the nation's largest trade association for companies employing security guards. Maryland has more security guards than law enforcement officers, making this industry a critical part of public safety across the state. Over the past four years, we have secured passage of significant pieces of legislation on their behalf.

2023
Training Requirements: Following a high-profile shooting by a security guard in Baltimore City, we worked with Senator Jill Carter to draft legislation that balanced public safety with practical, cost-effective training requirements for the industry. Because we wrote the bill ourselves, we were able to shape fair, workable standards. Had the legislation been drafted by lawmakers alone, the requirements could have been far more onerous and costly for employers.

2024
Best Value Contracting: We drafted and passed legislation requiring the State to award contracts on a "best value" basis rather than lowest bid, a critical win for NASCO's members competing against non-union companies. Despite strong opposition from the Maryland DOT and Department of General Services, we negotiated a compromise that secured passage.

2025
Special Police Officers: We passed legislation allowing the State and private employers to hire Special Police Officers with arrest powers, opening new business opportunities for NASCO members on state contracts.

2026
Certificate Renewal Reform: We drafted legislation eliminating an outdated requirement to renew security guard certificates and removing late fees that had been running as high as $5 per day and up to $150 per guard. With thousands of security guards across Maryland affected, the savings added up quickly and removed a significant administrative burden from the industry.