Bill Text: FL S0190 | 2017 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Alarm Systems

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 3-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-01 - Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 241 (Ch. 2017-52) [S0190 Detail]

Download: Florida-2017-S0190-Comm_Sub.html

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       Florida Senate - 2017                CS for CS for CS for SB 190
       
       
        
       By the Committees on Rules; Community Affairs; and Regulated
       Industries; and Senator Perry
       
       
       
       
       595-04444-17                                           2017190c3
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to alarm systems; amending s. 489.529,
    3         F.S.; providing an exclusion from the requirement for
    4         a verification call prior to alarm dispatch for
    5         specified premises under certain circumstances;
    6         requiring alarm monitoring companies to make
    7         reasonable efforts to inform certain customers of
    8         specified rights; amending s. 553.793, F.S.;
    9         redefining the term “low-voltage alarm system project”
   10         to include low-voltage electric fences; defining the
   11         term “low-voltage electric fence”; providing
   12         requirements for a low-voltage electric fence to be
   13         permitted as a low-voltage alarm system project;
   14         conforming a cross-reference; providing an effective
   15         date.
   16          
   17  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   18  
   19         Section 1. Section 489.529, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   20  read:
   21         489.529 Alarm verification calls required.—All residential
   22  or commercial intrusion/burglary alarms that have central
   23  monitoring must have a central monitoring verification call made
   24  to a telephone number associated with the premises generating
   25  the alarm signal, prior to alarm monitor personnel contacting a
   26  law enforcement agency for alarm dispatch. The central
   27  monitoring station must employ call-verification methods for the
   28  premises generating the alarm signal if the first call is not
   29  answered. However, if the intrusion/burglary alarms have
   30  properly operating visual or auditory sensors that enable the
   31  monitoring personnel to verify the alarm signal, verification
   32  calling is not required if:
   33         (1) The intrusion/burglary alarm has a properly operating
   34  visual or auditory sensor that enables the monitoring personnel
   35  to verify the alarm signal; or
   36         (2) The intrusion/burglary alarm is installed on a premises
   37  that is used for the storage of firearms or ammunition by a
   38  person who holds a valid federal firearms license as a
   39  manufacturer, importer, or dealer of firearms or ammunition,
   40  provided the customer notifies the alarm monitoring company that
   41  he or she holds such license and would like to bypass the two
   42  call verification protocol. Upon initiation of a new alarm
   43  monitoring service contract, the alarm monitoring company shall
   44  make reasonable efforts to inform a customer who holds a valid
   45  federal firearms license as a manufacturer, importer, or dealer
   46  of firearms or ammunition of his or her right to opt out of the
   47  two-call verification protocol.
   48         Section 2. Present subsections (3) through (10) of section
   49  553.793, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (4)
   50  through (11), respectively, subsection (1) and present
   51  subsection (6) of that section are amended, and a new subsection
   52  (3) is added to that section, to read:
   53         553.793 Streamlined low-voltage alarm system installation
   54  permitting.—
   55         (1) As used in this section, the term:
   56         (a) “Contractor” means a person who is qualified to engage
   57  in the business of electrical or alarm system contracting
   58  pursuant to a certificate or registration issued by the
   59  department under part II of chapter 489.
   60         (b) “Low-voltage alarm system project” means a project
   61  related to the installation, maintenance, inspection,
   62  replacement, or service of a new or existing alarm system, as
   63  defined in s. 489.505, which that is hardwired and operating at
   64  low voltage, as defined in the National Electrical Code Standard
   65  70, Current Edition, or a new or existing low-voltage electric
   66  fence, and ancillary components or equipment attached to such a
   67  system or fence, including, but not limited to, home-automation
   68  equipment, thermostats, closed-circuit television systems,
   69  access controls, battery-charging devices, and video cameras.
   70         (c) “Low-voltage electric fence” means an alarm system, as
   71  defined in s. 489.505, consisting of a fence structure and an
   72  energizer powered by a commercial storage battery not exceeding
   73  12 volts which produces an electric charge upon contact with the
   74  fence structure.
   75         (d) “Wireless alarm system” means a burglar alarm system or
   76  smoke detector that is not hardwired.
   77         (3) A low-voltage electric fence must meet all of the
   78  following requirements to be permitted as a low-voltage alarm
   79  system project, and no further permit shall be required for such
   80  low-voltage alarm system project other than as provided in this
   81  section:
   82         (a) The electric charge produced by the low-voltage
   83  electric fence upon contact does not exceed energizer
   84  characteristics set forth in paragraph 22.108 and depicted in
   85  Figure 102 of International Electrotechnical Commission Standard
   86  No. 60335-2-76, Current Edition.
   87         (b) A nonelectric fence or wall must completely enclose the
   88  low-voltage electric fence. The low-voltage electric fence may
   89  be up to 2 feet higher than the perimeter nonelectric fence or
   90  wall.
   91         (c) The low-voltage electric fence must be identified using
   92  warning signs attached to the fence at intervals of not more
   93  than 60 feet.
   94         (d) The low-voltage electric fence may not be installed in
   95  an area zoned exclusively for single-family or multi-family
   96  residential use.
   97         (e) The low-voltage electric fence may not enclose portions
   98  of a property which are used for residential purposes.
   99         (7)(6) A contractor is not required to notify the local
  100  enforcement agency before commencing work on a low-voltage alarm
  101  system project. However, a contractor must submit a Uniform
  102  Notice of a Low-Voltage Alarm System Project as provided under
  103  subsection (8) (7) to the local enforcement agency within 14
  104  days after completing the project. A local enforcement agency
  105  may take disciplinary action against a contractor who fails to
  106  timely submit a Uniform Notice of a Low-Voltage Alarm System
  107  Project.
  108         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.