Bill Text: NJ S823 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Regulates installation, maintenance, and repair of low-voltage alarm systems and battery-charged fences.*
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-12-12 - Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee [S823 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S823-Amended.html
SENATE, No. 823
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI
District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Regulates installation, maintenance, and repair of low-voltage alarm systems and battery-charged fences.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee on December 12, 2019, with amendments.
An Act regulating low-voltage alarm systems 1and battery-charged fences1 and supplementing 1[Title 45 of the Revised Statutes] P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.)1.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in 1[this section] sections 1 through 10 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)1:
"Contractor" means a person who is authorized under P.L.1997, c.305 (C.45:5A-23 et seq.) to engage in the business 1of1 burglar alarm, electronic security system, or fire alarm system contracting.
"Low-voltage alarm system project" means a project related to the installation, maintenance, inspection, replacement, or service of a new or existing burglar alarm, electronic security system, or fire alarm that is hardwired and operating at low voltage, as defined in the National Electrical Code Standard 70, Current Edition, and ancillary components or equipment attached to such a system, including, but not limited to, home-automation equipment, thermostats, and video cameras.
"Wireless alarm system" means a burglar alarm system or smoke detector that is not hardwired.
2. P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall not be construed to impose new or additional licensure requirements in residential premises.
3. Notwithstanding any provision of law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be applicable to all low-voltage alarm system projects for which a permit is required by a local 1[enforcement] enforcing1 agency. However, a permit is not required, and a local 1[enforcement] enforcing1 agency shall not require a permit or charge a fee, to install, maintain, inspect, replace, or service a wireless alarm system, including any ancillary components or equipment attached to the system, or any work classified as ordinary fire protection maintenance or ordinary electrical maintenance pursuant to regulations under the "State Uniform Construction Code Act," P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.).
4. A local 1[enforcement] enforcing1 agency shall make uniform basic permit labels, as designed by the Department of Community Affairs, available for purchase by a contractor to be used for the installation or replacement of a new or existing alarm system at a cost of not more than $40 per label per project per unit.
a. A local 1[enforcement] enforcing1 agency 1[may] shall1 not require a contractor, as a condition of purchasing a label, to submit any information other than identification information of the licensee and proof of registration or certification as a contractor.
b. A label 1[is] shall be1 valid for 1 year after the date of purchase and 1[may] shall1 only be used within the jurisdiction of the local 1[enforcement] enforcing1 agency that issued the label. A contractor may purchase labels in bulk for one or more unspecified current or future projects.
5. A contractor shall post an unused uniform basic permit label in a conspicuous place on the premises of the low-voltage alarm system project site, visible from the exterior of the structure, before commencing work on the project.
6. A contractor 1[is] shall1 not 1be1 required to notify the local 1[enforcement] enforcing1 agency before commencing work on a low-voltage alarm system project. However, a contractor 1[must] shall1 submit a Uniform Notice of a Low-Voltage Alarm System Project as provided under section 7 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to the local 1[enforcement] enforcing1 agency within 14 days after completing the project. A local 1[enforcement] enforcing1 agency may take disciplinary action against a contractor who fails to timely submit a Uniform Notice of a Low-Voltage Alarm System Project.
7. The Uniform Notice of a Low-Voltage Alarm System Project may be submitted electronically or by facsimile if all submissions are signed by the owner, tenant, contractor, or authorized representative of such persons. The Uniform Notice of a Low-Voltage Alarm System Project 1[must] shall1 contain the following information:
UNIFORM NOTICE OF A LOW-VOLTAGE
ALARM SYSTEM PROJECT
Owner's or Customer's Name
Owner's or Customer's Address
City
State Zip
Phone Number
E-mail Address
Contractor's Name
Contractor's Address
City
State Zip
Phone Number
Contractor's License Number
Date Project Completed
Scope of Work
Notice is hereby given that a low-voltage alarm system project has been completed at the address specified above. I certify that all of the foregoing information is true and accurate.
(Signature of Owner, Tenant, Contractor, or Authorized Representative)
8. After installation, a local 1[enforcement] enforcing1 agency may coordinate directly with the owner or customer to inspect a low-voltage alarm system project to ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards. If a low-voltage alarm system project fails an inspection, the contractor shall take corrective action as necessary to pass inspection at no cost to the local 1[enforcement] enforcing1 agency, owner, or customer.
9. A municipality, county, district, or other entity of local government shall not adopt or maintain in effect any ordinance or rule regarding a low-voltage alarm system project that is inconsistent with P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), or require any permits in addition to the uniform low-voltage alarm system permit required by P.L. , c. (C ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
10. A uniform basic permit label shall not be required for the subsequent maintenance, inspection, or service of an alarm system that was permitted in accordance with P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
111. a. Notwithstanding any provision of law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a municipality or county shall not adopt or enforce an ordinance, order, or regulation that:
(1) requires a permit or fee for the installation or use of a battery-charged fence in addition to an alarm system permit issued by the municipality or county; no further permit or fee shall be required for the battery-charged fence;
(2) imposes installation or operational requirements for a battery-charged fence that are inconsistent with the requirements and standards of this section; or
(3) prohibits the installation or use of a battery-charged fence.
b. A battery-charged fence shall meet the following requirements:
(1) interfaces with a monitored alarm device in a manner that enables the alarm system to transmit a signal intended to summon the business, law enforcement, or both, in response to an intrusion or burglary;
(2) is located on property that is not designated by a municipality or county exclusively for residential use;
(3) has an energizer that is driven by a commercial storage battery that is not more than 12 volts of direct current;
(4) produces an electric charge on contact that does not exceed energizer characteristics set for electric fence energizers by the International Electrotechnical Commission Standard 60335.2.76, current edition;
(5) is completely surrounded by a nonelectric perimeter fence or wall that is not less than five feet in height;
(6) is not more than the higher of:
(a) 10 feet in height; or
(b) 2 feet higher than the height of the non-electric perimeter fence or wall; and
(7) is marked with conspicuous warning signs that are located on the battery charged fence at not more than 40 foot intervals and that reads: "WARNING--ELECTRIC FENCE."
c. As used in this section, "battery-charged fence" means a new or existing alarm system, and all attached ancillary components or equipment, including but not limited to a fence, an energizer powered by a commercial storage battery not exceeding 12 volts which produces a short electric pulsed charge upon contact with the fence, and battery charging device used exclusively to charge the battery.1
1[11.] 12.1 This act shall take effect immediately.
