Florida Senate - 2015 SB 466
By Senator Flores
37-00587A-15 2015466__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to low-voltage alarm systems; amending
3 s. 553.793, F.S.; revising the definition of the term
4 “low-voltage alarm system project” and adding the
5 definition of the term “wireless alarm system”;
6 providing that a permit is not required to install,
7 maintain, inspect, replace, or service a wireless
8 alarm system and its ancillary components; reducing
9 the maximum price for permit labels for alarm systems;
10 authorizing a local enforcement agency to coordinate
11 the inspection of certain alarm system projects;
12 providing an effective date.
13
14 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16 Section 1. Subsections (1), (2), (4), (8), and (9) of
17 section 553.793, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
18 553.793 Streamlined low-voltage alarm system installation
19 permitting.—
20 (1) As used in this section, the term:
21 (a) “Contractor” means a person who is qualified to engage
22 in the business of electrical or alarm system contracting
23 pursuant to a certificate or registration issued by the
24 department under part II of chapter 489.
25 (b) “Low-voltage alarm system project” means a project
26 related to the installation, maintenance, inspection,
27 replacement, or service of a new or existing alarm system, as
28 defined in s. 489.505, that is hardwired and operating at low
29 voltage, as defined in the National Electrical Code Standard 70,
30 Current Edition, and ancillary components or equipment attached
31 to such a system, including, but not limited to, home-automation
32 equipment, thermostats, and video cameras.
33 (c) “Wireless alarm system” means a burglar alarm system or
34 smoke detector that is not hardwired.
35 (2) Notwithstanding any provision of law, this section
36 applies to all low-voltage alarm system projects for which a
37 permit is required by a local enforcement agency. However, a
38 permit is not required to install, maintain, inspect, replace,
39 or service a wireless alarm system, including any ancillary
40 components or equipment attached to the system.
41 (4) A local enforcement agency shall make uniform basic
42 permit labels available for purchase by a contractor to be used
43 for the installation or replacement of a new or existing alarm
44 system at a cost of not more than $40 $55 per label per project
45 per unit. However, a local enforcement agency charging more than
46 $55, but less than $175, for such a permit as of January 1,
47 2013, may continue to charge the same amount for a uniform basic
48 permit label until January 1, 2015. A local enforcement agency
49 charging more than $175 for such a permit as of January 1, 2013,
50 may charge a maximum of $175 for a uniform basic permit label
51 until January 1, 2015.
52 (a) A local enforcement agency may not require a
53 contractor, as a condition of purchasing a label, to submit any
54 information other than identification information of the
55 licensee and proof of registration or certification as a
56 contractor.
57 (b) A label is valid for 1 year after the date of purchase
58 and may only be used within the jurisdiction of the local
59 enforcement agency that issued the label. A contractor may
60 purchase labels in bulk for one or more unspecified current or
61 future projects.
62 (8) A local enforcement agency may coordinate directly with
63 the owner or customer to inspect a low-voltage alarm system
64 project may be inspected by the local enforcement agency to
65 ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards. If a low
66 voltage alarm system project fails an inspection, the contractor
67 must take corrective action as necessary to pass inspection.
68 (9) A municipality, county, district, or other entity of
69 local government may not adopt or maintain in effect any an
70 ordinance or rule regarding a low-voltage alarm system project
71 that is inconsistent with this section.
72 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.