Florida Senate - 2016                                     SB 768
       
       
        
       By Senator Flores
       
       
       
       
       
       37-00753B-16                                           2016768__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to alarm system registration; creating
    3         s. 553.7931, F.S.; defining the term “applicable local
    4         governmental entity”; providing a uniform process for
    5         the registration of home and business alarm systems
    6         under certain circumstances; requiring the owner,
    7         lessee, or occupant, or an authorized representative
    8         thereof, of a property to register an alarm system
    9         within 20 days after occupancy or after installation
   10         of the alarm system; authorizing the applicable local
   11         governmental entity to charge a registration fee;
   12         specifying the requirements of the application form;
   13         requiring the owner, lessee, or occupant, or an
   14         authorized representative thereof, to notify the
   15         applicable local governmental agency of a change in
   16         the information provided in the application form
   17         within 30 days; authorizing the applicable local
   18         governmental entity to assess or impose fines or
   19         penalties for a failure to register an alarm system or
   20         for excessive false alarms; providing that fines and
   21         penalties are the responsibility of the owner, lessee,
   22         or occupant of the property; providing an effective
   23         date.
   24          
   25  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   26  
   27         Section 1. Section 553.7931, Florida Statutes, is created
   28  to read:
   29         553.7931 Uniform alarm registration process.—
   30         (1) As used in this section, the term “applicable local
   31  governmental entity” means the local enforcement agency or local
   32  law enforcement agency responsible for the administration of
   33  alarm system registration in a jurisdiction.
   34         (2) This section creates a uniform process for the
   35  registration of a home or business alarm system and applies only
   36  if such registration is required by a local ordinance,
   37  regulation, or rule.
   38         (a) The owner, lessee, or occupant, or an authorized
   39  representative thereof, of a property must file a uniform alarm
   40  registration application with the applicable local governmental
   41  entity that requires registration within 20 days after the
   42  installation or activation of an alarm system or occupancy of a
   43  property with an activated alarm system. During the intervening
   44  period, local first responders shall respond to a dispatch
   45  request. The application may be submitted electronically, or by
   46  facsimile, if signed by the owner, lessee, or occupant, or an
   47  authorized representative thereof.
   48         (b) The applicable local governmental entity may charge the
   49  owner, lessee, or occupant an alarm registration fee of up to
   50  $25. The registration is valid for as long as the registrant
   51  occupies the property. If possession of the property is
   52  transferred, the new occupant must file an application pursuant
   53  to paragraph (a).
   54         (c) The uniform alarm registration application must contain
   55  substantially the following information:
   56  
   57               UNIFORM ALARM REGISTRATION APPLICATION              
   58  
   59  Owner, Lessee, or Occupant Name........
   60  Owner, Lessee, or Occupant Address........
   61  City........
   62  State.... Zip....
   63  Phone Number........
   64  E-mail Address........
   65  Date of Occupancy........
   66  Name of Alarm Contractor........
   67  Phone Number of Alarm Contractor........
   68  Name of Alarm Monitoring Company........
   69  Phone Number of Alarm Monitoring Company........
   70  
   71  Emergency Contact Information:
   72  Name........
   73  Address........
   74  City........
   75  State.... Zip....
   76  Phone Number........
   77  
   78  I certify that the foregoing information is true and accurate.
   79  ...(Date)...
   80  ...(Signature of Owner, Lessee, or Occupant, or Authorized
   81  Representative)...
   82  
   83         (d) The owner, lessee, or occupant, or an authorized
   84  representative thereof, shall notify the applicable local
   85  governmental entity within 30 days of any change to the
   86  information previously submitted. A contractor, as defined in s.
   87  553.793, must advise a consumer at the time of an alarm system
   88  installation that an obligation to register the system may
   89  exist.
   90         (3) Civil penalties and fines assessed or imposed by the
   91  applicable local governmental entity for a failure to register
   92  an alarm system as required under subsection (1) or for
   93  excessive false alarms shall be the responsibility of the owner,
   94  lessee, or occupant of the property. A local ordinance,
   95  regulation, or rule may not impose a civil penalty or fine
   96  against an alarm contractor or alarm monitoring company for
   97  excessive false alarms.
   98         Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2016.