Florida Senate - 2017                                     SB 190
       
       
        
       By Senator Artiles
       
       40-00155-17                                            2017190__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to low-voltage electric fences;
    3         amending s. 553.793, F.S.; redefining the term “low
    4         voltage alarm system project”; defining the term “low
    5         voltage electric fence”; providing requirements for a
    6         low-voltage electric fence to be permitted as a low
    7         voltage alarm system project; conforming a cross
    8         reference; providing an effective date.
    9          
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 553.793, Florida
   13  Statutes, is amended, present subsections (3) through (10) are
   14  redesignated as subsections (4) through (11), respectively, a
   15  new subsection (3) is added to that section, and subsection (6)
   16  of that section is amended, to read:
   17         553.793 Streamlined low-voltage alarm system installation
   18  permitting.—
   19         (1) As used in this section, the term:
   20         (a) “Contractor” means a person who is qualified to engage
   21  in the business of electrical or alarm system contracting
   22  pursuant to a certificate or registration issued by the
   23  department under part II of chapter 489.
   24         (b) “Low-voltage alarm system project” means a project
   25  related to the installation, maintenance, inspection,
   26  replacement, or service of a new or existing alarm system, as
   27  defined in s. 489.505, that is hardwired and operating at low
   28  voltage, as defined in the National Electrical Code Standard 70,
   29  Current Edition, or a new or existing low-voltage electric
   30  fence, and ancillary components or equipment attached to such a
   31  system, including, but not limited to, home-automation
   32  equipment, thermostats, and video cameras.
   33         (c) “Low-voltage electric fence” means an alarm system, as
   34  defined in s. 489.505, that operates in conjunction with a fence
   35  that is no higher than 10 feet and an energizer powered by a
   36  commercial storage battery not exceeding 12 volts which produces
   37  an electric charge upon contact.
   38         (d) “Wireless alarm system” means a burglar alarm system or
   39  smoke detector that is not hardwired.
   40         (3) A low-voltage electric fence must meet all of the
   41  following requirements to be permitted as a low-voltage alarm
   42  system project:
   43         (a) The electric charge produced by the fence upon contact
   44  does not exceed energizer characteristics set forth in paragraph
   45  22.108 and depicted in Figure 102 of International
   46  Electrotechnical Commission Standard No. 60335-2-76, Current
   47  Edition.
   48         (b) The low-voltage electric fence must be completely
   49  surrounded by a nonelectric fence or wall that is not less than
   50  6 feet high.
   51         (c) The low-voltage electric fence must be identified using
   52  warning signs attached to the fence at intervals of not more
   53  than 60 feet which read: “Warning—Electric Fence.”
   54         (d) The low-voltage electric fence may not be installed in
   55  a residential area as defined in s. 316.2126(3).
   56         (7)(6) A contractor is not required to notify the local
   57  enforcement agency before commencing work on a low-voltage alarm
   58  system project. However, a contractor must submit a Uniform
   59  Notice of a Low-Voltage Alarm System Project as provided under
   60  subsection (8) (7) to the local enforcement agency within 14
   61  days after completing the project. A local enforcement agency
   62  may take disciplinary action against a contractor who fails to
   63  timely submit a Uniform Notice of a Low-Voltage Alarm System
   64  Project.
   65         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.