ENROLLED
2022 Legislature CS for CS for SB 1140
20221140er
1
2 An act relating to alarm systems; amending s.
3 489.5185, F.S.; authorizing individuals with certain
4 fire alarm certifications to complete a reduced number
5 of training and continuing education hours for the
6 prevention of false alarms; requiring the training and
7 continuing education sponsors and courses to be
8 approved by the Electrical Contractors’ Licensing
9 Board; amending s. 553.793, F.S.; revising the
10 definition of the term “low-voltage alarm system
11 project” to include certain video cameras and closed
12 circuit television systems; creating s. 553.7932,
13 F.S.; defining terms; authorizing a local enforcement
14 agency to require a contractor to submit certain
15 documentation and payment for obtaining a permit for a
16 fire alarm system project; prohibiting a local
17 enforcement agency from requiring plans and
18 specifications as a condition for obtaining a permit
19 for a fire alarm system project; requiring a local
20 enforcement agency to issue certain permits in person
21 or electronically; requiring a local enforcement
22 agency to perform at least one inspection for a fire
23 alarm system project; requiring a contractor to keep
24 certain documentation at a worksite for a fire alarm
25 system project and make such documentation available
26 for inspection; providing an effective date.
27
28 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
29
30 Section 1. Subsection (5) of section 489.5185, Florida
31 Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (f) is added to subsection
32 (2) of that section, to read:
33 489.5185 Fire alarm system agents.—
34 (2)
35 (f) If a person holds a current National Institute of
36 Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) Level II
37 certification or higher in Fire Alarm Systems or Inspection and
38 Testing of Fire Alarm Systems, a current certification as an
39 Electronic Security Association (ESA) Certified Fire Alarm
40 Technician, or a current certification as an ESA Certified Fire
41 Alarm Designer, he or she is required to complete only the 2
42 hours of training in the prevention of false alarms required by
43 paragraph (1)(b) from a board-approved sponsor of training and
44 through a board-approved training course.
45 (5)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), each fire alarm
46 system agent must receive 6 hours of continuing education on
47 fire alarm system installation and repair and false alarm
48 prevention every 2 years from a board-approved sponsor of
49 training and through a board-approved training course.
50 (b) A person holding a current NICET Level II certification
51 or higher in Fire Alarm Systems or Inspection and Testing of
52 Fire Alarm Systems, certification as an ESA Certified Fire Alarm
53 Technician, or certification as an ESA Certified Fire Alarm
54 Designer is required to complete only 2 hours of continuing
55 education training in the prevention of false alarms every 2
56 years from a board-approved sponsor of training and through a
57 board-approved training course.
58 Section 2. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
59 553.793, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
60 553.793 Streamlined low-voltage alarm system installation
61 permitting.—
62 (1) As used in this section, the term:
63 (b) “Low-voltage alarm system project” means a project
64 related to the installation, maintenance, inspection,
65 replacement, or service of a new or existing alarm system, as
66 defined in s. 489.505, including video cameras and closed
67 circuit television systems used to signal or detect a burglary,
68 fire, robbery, or medical emergency, that is hardwired and
69 operating at low voltage, as defined in the National Electrical
70 Code Standard 70, Current Edition, or a new or existing low
71 voltage electric fence. The term also includes, and ancillary
72 components or equipment attached to such a low-voltage alarm
73 system or low-voltage electric fence, including, but not limited
74 to, home-automation equipment, thermostats, closed-circuit
75 television systems, access controls, battery recharging devices,
76 and video cameras.
77 Section 3. Section 553.7932, Florida Statutes, is created
78 to read:
79 553.7932 Simplified permitting process for fire alarm
80 system projects.—
81 (1) As used in this section, the term:
82 (a) “Contractor” means a person who is qualified to engage
83 in the business of electrical or alarm system contracting
84 pursuant to a certificate or registration issued by the
85 department under part II of chapter 489.
86 (b) “Fire alarm system project” means a fire alarm system
87 alteration of a total of 20 or fewer initiating devices and
88 notification devices, or the installation or replacement of a
89 fire communicator connected to an existing fire alarm control
90 panel in an existing commercial, residential, apartment,
91 cooperative, or condominium building.
92 (2)(a) A local enforcement agency may require a contractor,
93 as a condition of obtaining a permit for a fire alarm system
94 project, to submit a completed application and payment.
95 (b) A local enforcement agency may not require a contractor
96 to submit plans or specifications as a condition of obtaining a
97 permit for a fire alarm system project.
98 (3) A local enforcement agency must issue a permit for a
99 fire alarm system project in person or electronically.
100 (4) A local enforcement agency must require at least one
101 inspection of a fire alarm system project to ensure compliance
102 with applicable codes and standards. If a fire alarm system
103 project fails an inspection, the contractor must take corrective
104 action as necessary to pass inspection.
105 (5) A contractor must keep a copy of the plans and
106 specifications at a fire alarm system project worksite and make
107 such plans and specifications available to the inspector at each
108 inspection.
109 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.