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: 33 489.5185Fire 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: 60 553.793Streamlined 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: 79 553.7932Simplified 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.