Bill Text: NJ S776 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Regulates installation, maintenance, and repair of low-voltage alarm systems and battery-charged fences.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-14 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee [S776 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-S776-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI
District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Stack
SYNOPSIS
Regulates installation, maintenance, and repair of low-voltage alarm systems and battery-charged fences.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act regulating low-voltage alarm systems and battery-charged fences and supplementing P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in sections 1 through 10 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
"Contractor" means a person who is authorized under P.L.1997, c.305 (C.45:5A-23 et seq.) to engage in the business of burglar alarm, electronic security system, or fire alarm system contracting.
"Low-voltage alarm system project" means a project related to the installation, maintenance, inspection, replacement, or service of a new or existing burglar alarm, electronic security system, or fire alarm that is hardwired and operating at low voltage, as defined in the National Electrical Code Standard 70, Current Edition, and ancillary components or equipment attached to such a system, including, but not limited to, home-automation equipment, thermostats, and video cameras.
"Wireless alarm system" means a burglar alarm system or smoke detector that is not hardwired.
2. P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall not be construed to impose new or additional licensure requirements in residential premises.
3. Notwithstanding any provision of law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be applicable to all low-voltage alarm system projects for which a permit is required by a local enforcing agency. However, a permit is not required, and a local enforcing agency shall not require a permit or charge a fee, to install, maintain, inspect, replace, or service a wireless alarm system, including any ancillary components or equipment attached to the system, or any work classified as ordinary fire protection maintenance or ordinary electrical maintenance pursuant to regulations under the "State Uniform Construction Code Act," P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.).
4. A local enforcing agency shall make uniform basic permit labels, as designed by the Department of Community Affairs, available for purchase by a contractor to be used for the installation or replacement of a new or existing alarm system at a cost of not more than $40 per label per project per unit.
a. A local enforcing agency shall not require a contractor, as a condition of purchasing a label, to submit any information other than identification information of the licensee and proof of registration or certification as a contractor.
b. A label shall be valid for 1 year after the date of purchase and shall only be used within the jurisdiction of the local enforcing agency that issued the label. A contractor may purchase labels in bulk for one or more unspecified current or future projects.
5. A contractor shall post an unused uniform basic permit label in a conspicuous place on the premises of the low-voltage alarm system project site, visible from the exterior of the structure, before commencing work on the project.
6. A contractor shall not be required to notify the local enforcing agency before commencing work on a low-voltage alarm system project. However, a contractor shall submit a Uniform Notice of a Low-Voltage Alarm System Project as provided under section 7 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to the local enforcing agency within 14 days after completing the project. A local enforcing agency may take disciplinary action against a contractor who fails to timely submit a Uniform Notice of a Low-Voltage Alarm System Project.
7. The Uniform Notice of a Low-Voltage Alarm System Project may be submitted electronically or by facsimile if all submissions are signed by the owner, tenant, contractor, or authorized representative of such persons. The Uniform Notice of a Low-Voltage Alarm System Project shall contain the following information:
UNIFORM NOTICE OF A LOW-VOLTAGE
ALARM SYSTEM PROJECT
Owner's or Customer's Name
Owner's or Customer's Address
City
State Zip
Phone Number
E-mail Address
Contractor's Name
Contractor's Address
City
State Zip
Phone Number
Contractor's License Number
Date Project Completed
Scope of Work
Notice is hereby given that a low-voltage alarm system project has been completed at the address specified above. I certify that all of the foregoing information is true and accurate.
(Signature of Owner, Tenant, Contractor, or Authorized Representative)
8. After installation, a local enforcing agency may coordinate directly with the owner or customer to inspect a low-voltage alarm system project to ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards. If a low-voltage alarm system project fails an inspection, the contractor shall take corrective action as necessary to pass inspection at no cost to the local enforcing agency, owner, or customer.
9. A municipality, county, district, or other entity of local government shall not adopt or maintain in effect any ordinance or rule regarding a low-voltage alarm system project that is inconsistent with P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), or require any permits in addition to the uniform low-voltage alarm system permit required by P.L. , c. (C ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
10. A uniform basic permit label shall not be required for the subsequent maintenance, inspection, or service of an alarm system that was permitted in accordance with P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
11. a. Notwithstanding any provision of law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a municipality or county shall not adopt or enforce an ordinance, order, or regulation that:
(1) requires a permit or fee for the installation or use of a battery-charged fence in addition to an alarm system permit issued by the municipality or county; no further permit or fee shall be required for the battery-charged fence;
(2) imposes installation or operational requirements for a battery-charged fence that are inconsistent with the requirements and standards of this section; or
(3) prohibits the installation or use of a battery-charged fence.
b. A battery-charged fence shall meet the following requirements:
(1) interfaces with a monitored alarm device in a manner that enables the alarm system to transmit a signal intended to summon the business, law enforcement, or both, in response to an intrusion or burglary;
(2) is located on property that is not designated by a municipality or county exclusively for residential use;
(3) has an energizer that is driven by a commercial storage battery that is not more than 12 volts of direct current;
(4) produces an electric charge on contact that does not exceed energizer characteristics set for electric fence energizers by the International Electrotechnical Commission Standard 60335.2.76, current edition;
(5) is completely surrounded by a nonelectric perimeter fence or wall that is not less than five feet in height;
(6) is not more than the higher of:
(a) 10 feet in height; or
(b) 2 feet higher than the height of the non-electric perimeter fence or wall; and
(7) is marked with conspicuous warning signs that are located on the battery charged fence at not more than 40 foot intervals and that reads: "WARNING--ELECTRIC FENCE."
c. As used in this section, "battery-charged fence" means a new or existing alarm system, and all attached ancillary components or equipment, including but not limited to a fence, an energizer powered by a commercial storage battery not exceeding 12 volts which produces a short electric pulsed charge upon contact with the fence, and battery charging device used exclusively to charge the battery.
12. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes guidelines concerning the installation of low-voltage alarm systems and battery-charged fences in the State. Under the bill, a "low-voltage alarm system project" means a project related to the installation, maintenance, inspection, replacement, or service of a new or existing alarm system that is hardwired and operating at low voltage, as defined in the National Electrical Code Standard 70, Current Edition, and ancillary components or equipment attached to such a system, including, but not limited to, home-automation equipment, thermostats, and video cameras. The bill requires that a contractor installing a system purchase a uniform permit sticker from the local enforcing agency for not more than $40. The bill also stipulates that a permit is not required for the maintenance or repair of a low-voltage alarm system or the installation of a wireless alarm system.
After installation, local enforcing agency may coordinate directly with the owner or customer to inspect a low-voltage alarm system project to ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards. If a low-voltage alarm system project fails an inspection, the bill requires a contractor to take corrective action as necessary to pass inspection at no cost to the local enforcing agency, owner, or customer.
Additionally, the bill provides guidelines for the installation of a battery-charged fence, a term referring to an alarm system, and all attached components or equipment, including a fence, an energizer powered by a commercial storage battery that produces an electric charge upon contact with the fence, and a battery-charging device. The bill prohibits a municipality or county from adopting an ordinance, order, or regulation that:
· requires a permit or fee for the installation or use of a battery-charged fence in addition to an alarm system permit;
· imposes installation or operational requirements for a battery-charged fence that are inconsistent with the requirements and standards of the bill; or
· prohibits the installation or use of a battery-charged fence.
The bill also requires a battery-charged fence to:
· interface with a monitored alarm device, enabling the alarm to transmit a signal to summon the business or law enforcement;
· be located on property that is not designated exclusively for residential use;
· have an energizer driven by a commercial storage battery that is not more than 12 volts of direct current;
· produce an electric charge on contact that does not exceed energizer characteristics set for electric fence energizers by the International Electrotechnical Commission Standard 60335.2.76, current edition;
· be completely surrounded by a nonelectric perimeter fence or wall of at least five feet in height;
· be not more than the higher of 10 feet in height or 2 feet higher than the height of the non-electric perimeter fence or wall; and
· be marked with conspicuous warning signs at not more than 40 foot intervals that read: "WARNING--ELECTRIC FENCE."
