Amends TCA Title 7 and Title 62, Chapter 32.

This bill prohibits local governments from doing the following with regard to alarm systems contractors and businesses:<br /> <br /> (1) Requiring any alarm systems contractor or business to acquire or pay for any permits or renewal permits to operate alarm systems at any alarm site that is owned or leased by a customer of an alarm systems contractor; and<br /> (2) Enacting any legislation, ordinance, or resolution requiring any alarm systems contractor or business to pay for or be responsible for fines or fees relative to false alarms, false alarm dispatches, alarm permits, or alarm renewal permits.<br /> <br /> ON APRIL 22, 2019, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1 AND #2 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1443, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 incorporates the changes made by House Amendment #1 and makes the following changes, additions, and clarifications to this bill:<br /> <br /> (1) Clarifies that this bill's prohibitions against certain local requirements for alarm systems contractors and alarm businesses apply to counties and municipalities;<br /> (2) Adds a prohibition against counties and municipalities requiring alarm systems contractors and alarm businesses to collect fines or fees relative to false alarms, false alarm dispatches, alarm permits, or alarm renewal permits;<br /> (3) Specifies that the prohibition described above in (1) of the bill summary does not apply to an installation permit required by code;<br /> (4) Requires alarm systems contractors and alarm businesses that were collecting municipal or county alarm permit fees from customers prior to the date that this bill becomes a law to continue to do so until December 31, 2019;<br /> (5) Authorizes alarm systems contractors and alarm businesses to voluntarily collect municipal or county alarm permit fees from customers, subject to the customer's approval;<br /> (6) Specifies that an alarm systems contractor or alarm business that collects alarm permit fees after this bill becomes a law must timely pay any such fees collected to the county or municipality, may stop collecting the fees at any time, and is not subject to audit relative to collection of the fees; and<br /> (7) Adds a severability clause to this bill.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #2 limits the exemption from audit added by Senate Amendment #1 for permit fees collected by an alarm systems contractor or alarm business to an exemption from audit conducted by the county or municipality.<br /> <br />