Amendment #630 to H4200

Security Systems Commission

Representatives Kafka of Stoughton, Scibak of South Hadley and Garry of Dracut move to amend the bill by adding the following sections:

"SECTION  XXXX.  (a) There shall be a special commission on electronic security and life safety systems to provide guidance and advice to the governor, the general court, the secretary of public safety and security and the undersecretary for the office of consumer affairs and business regulation on effective state licensure models, including, but not limited to, practices that secure a high level of professionalism in the electronic security system industry, prevention, detection, and elimination of individuals and business entities not appropriate to engage in the industry and to recommend policies, including legislation, to promote certification and training, continuing education and compliance with background checks at the federal and state levels. The special commission may conduct public hearings, forums or meetings to gather information.

(b) The commission shall be comprised of ( i ) 4 members of the senate, 3 of whom shall be members of the majority party who shall be appointed by the senate president and 1 of whom shall be a member of the minority party who shall be appointed by the minority leader; provided, however, that 1 member of the senate shall be designated as co-chair of the commission; 4 members of the house of representatives, 3 of whom shall be members of the majority party who shall be appointed by the speaker and 1 of whom shall be a member of the minority party who shall be appointed by the minority leader; provided, however, that 1 member of the house shall be designated as co-chair of the commission; (ii) the following 4 members, who shall serve ex officio: the Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, the Undersecretary for the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, the Commissioner for the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable, and the Executive Director for the State Board of Electrical Examiners or their designees; (iii) 1 representative of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, 1 representative of the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office, 1 representative of the Massachusetts Systems Contractors Association licensed as a contractor in Massachusetts with a security system business licensed under chapter 147, 1 representative from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 103, who shall be a licensed electrician, 1 representative from the Massachusetts Electrical Contractors Association licensed as a contractor in Massachusetts with a security system business licensed under chapter 147, 1 representative who currently serves as a municipal inspector of wires and is a member of The Municipal Electrical Inspectors Association of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, 1 representative from a telecommunications company regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable and 1 consumer who has experience contracting for security system services serving Massachusetts.

(c)The organizational meeting of the commission shall be convened by the co-chairs not later than 30 days after the effective date of this act whether or not all of its members have been appointed and qualified.

(d)   The special commission shall make an investigation and study of Massachusetts laws and regulations, including definitions and exemptions, policies and relevant case law for their effectiveness in the oversight, licensure and uniform enforcement of the electronic security and life safety systems industry, models adopted in other states and best practices for ensuring comprehensive local and national background checks.

(e) The special commission shall file a report by December 31, 2016 with the office of the governor, the clerk of the House of Representatives and the clerk of the senate, along with recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect.

(f) In consultation with the special commission, the board of electrical examiners may develop regulations or policies to address issues of immediate concern to the commission in relation to the protection of public and consumer safety.

SECTION XXXX.  Chapter 143 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, shall hereby be amended in Section 3L by striking the words “five hundred” in line 28 and inserting in place thereof, the following words:- 2,500

SECTION XXXX.  Said Section 3L of said chapter shall hereby be further amended by striking in lines 4 and 5 the words “used for light, heat and power purposes in buildings and structures subject to the provisions of sections three to sixty, inclusive, and the state building code.” and inserting therein the following words:- and systems in buildings and structures subject to the provisions of sections 3 to 60, inclusive, the state building code, and work governed by chapter 141.

SECTION XXXX. Said Section 3L of said chapter shall hereby be further amended in lines 22 and 31 by inserting after the word “fixtures” the following:- or systems

SECTION XXXX. Said chapter 143 shall be further amended in Section 3P by inserting in line 7 after the word “appeal” the following words:- and decide such appeal, subject to chapter 30A relative to adjudicatory proceedings,

SECTION XXXX. Said section 3P of chapter 143 shall be further amended in the second paragraph by striking the second, third, fourth and fifth sentences.

SECTION XXXX. Said section 3P of chapter 143 shall be further amended by striking the third paragraph in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following: - The board’s decision shall be final and binding upon all parties in interest, except that

compliance with any notice, interpretation, order, requirement or direction of an inspector of wires or other person charged with the enforcement of the rules, by any person who has had his certificate, registration, license or authority to do so suspended, revoked or cancelled under section 61 of chapter 112 may stay compliance pending appeal pursuant to section 64 of chapter 112 and section 11 of chapter 30A.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #630 to H4200

Security Systems Commission