On Friday, Feb. 14, 2014, House Bill 5683 was introduced by Representative Timothy L. Schmitz (R-Geneva) to amend the Fire Protection District Act to allow the adoption of ordinances regulating the supervision and monitoring of fire alarm systems maintained within a district.

Further, HB5683 allows the fire protection districts “to collect reasonable fees for fire alarm services that are provided to customers by the district itself or through a vendor approved by the board.” The adverse bill also amends the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor and Locksmith Act and exempts a unit of local government or its employee from the requirements of our licensure.

The intent of the bill appears to be a way to circumvent the Lisle-Woodridge ruling in federal court.

The IESA will continue to gather and disseminate information about this adverse bill, and soon, we will be providing information that we hope the industry will hand-deliver to their state lawmakers for both the homes and business locations. It will be extremely important that the industry is united and actively educates legislators about the detrimental impact of this bill.

For now, the IESA asks that every industry participant identifies their state lawmakers. Once we have put together a fact sheet and other information, we will ask that you contact your lawmakers.

Additionally, IESA will alter the programming of its March 12 meeting at Manzo’s to include information on this bill and how it plans to oppose it. Sign up today for that meeting.

The meeting will be held Wednesday March 12, 2014, beginning at 5:00 p.m. for social hour and then dinner at 6:00 p.m.  The location is Manzo's Banquets, 1571 S. Elmhurst Rd., Des Plaines, Ill.

 Lastly, for the industry to be successful at opposing this bill, we need more members and greater support. If you have not already joined for 2014, please do so as soon as possible. This is an investment every alarm contractor in the state should make today!