NOW ACCEPTING SCHOLORSHIP APPLICATIONS
Deadline for AIFF scholorship applications is December 1 - click for more...
AAF and the Florida Police Chiefs Association announce first ever state model ordinance
 PRESS RELEASE
Media Contacts:
The Margulies Communications Group: 214-368-0909
Ross Blackstone: ross@prexperts.net
David Margulies: davidm@prexperts.net
POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION SETS A TREND BY ADOPTING AN ALARM MODEL ORDINANCE
FRISCO, Texas (April 30, 2007) – The State of Florida set another “first” in its efforts to manage alarms and enhance public safety. On April 10, 2007, the Florida Police Chiefs Association (FPCA) passed a resolution to adopt a Model Alarm Ordinance. The ordinance will be used by police chiefs across the state to develop and/or revise their jurisdiction’s alarm management programs. It serves as the nation’s first model alarm ordinance developed by a state police chiefs association.
The Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) as well as the Alarm Association of Florida (AAF) helped FPCA develop the ordinance. Last year all three groups supported a legislative bill which made Florida the first in the country to fully enforce a statewide statue known as Enhanced Call Verification (ECV).
“Florida is setting the trend for successful alarm management across the country,” said Stan Martin, executive director of SIAC. “We are proud to be part of this progressive movement and applaud our law enforcement partners in Florida as well as the Alarm Association of Florida for taking this initiative.”
“By approving the Model Alarm Ordinance resolution, our board of directors passed a milestone for Florida law enforcement agencies looking to address the issue of alarm dispatches,” said Chief Nolan McLeod, Auburndale Police Department and President of the Florida Police Chiefs Association. “We are moving in a positive direction and developing strong alarm management programs throughout the state.”
SIAC helped develop the ordinance as part of the FPCA’s new Alarm Management Committee. Four police chiefs and three members of the Alarm Association of Florida (AAF) also participated. The ordinance seeks to reduce false dispatches and the impact they have on police resources.
Its key measures include the following:
- Registration of alarm systems
- An escalating fine structure for alarm abusers who carelessly allow for repeat false dispatches
- Establishment of a system to accept the cancellation of alarms after accidental activations
- Ending police response to alarm users who fail to pay fines and/or permit fees
- An appeal process for people who disagree with fines or the cancellation of their police response
- The use of equipment that meets new quality standards which help prevent false activations
- ECV – the practice of calling a back-up phone number to identify false alarms before dispatching police
- Establishing alarm awareness classes for the community
“The simple fact that FPCA created an Alarm Management Committee is monumental,” added Martin. “Not only did they develop a model for reducing alarm dispatches, they also developed a model for how law enforcement agencies can work with the private sector to create equally beneficial solutions.”
“The partnership with the alarm industry, SIAC, AAF and our organization’s Alarm Management Committee is phenomenal,” said Amy Mercer, Executive Director of the FPCA. “We look forward to long term successes.”
Glen Mowrey, SIAC’s National Law Enforcement Liaison who coordinates the committee’s work, stated, “The successes we are experiencing in Florida are the direct result of the committee’s vision, positive energy, and problem solving abilities.”
“We tried to build a relationship with Florida police executives for years,” said Bob Neely, AAF’s Executive Director. “The recent development of the Alarm Management Committee has finally facilitated that partnership. We now have a strong relationship and the Model Alarm Ordinance is the fruit of that labor.”
ABOUT SIAC
SIAC is comprised of four major North American security associations--Canadian Security Association (CANASA), Security Industry Association (SIA), Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA), and the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA)--representing one voice for the alarm industry on alarm management issues. SIAC’s primary charter is to significantly reduce calls for service while strengthening the lines of communication with law enforcement professionals and end users. For more information, contact www.SIACinc.org.
New Legislation Affecting Florida Alarm Contractors – H1351
H1351 revises the existing requirement for multiple call verification and by rule will reference the CSAA ANSI standard for dispatch. Refer to these posted documents for the actual language. Also please note the revision of new exemptions for alarm contractors from third party requirements by municipalities.
 TO ALL
AAF
MEMBERS STATEWIDE,
(Aug. 30, 2
005)
Past President Ron Toole has advised us that there is a possibility that service on many lines supplied by Sprint Telephone and some lines provided by MCI that are used for alarm signaling purposes in northeast Florida may have been affected since they are routed through New Orleans. In effect your alarm signals that would normally be generated over these circuits may not be able to transmit out. This is especially important in the case of fire panels. He asked that I pass this along in case anyone needs to check any of their accounts for this reason. Thanks to Ron for his diligence and fair warning.
 Miami-Dade County Fire Alarm Policy Changes
Miami-Dade Going Third Party!!!
The Jessica Lunsford Act requires employee background investigations if you work schools in the State of Florida - read this technical assistance paper...
Some construction sites fail to obtain workers' comp insurance
BY DORIS CHANDLER
NYT REGIONAL NEWSPAPERS
GAINESVILLE -- The inspection sweep in late July of 848 construction sites by the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation highlighted a continuing problem of some construction employers not bothering to purchase required workers' comp coverage. Inspectors issued 100 stop-work orders for violations by employers.
"Contractors who provide coverage to protect their workers continually tell us how difficult it is to compete with those who cheat the system," said Tom Gallagher, chief of the Florida Department of Financial Services.
Businesses in the construction industry employing one or more workers must provide workers' comp coverage, which financially protects employees who are injured or killed on the job. Employers who don't have appropriate coverage can be issued a stop-work order, or SWO, which means they have to immediately stop all work. The SWO can be lifted once the employer obtains proper coverage and pays a civil penalty equal to 11/2 times the workers' comp premiums avoided initially. Violators of SWOs can be penalized $1,000 per day of violation and may face criminal charges.
An employer's failure to obtain required workers' comp coverage can impact more than just the employees.
"There's a huge risk for the homeowner who acts as his own general contractor," said William Stander, the Tallahassee-based regional manager of Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, a national trade association with headquarters in Chicago. "You'll often see admonitions to ensure that the guy doing work on your house has workers' comp and general liability, because if not, and one of the guy's employees get injured, you could be sued."
Stander said his association strongly supported the Legislature's 2003 reforms to worker's comp regulations.
Gallagher's department has established the Compliance Stop Work Order Database, www.fldfs.com/wc/, which is updated daily and displays employers who have been issued stop work orders. Click on the "Databases" link and then on the "Compliance Stop Worker Order" database
Did you know the state of Florida requires you to report all new hires?
Click here for a link to this information as well as other useful and important links.
Alarm Industry Foundation of Florida
An independent trust for the purpose of awarding college scholarships has been established by members of the alarm industry. The guidelines and application form are made available for everyone. Feel free to participate by submitting an application and/or donation. This past October three scholarships were awarded (see the convention highlights) to deserving recipients. For more information...click here
Do you have a question about collecting and/or reporting Florida sales tax?
... click here for information
Hillsborough County new alarm ordinance. click here...
We CAN make a difference WITH YOUR HELP. To be part of the PAC solution...
click here now!
C.A.R.E.
Coordinated Alarm Reduction Effort
Become part of the solution to reduce false alarms. Open to ALL alarm dealers, both member & non-member, and at no cost. This effort is supported by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Sheriffs Association.Click here to learn more
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