SRC-MAX S.B. 1854 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1854 By: Shapiro Intergovernmental Relations 4-3-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, a municipality may impose a fee for the signaling of a false alarm if the alarm has been signaled at least five times in the past year. This bill would allow a municipality to impose a penalty or fee for signaling a false alarm at least three times, rather than five, in the past year in a residential location, among other provisions. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1854 sets forth the penalties or fees a municipality may charge for false alarms by a burglar alarm system. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 218.007, Local Government Code, to prohibit a municipality from imposing a penalty or fee for the signaling of a false alarm by a burglar alarm system installed at a residential location unless at least three, rather than five, other false alarms have occurred during the preceding 12-month period. Prohibits a municipality from imposing a penalty or fee for the signaling of a false alarm by a burglar alarm system installed at a commercial location unless at least five other false alarms have occurred during the preceding 12-month period. Authorizes a municipality to increase a penalty or fee imposed for the signaling of a false alarm at a residential location to $100 for the sixth false alarm in a 12-month period and each subsequent false alarm in the same 12-month period. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.