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.