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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of a municipality to regulate certain |
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burglar alarm systems. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 214.194(b), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A municipal permit fee imposed under this section may |
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not exceed the rate of: |
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(1) $50 a year for a residential location; or |
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(2) $100 a year for a commercial location. |
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SECTION 2. Section 214.195(a), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided in Subsection (d), a municipality may |
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not terminate its law enforcement response to a residential or |
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commercial location [permit holder because of excess false alarms
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if the false alarm fees are paid in full]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 214.198, Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 214.198. VERIFICATION. An [A municipality may
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require an] alarm systems monitor shall [to] attempt to contact the |
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occupant of the alarm system location twice before the municipality |
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responds to the alarm signal. |
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SECTION 4. Section 214.199(a), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The governing body of a municipality may not adopt an |
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ordinance or policy providing that law enforcement personnel of the |
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municipality will not respond to any alarm signal indicated by an |
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alarm system in the municipality unless, before adopting the |
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ordinance or policy, the governing body of the municipality: |
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(1) makes reasonable efforts to notify permit holders |
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of its intention to adopt the ordinance or policy; [and] |
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(2) conducts a public hearing at which persons |
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interested in the response of the municipality to alarm systems are |
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given the opportunity to be heard; and |
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(3) holds an election to submit the adoption of the |
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ordinance or policy to the voters of the municipality under Section |
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214.1995. |
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SECTION 5. Subchapter F, Chapter 214, Local Government |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 214.1995 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 214.1995. ELECTION. The governing body of a |
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municipality by ordinance or policy may provide that law |
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enforcement personnel of the municipality will not respond to any |
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alarm signal indicated by an alarm system in the municipality only |
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if the adoption of the ordinance or policy is approved by a majority |
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of the votes cast by the voters of the municipality voting at an |
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election held in the municipality. |
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SECTION 6. (a) The change in law made to the fee a |
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municipality may charge under Section 214.194, Local Government |
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Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to a permit that expires |
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on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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(b) The change in law to Section 214.199, Local Government |
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Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to an ordinance or policy |
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adopted on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |