WASHINGTON — A proposal to make the licensing process easier for central stations is ending one long journey and about to begin another after it is introduced in Congress this year. After more than two years of negotiations, a consortium of six industry associations, manufacturers and alarm companies has agreed on the wording of the Alarm Monitoring Licensing and Reciprocity Act.

The bill would allow alarm monitoring companies licensed in one state to operate without a license in another, while establishing minimum federal regulations for alarm companies. The bill, crafted by the Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC), will be introduced during the 109th Congress, which started its first session on Jan. 4.

Steve Doyle, the executive vice president of co-sponsor Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA), is under no illusions the bill will move swiftly through Congress. “It will be a two- to three-year process, but at the end of the day, it’s going to give a lot of relief to many companies,” Doyle says.

“What we have come up with is an exceptional document that says states can still require licensing and still get their fees but sets up reciprocal system where a person doesn’t have to fly to 30 states to be certified. If your driver’s license is recognized in one state, you don’t have to go in a another state and retake the driving test.”

The AICC consists of representatives from the CSAA, National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA), Security Industry Association (SIA), Honeywell Security, Vector Security and the Security Network of America.

 

If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!

Related Content