How the Missouri Burglar and Fire Alarm Association Benefits You

State and National Representation

For nearly 20 years the The Missouri and Burglar Fire Alarm Associationhas retained the services of a Lobbyist in Jefferson City, MO. The goal of this “Watchdog Service” has been to both observe and direct Statewide Legislative activities. Over this period of time there have been a variety of proposed pieces of Legislation in the Missouri Legislature that would have had a harmful impact on the Electronic Security Industry in this State. At the direction of Missouri Burglar and Fire Alarm Association our Lobbyist has been able to direct or defeat legislation that would have harmed the Electronic Security Industry in Missouri. The National Electronic Security Association has also assisted Missouri Burglar and Fire Alarm Association in its legislative efforts.

Some of the recent efforts include:

1. Over the past 10 or so years no less than 5 Electrical Contractor Licensing Bills have been filed with the Missouri State Legislature by either the IBEW or IECA. These Bills, among other things required 20,000 hours of OJT, Strict Education Requirements, Inclusion of All Electrical Trades, No Grandfathering for Existing Companies and a 3 Year Time Frame for All Companies to Comply. Our Lobbyist was directed to either to defeat these Bills or find a way to exclude the Low Voltage Industry from the Legislation. After several years of our Lobbyist working in cooperation with the cable and audio-visual industry and ESA, SB240 was filed in 2017. This Bill included Language that Specifically Excluded the Low Voltage Industry therefore Missouri Burglar and Fire Alarm Association had no objection to this Bill. SB240 was passed into Law and was signed by the Governor in August of 2017.
2. In 2010 a Bill was introduced in the Missouri State Legislature that would have Invalidated the Automatic Renewal Provision of your Monitoring Contract. Additionally, this Legislation would have required that all Monitoring Contracts be resigned upon renewal, electronic signatures were not allowed. The problem for Security Companies with respect to this Legislation is that upon the conclusion of a Subscriber Contract you would become Technically Uninsured. As a Company that means no hold harmless or limited liability protection regardless of fault. Again, we called on the services of our Lobbyist to deal with this problem. We were successful in defeating this Potentially Devastating piece of Legislation.
3. After 8 years we are continuing to work with Columbia Missouri on a False Alarm Ordinance. As is the case with most municipalities Columbia, MO is committed to continue responding to End User Alarm Systems. However False Alarms are a growing problem that must be dealt with. Both the Police Department and City Council are committed to the development of a Fair and Enforceable Ordinance with a goal of reducing False Police Dispatches. The latest draft of the Ordinance has the possibility of being adopted by the City soon.
4. The Kansas City and St. Louis Alarm Associations worked on false alarm ordinances that helped solve problems that were positive for consumers and protected police response. St. Louis which had ordinances for 30 years worked with that association and its lobbyist to implement reasonable false alarm fines, permit and fine management system. The St. Louis Alarm Companies and Collection Company facilitate funding the St. Louis City Police department. Also, control and tracking activity with user permits and supervision for abusers. This helped prevent eventual non-response to most alarms. The Kansas City Association also worked with the Police departments in the development of fine systems and alarm schools.