SENATE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE, No. 1617

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: DECEMBER 11, 1997

      The Senate Community Affairs Committee reports favorably a Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 1617.

      This committee substitute would provide for the licensing and regulating of locksmith, burglar alarm, fire alarm, and electronic security businesses by the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors and for a fifteen-member "Fire Alarm, Burglar Alarm and Locksmith Advisory Committee" under the board's jurisdiction. The bill would exempt from licensure electrical contractors, telephone utility, and cable television companies.

      Under the substitute, the board would be given certain powers and duties to regulate licensees, based upon the committee's recommendations. These powers include: setting standards for examinations; determining requirements for licensure; adopting a code of ethics and continuing education standards and requirements; disciplining licensees pursuant to the uniform enforcement act, P.L.1978, c.73 (C.45:1-14 et seq.); and developing regulations regarding license and examination fees, record keeping, and the form and content of applications, licenses and identification cards. The board would also be able to delegate these powers to the committee.

      Licensees and their employees would be required to submit their fingerprints and photographs to the Division of State Police for the purpose of obtaining criminal history background checks.

      This committee substitute is identical to the Assembly Committee Substitute for A-994, with committee amendments, reported by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on December 11, 1997.