COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

H. B. 4354


(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegate Susman)
(Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary)

[March 2, 2004]


A BILL to amend the code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §7-1-3oo, relating to authorizing county commissions to adopt ordinances to reduce false alarms.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §7-1-3oo, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1. COUNTY COMMISSIONS GENERALLY.

§7-1-3oo. Authority to adopt ordinances relating to false alarms.
(a) In addition to all other powers and duties they now possess, county commissions may enact ordinances, establish a system of administration and enforcement, assess fees and penalties, issue orders and take other necessary and appropriate actions for the reduction and elimination of false alarms.
(b) Any false alarm ordinance adopted by a county commission shall be consistent with the standards relating to burglar, security, medical and fire alarms as established by the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association, the National Alarm Reduction Association, or their successor organizations.
(c) The county commission shall appoint an alarm administrator to administer the false alarm ordinance. In counties that have an enhanced emergency telephone system pursuant to section six, article six, chapter twenty-four, the enhanced emergency telephone system director shall be the administrator. In counties without an enhanced emergency telephone system, the alarm administrator shall be knowledgeable and qualified in the areas of alarm systems and false alarm reduction efforts.
(d) The false alarm ordinance shall provide for the appointment of a false alarm advisory board, which shall consist of the alarm administrator, the county sheriff or other law-enforcement officer, a chief from a county fire department, or his or her designee, a representative from the alarm industry, and a member-at-large selected by the county commission to serve a two-year term. The advisory board shall review, assist and make recommendations concerning false alarm reduction efforts and report to the commission.