South Carolina

TITLE 40. PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS
CHAPTER 79. SOUTH CAROLINA ALARM SYSTEM BUSINESS ACT

S.C. Code Ann. § 40-79-30 (2005)
§ 40-79-30. License requirement.

It is unlawful for a person to practice in the alarm system business in this State without being licensed in accordance with this chapter.

S.C. Code Ann. § 40-79-50 (2005)
§ 40-79-50. Administrative support; license fees.

The Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation shall provide all administrative, fiscal, investigative, clerical, secretarial, and license renewal operations and activities of the board in accordance with Section 40-1-50.

(1) All license fees must be submitted to the department every two years or for a period to be determined by the board.

(2) Initial license fees are:

(a) two hundred dollars for an alarm system business license, which includes one primary qualifying party certificate;

(b) fifty dollars for each branch office, which includes one primary qualifying party certificate;

(c) ten dollars for additional qualifying party license certificate.

(3) Renewal license fees are:

(a) two hundred dollars for an alarm system business renewal including one primary qualifying party certificate;

(b) fifty dollars for each branch office, which includes one primary qualifying party certificate;

(c) ten dollars for additional qualifying party license certificate.

(4) Late renewal fees must be added on the day following the expiration date of the license and are:

(a) one hundred dollars for up to thirty days;

(b) one hundred fifty dollars for up to sixty days;

(c) one hundred seventy-five dollars for up to ninety days.

A person who fails to renew within ninety days must apply for initial licensure to be reinstated.

(5) Replaced, lost, or destroyed license and certificate fees are:

(a) ten dollars for replacement of lost or destroyed license;

(b) ten dollars for replacement of lost or destroyed certificate.

(6) An applicant for examination shall pay the applicable examination fee directly to the provider.

S.C. Code Ann. § 40-79-200 (2005)
§ 40-79-200. Contracting without license as misdemeanor; penalty; preferring of charges.

(A) An entity or individual who contracts or offers to contract in this State without a license issued pursuant to this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than one year or fined not more than five thousand dollars.

(B) Charges under this section may be preferred by the board by delivering evidence of a violation to a solicitor or a magistrate having jurisdiction.

S.C. Code Ann. § 40-79-230 (2005)
§ 40-79-230. Application for license; who must sign; what must be submitted.

(A) An entity desiring to carry on or engage in an alarm system business shall submit an application to the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. The owner, partners, or president, as appropriate, must sign the application. The primary qualifying party must also sign the application.

(B) To qualify for a license, the applicant must:

(1) submit a completed application as prescribed by the board;

(2) satisfy the examination requirements prescribed by the board;

(3) depending on the profession, have a certificate of completion from the National Training School for Burglar Alarms by taking the Level 1 training course or have a certificate of completion from the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies for Fire Alarms by taking the Level II training course;

(4) submit proof that the applicant's primary qualifying party is a full- time employee in a management position;

(5) submit a criminal background check of the entity's principal officers, all qualifying parties, and registered employees. The background check must indicate that these individuals are at least eighteen years of age and have not been convicted of any criminal act or committed any acts which are grounds for the denial of a license under this chapter;

(6) submit all documentation required by the department pursuant to the requirements of this chapter;

(7) pay all fees;

(8) the applicant must submit a list of all qualifying parties, registered employees, and branch offices in order to be licensed by the department;

(9) upon the cancellation of an alarm license, the licensee must complete an initial application, pay the appropriate fees, and be issued a new license number; and

(10) the department may provide for an alarm system business license that permits the holder to participate in the burglar alarm system or fire alarm system business, or both.

S.C. Code Ann. § 40-79-240 (2005)
§ 40-79-240. License renewal; request for waiver by registered individual failing to qualify; licensees licensed as of January 1, 2001.

(A) A licensee shall apply to the department for license renewal every two years before the license expiration date on a form prescribed by the board. Renewal applications not postmarked by the expiration date result in a lapsed license. An entity which fails to renew and which continues to engage in the alarm business is deemed to be practicing without a license and subject to the penalties prescribed in this chapter.

(B) An alarm business license not renewed after ninety days from the expiration date must not be considered for renewal, and the license must be canceled. To obtain a license after a license is canceled, the applicant must complete an initial application form and pay the applicable fees. An examination is not required if the qualifying party otherwise satisfies the licensing requirements.

(C) All employees that are required to have a criminal background check must submit a new background check upon conviction of a crime.

A registered employee failing to qualify according to the requirements of this chapter may submit a request to the board within ten days of receipt of denial of renewal for consideration of a waiver for failure to meet the requirements of this chapter.

This individual must be allowed to continue to work under strict supervision of the alarm business until the board makes a decision on a timely waiver request.

(D) At the first renewal after enactment of this chapter, a licensee licensed as of January 1, 2001, shall elect to subsequently be licensed as a burglar alarm system business, fire alarm system business, or both. Upon the next renewal, an applicant must meet all qualifications for licensure in both businesses, including examination, in order to be licensed in both alarm businesses.

(E) An alarm licensee must submit documentation of a current comprehensive general liability insurance policy with each license renewal in an amount provided for in Section 40-79-250.

(F) A license, certification, or registration may be canceled upon subsequent discovery of facts which if known at the time of issuance of renewal could have been grounds to deny the issuance of renewal, pending review by the board.

S.C. Code Ann. § 40-79-310 (2005)
§ 40-79-310. Exceptions from application of chapter.

The provisions of this chapter do not apply to:

(1) an entity that designs, sells, manufactures, or distributes alarm systems or products unless the entity sells, markets, services, or installs alarm systems at a client's residence or business;

(2) an entity that owns and installs an alarm system on property owned or leased for itself;

(3) any alarm device which is installed in a motor vehicle, aircraft, or boat;

(4) battery-powered or one hundred ten volt smoke detectors;

(5) a mechanical contractor who holds an electrical contractor's license and designs, installs, and services a fire alarm system;

(6) anyone that responds to burglar alarm or fire alarm systems; and

(7) camera, card access, or walk-through alarm systems.