Alarm Company/Installers/Monitors

Sec. 1702.105. ALARM SYSTEMS COMPANY. A person acts as an alarm systems
company for the purposes of this chapter if the person sells, installs, services,
monitors, or responds to an alarm system or detection device.

(1) "Alarm system" means an alarm system, burglar alarm signal device,
burglar alarm, robbery alarm, television camera, or still camera used to signal the
presence of an emergency to which law enforcement or emergency services are
expected to respond.

Sec. 1702.223. ALARM SYSTEMS INSTALLER. An individual acts as an alarm
systems installer for purposes of this chapter if the individual installs,
maintains, or repairs an alarm system.

Sec. 1702.224. ALARM SYSTEMS MONITOR. (a) An individual acts as an alarm
systems monitor for purposes of this chapter if the individual monitors an alarm
system or detection device.

(b) This section does not apply to an individual employed exclusively and
regularly by an employer, other than a license holder, in connection with the
affairs of that employer and with whom the individual has an employee-employer
relationship.

DEFINITIONS
Sec. 1702.227. SECURITY SALESPERSON. An individual acts as a security
salesperson for
purposes of this chapter if the individual is employed by a security services
contractor to sell services
offered by the contractor.

Sec. 1702.239. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR ALARM SYSTEMS INSTALLER AND SECURITY
SALESPERSON; EXAMINATION. (a) The Private Security Bureau may require that an
individual employed as an alarm systems installer or security salesperson
hold a certification by a Private Security Bureau-approved training program to
renew an initial registration. The Private Security Bureau may approve only
nationally recognized training programs that consist of at least 20 hours of
classroom study in the areas of work allowed by the registration. To be approved, a
training program must offer at least two certification programs each year,
sufficient to complete the requirements of this subsection, within 100 miles of
each county in the state that has a population of more than 500,000.

(b) The Private Security Bureau may require an individual who has completed a
training program under Subsection (a) to pass an examination given by the
Private Security Bureau or by a person approved by the Private Security Bureau.
The Private Security Bureau may approve examinations in conjunction with
training programs approved under Subsection (a). The individual's performance on the
examination must demonstrate the individual's qualifications to perform the
duties allowed by the individual's registration.

(c) If the Private Security Bureau requires certification or examination
under this section, the Private Security Bureau shall implement rules to require
that to renew a registration, an individual who is employed as an alarm systems
installer or a security salesperson and who has already once renewed the
registration must obtain continuing education credits related to the line of work
for which the individual is licensed. If the Private Security Bureau requires
the continuing education, the Private Security Bureau Manager must approve
classes offered by nationally recognized organizations, and participants in the
classes must qualify according to Private Security Bureau rules.

Sec. 1702.065. POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO ALARM SYSTEMS INSTALLERS;
CERTIFICATES OF INSTALLATION. (a) The Private Security Bureau may interpret and
issue an opinion resolving a question concerning the eligibility of an alarm
system installation to comply with Article 5.33A, Insurance Code. A Private
Security Bureau interpretation or opinion relating to general conditions or an
individual installation is conclusive.

(b) The Private Security Bureau may authorize an alarm systems company to
issue a certificate of installation showing that an installation complies with
Article 5.33A, Insurance Code. An inspection otherwise required by the Insurance
Code is not required if a certificate is issued under this section. The
certificate must be furnished to the insurer, and the insurer shall determine
whether the person's property is in compliance with Article 5.33A, Insurance Code,
taking into consideration the installer's certificate and information from any
other investigation the insurer determines to be appropriate.

Sec. 1702.284. ALARM SYSTEMS RECORDS CONFIDENTIAL. Information contained in
alarm systems records maintained by a governmental body that concerns the
location of an alarm system, the name of the occupant of an alarm system location,
or the type of alarm system used is confidential and may be disclosed only to
the Private Security Bureau or as otherwise required by state law or court
order.

Sec. 1702.370. EFFECT OF SUSPENSION; MONITORING OF EXISTING ALARM
CONTRACTS. Subject to expiration of the license under Section 1702.306, a
license holder may continue to monitor under an existing alarm contract or
contract to monitor under an existing alarm contract for 30 days after the date of
suspension of the person's license.

Sec. 1702.3705. PROHIBITION AGAINST CERTAIN POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS ACTING AS
ALARM SYSTEMS COMPANY. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a political
subdivision may not offer residential alarm system sales, service,
installation, or monitoring unless it has been providing monitoring services to residences
within the boundaries of the political subdivision as of September 1, 1999.
Any fee charged by the political subdivision may not exceed the cost of the
monitoring.

(b) A political subdivision may:

(1) offer service, installation, or monitoring for property owned by the
political subdivision or another political subdivision;
(2) allow for the response of an alarm or detection device by a law
enforcement agency or by a law enforcement officer acting in an official capacity;
(3) offer monitoring in connection with a criminal investigation; or
(4) offer monitoring to a financial institution, as defined by Section
59.301, Finance Code, that requests, in writing, that the political subdivision
provide monitoring service to the financial institution.

(c) The limitations of Subsection (a) do not apply to a political subdivision
in a county with a population of less than 80,000 or in a political
subdivision where monitoring is not otherwise provided or available.