Illinois Electronic Security Association

The rule applies to paid contractors working in pre-1978 housing, child care facilities and schools with lead-based paint. Contractors include home improvement contractors, maintenance workers in multi-family housing, painters and other specialty trades. The covered facilities include residential, public or commercial buildings where children under
age six are present on a regular basis as well as all rental housing. The rule applies to renovation, repair or painting activities. It does not apply to minor maintenance or repair activities affecting less than six square feet of lead-based pain in a room or less than 20 square feet of lead-based paint on the exterior. Rule notes (pdf).

ESA (NBFAA) Language Included in H.R. 3221

ESA (NBFAA) is continuing to secure passage in Congress of our life safety alarm installation language. Earlier this year, we reported that we successfully placed language in H.R. 2187, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act, allowing grants for modernization, renovation or repair of public school facilities to bring public schools into compliance with fire, health, seismic, and safety codes, including professional installation of fire/life safety alarms. The bill authorizes $6.4 billion over five years and the grant monies would go to local K through 12 education agencies. The bill is still pending action in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.

The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act

This week, the House Committee on Education and Labor passed H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act by a vote of 30-17. Included in that bill is Section 351, the President's initiative for modernizing community colleges along with our language providing for the professional installation of fire and life safety alarms.

(C) Compliance with fire, health, seismic, and safety codes, including professional installation of fire and life safety alarms, and modernizations, renovations, and repairs that ensure that the community college's facilities are prepared for emergencies, such as improving building infrastructure to accomodate security measures and installing or upgrading technology to ensure that the community college is able to respond to emergencies such as acts of terrorism, campus violence, and natural disasters.

In this bill, $2.5 billion is authorized for fiscal year 2011, beginning October 1, 2010, which would award grants to states for purposes of constructing new community college facilities and modernizing, renovating, and repairing existing community college facilities. The bill still has to pass the House and be sent over to the Senate HELP Committee where we will support passage, along with H.R. 2187.

Pending passage, ESA (NBFAA) members can anticipate community colleges as a marketing opportunity. We will keep you informed.

Also included in H.R. 3221 was the President's community college initiative providing for community college grants that support training programs. Carried out in partnership with employers, these programs will provide relevant job-skill training (including apprenticeships and worksite learning and training opportunities) for high-wage occupations in high-demand industries.

State Issues

The explanation of Illinois' Prevailing Wage Law (pdf) was the focus of a 2009 IESA Membership Meeting -- Guest Speaker Jeffrey A. Risch, Esq., Smith Amundsen LLC. Generally speaking, the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130/0.01 et. Seq.) ("IPWA" or
the "Act") requires contractors and subcontractors (pdf sample request) to pay laborers, workers and mechanics employed on public works projects in Illinois no less than the general prevailing rate of wages (consisting of hourly cash wages plus fringe benefits) for work of similar character in the locality (locality usually means the county) where the work is performed.

May 2008 : PDF on Senate Bill 2760 (SB2760). The bill is a re-write of the architects and engineers licensing bill. If passed in its current form it will prevent alarm companies from preparing any technical documents for submittal for any kind of building permit.

Companies wishing to find out more information about Illinois State Licensing should visit the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. The DPR website is at http://www.dpr.state.il.us

Illinois Fire Chiefs announce plan submittal form. Click here to see letter. Click here to obtain form.

Local Issues

December 2007 -- Cook County Commissioner William Beavers proposes a gun registration ordinance. For more information on the IESA's position on this ordinance refer to the Jan-March 2008 issue of the Protection Connection.

Community Issues

It's a fact. False alarms rob our communities of valuable appropriate emergency responses. What is your company doing to prevent false alarms?