S 249: Relates to fines for false alarms by an alarm system; allows a municipality to enact, adopt or enforce any ordinance, resolution or regulation requiring any alarm system company to pay for or be responsible for any fines, fees or other penalties relative to false alarms only when the false alarm is attributed to a deficiency in the alarm system or an error of the alarm system company or central station.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 249 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE (Prefiled) January 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. SKOUFIS, COONEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to fines for false alarms by an alarm system The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 69-l of the general business law is amended by 2 adding four new subdivisions 6, 7, 8 and 9 to read as follows: 3 6. "Alarm system" means a system installed to detect intrusion, break- 4 in, movement, sound or fire. 5 7. "False alarm" means the activation of any alarm system that results 6 in a request for police or fire or other emergency for which the 7 responding public safety agency finds no evidence of criminal activity, 8 fire, or emergency. 9 8. "Municipality" means a county, town, city or village. 10 9. "Alarm system company" means a company licensed to engage in the 11 business of installing, servicing, or maintaining security or fire alarm 12 systems pursuant to this article. 13 § 2. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 14 69-vvv to read as follows: 15 § 69-vvv. Fines for false alarms. 1. Notwithstanding any other 16 provision of law, a municipality may enact, adopt or enforce any ordi- 17 nance, resolution or regulation requiring any alarm system company to 18 pay for or be responsible for any fines, fees or other penalties rela- 19 tive to false alarms only when the false alarm is attributed to a defi- 20 ciency in the alarm system or an error of the alarm system company or 21 central station. Nothing in this section shall prevent a municipality 22 from imposing any fine, fee or other penalties for a false alarm when EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD00393-01-5 
 S. 249 2 1 such false alarm is attributable to, or caused by, the property owner, 2 lessee, occupant or other person or persons. 3 2. An alarm company operator or an alarm agent shall not be liable for 4 civil penalties and fines assessed or imposed by a municipality for 5 false alarms not attributed to alarm company operator error, improper 6 installation of the alarm system by an alarm agent or an alarm company 7 operator, defective equipment provided or installed by an alarm agent or 8 an alarm company operator, defective equipment leased by an alarm compa- 9 ny operator, or equipment that was not deficient upon installation or 10 provision for use to the end-user but resulted in a deficiency due to 11 normal wear and tear. 12 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.