The New York Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NYBFAA), along with the Electronic Security Association (ESA), is urging opposition to New York Senate bill 2074, which recently passed the New York Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill would declare “void and unenforceable” certain contract terms indemnifying or exempting manufacturers, sellers and/or monitors of burglary protection systems from liability for negligence.

 

“The bill would have a devastating effect on insurance, creating a deteriorating situation for security alarm dealers and monitoring companies where insurance could become scarce or unavailable,” said Tim Creenan, NYBFAA legislative chairman and sales for Amherst Alarm, Amherst, N.Y. “Many small businesses would be forced to close their doors, and those remaining would be forced to charge such a premium for their services that alarm systems would become unaffordable for most homes and businesses.”

 

Most concerning to the NYBFAA and ESA is that the legislation threatens to make alarm monitoring services unaffordable to the general public, and if passed, it could have devastating consequences not only in New York, but throughout the country.

 

“State bills in California and New York have a tendency to be copied by other states in rapid order. If this bill survives the year-long session in New York, it will generate copycat bills in the 2011 state legislative sessions nationwide," said John Chwat, ESA’s director of government relations.

 

"This bill is a real threat to the security industry and we need to stop it,” Chwat added.