House Bill 848 Summary

• Renames the "Mississippi Residential Electronic Protection Licensing Act" to the "Mississippi Electronic Protection Licensing Act" and expands its scope beyond residential systems to include commercial electronic protective systems.

• Grants the State Fire Marshal subpoena power to compel production of records and witness testimony for investigations and enforcement of the licensing law.

• Increases licensing fees: Class A company licenses from $350 to $450, individual licenses from $50 to $150, and establishes new $50 fees for license class changes and duplicate licenses.

• Adds a new Class H (Alarm System Helper) license category for workers who assist licensed technicians under direct supervision, with restrictions on control panel work.

• Expands definitions to include electronic access control systems and closed circuit video systems; requires alarm verification standards for monitoring companies using ANSI/CSAA CS-V-01 protocols.

• Adds civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation and criminal misdemeanor penalties (up to $1,000 fine or one year imprisonment) for unlicensed alarm contracting activities.

• Provides appeal rights to aggrieved persons through the Circuit Court of Hinds County within 30 days of State Fire Marshal decisions; effective July 1, 2013.