2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes › Chapter 225 - PROFESSIONS, OCCUPATIONS, AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS › 225 ILCS 447/ - Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004. › Article 20 - Private Alarm Contractors

(225 ILCS 447/Art. 20 heading)
ARTICLE 20.  
		PRIVATE ALARM CONTRACTORS.
(Article scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)
(225 ILCS 447/20-5)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)
Sec. 20-5. 
		Exemptions; private alarm contractor.
(a) The provisions of this Act related to the licensure
of private alarm contractors do not apply to any of the
following:
(1) A person who sells alarm system equipment and is     not an employee, agent, or independent contractor of an entity that installs, monitors, maintains, alters, repairs, services, or responds to alarm systems at protected premises or premises to be protected if all of the following conditions are met:
(A) The alarm systems are approved either by         Underwriters Laboratories or another authoritative entity recognized by the Department and identified by a federally registered trademark.
(B) The owner of the trademark has authorized the         person to sell the trademark owner's products and the person provides proof to the Department of this authorization.
(C) The owner of the trademark maintains and         provides, upon the Department's request, proof of liability insurance for bodily injury or property damage from defective products of not less than $1,000,000 combined single limit. The insurance policy need not apply exclusively to alarm systems.
(2) A person who sells, installs, maintains, or     repairs automobile alarm systems.
(3) A licensed electrical contractor who repairs or     services fire alarm systems on an emergency call-in basis or who sells, installs, maintains, alters, repairs, or services only fire alarm systems and not alarm or other security related electronic systems.
(b) Persons who have no access to confidential or
security information and who otherwise do not provide
security services are exempt from employee
registration. Examples of exempt employees include, but are
not limited to, employees working in the capacity of delivery
drivers, reception personnel, building cleaning, landscape and
maintenance personnel, and employees involved in vehicle and
equipment repair. Confidential or security information is
that which pertains to employee files, scheduling, client
contracts, or technical security and alarm data.
(Source: P.A. 93-438, eff. 8-5-03.)
(225 ILCS 447/20-10)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)
Sec. 20-10. Qualifications for licensure as a private
alarm contractor.
(a) A person is qualified for licensure as a private
alarm contractor if the person meets all of the following
requirements:
(1) Is at least 21 years of age.
(2) Has not been convicted of any felony in any     jurisdiction or at least 10 years have elapsed since the time of full discharge from a sentence imposed for a felony conviction.
(3) Is of good moral character. Good moral character     is a continuing requirement of licensure. Conviction of crimes other than felonies may be used in determining moral character, but shall not constitute an absolute bar to licensure, except where the applicant is a registered sex offender.
(4) Has not been declared by any court of competent     jurisdiction to be incompetent by reason of mental or physical defect or disease, unless a court has subsequently declared him or her to be competent.
(5) Is not suffering from dependence on alcohol or     from narcotic addiction or dependence.
(6) Has a minimum of 3 years experience during the 5     years immediately preceding the application (i) working as a full-time manager for a licensed private alarm contractor agency or (ii) working for a government, one of the armed forces of the United States, or private entity that inspects, reviews, designs, sells, installs, operates, services, or monitors alarm systems that, in the judgment of the Board, satisfies the standards of alarm industry competence. The Board and the Department may accept, in lieu of the experience requirement in this item (6), alternative experience working as a full-time manager for a private alarm contractor agency licensed in another state or for a private alarm contractor agency in a state that does not license such agencies, if the experience is substantially equivalent to that gained working for an Illinois licensed private alarm contractor agency. An applicant who has received a 4-year degree or higher in electrical engineering or a related field from a program approved by the Board or a business degree from an accredited college or university shall be given credit for 2 years of the required experience. An applicant who has successfully completed a national certification program approved by the Board shall be given credit for one year of the required experience.
(7) Has not been dishonorably discharged from the     armed forces of the United States.
(8) Has passed an examination authorized by the     Department.
(9) Submits the applicant's fingerprints, proof of     having general liability insurance required under subsection (c), and the required license fee.
(10) Has not violated Section 10-5 of this Act.
(b) (Blank).
(c) It is the responsibility of the applicant to obtain
general liability insurance in an amount and coverage
appropriate for the applicant's circumstances as determined by
rule. The applicant shall provide evidence of insurance to
the Department before being issued a license. Failure to
maintain general liability insurance and to provide the
Department with written proof of the insurance shall result in
cancellation of the license without hearing.
(Source: P.A. 103-309, eff. 1-1-24.)
(225 ILCS 447/20-15)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)
Sec. 20-15. Qualifications for licensure as a private
alarm contractor agency.
(a) Upon receipt of the required fee and proof that the
applicant has a full-time Illinois licensed private alarm
contractor licensee-in-charge, which is a continuing requirement for
agency licensure, the Department shall issue
a license as a private alarm contractor agency to
any of the following:
(1) An individual who submits an application and is a     licensed private alarm contractor under this Act.
(2) A firm that submits an application and all of the     members of the firm are licensed private alarm  contractors under this Act.
(3) A corporation or limited liability company doing     business in Illinois that is authorized by its articles of incorporation or organization to engage in the business of conducting a private alarm contractor agency if at least one executive employee is licensed as a private alarm contractor under this Act and all unlicensed officers and directors of the corporation or limited liability company are determined by the Department to be persons of good moral character.
(b) No private alarm contractor may be the licensee-in-charge for more than one private alarm
contractor agency. Upon written request by a representative
of an agency, within 10 days after the loss of a licensee-in-charge of an agency because of the
death of that individual or because of the termination of the
employment of that individual, the Department shall issue a
temporary certificate of authority allowing the continuing
operation of the licensed agency. No temporary certificate of
authority shall be valid for more than 90 days. An extension
of an additional 90 days may be granted upon written request
by the representative of the agency. Not more than 2
extensions may be granted to any agency. No temporary permit
shall be issued for loss of the licensee-in-charge because of
disciplinary action by the Department related to
the licensee-in-charge's conduct on behalf of the agency.
(c) No private alarm contractor, private alarm
contractor agency, or person may install or connect an alarm
system or fire alarm system that connects automatically and
directly to a governmentally operated police or fire dispatch
system in a manner that violates subsection (a) of Section
15.2 of the Emergency Telephone System Act. In addition to
the penalties provided by the Emergency Telephone System Act,
a private alarm contractor agency that violates this Section
shall pay the Department an additional penalty of $250 per
occurrence.
(d) Upon issuance of the temporary certificate of
authority as provided for in subsection (b) of this Section
and at any time thereafter while the temporary certificate of
authority is in effect, the Department may request in writing
additional information from the agency regarding the loss of
its licensee-in-charge, the selection of a new licensee-in-charge,
and the management of the agency. Failure of the
agency to respond or respond to the satisfaction of the
Department shall cause the Department to deny any extension of
the temporary certificate of authority. While the temporary
certificate of authority is in effect, the Department may
disapprove the selection of a new licensee-in-charge by the
agency if the person's license is not operative or the
Department has good cause to believe that the person selected
will not fully exercise the responsibilities of a licensee-in-charge.
If the Department has disapproved the selection of another
new licensee-in-charge and the temporary certificate of
authority expires or is about to expire without the agency
selecting a new licensee-in-charge, the Department shall
grant an extension of the temporary certificate of authority
for an additional 90 days, except as otherwise prohibited in
subsection (b) or this subsection (d).
(Source: P.A. 103-309, eff. 1-1-24.)
(225 ILCS 447/20-20)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)
Sec. 20-20. Training; private alarm contractor and
employees.
(a) Registered employees of the private alarm contractor
agency who carry a firearm and respond to alarm systems shall
complete, within 30 days of their employment, a minimum of 20
hours of classroom training provided by a qualified instructor
and shall include all of the following subjects:
(1) The law regarding arrest and search and seizure     as it applies to the private alarm industry.
(2) Civil and criminal liability for acts related to     the private alarm industry.
(3) The use of force, including but not limited to     the use of nonlethal force (i.e., disabling spray, baton, stungun, or similar weapon).
(4) Arrest and control techniques.
(5) The offenses under the Criminal Code of 2012 that     are directly related to the protection of persons and property.
(6) The law on private alarm forces and on reporting     to law enforcement agencies.
(7) Fire prevention, fire equipment, and fire
safety.
(8) Civil rights and public relations.
(9) The identification of terrorists, acts of     terrorism, and terrorist organizations, as defined by federal and State statutes.
Pursuant to directives set forth by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the provisions set forth by the National Fire Protection Association in the National Fire Alarm Code and the Life Safety Code, training may include the installation, repair, and maintenance of emergency communication systems and mass notification systems.
(b) All other employees of a private alarm contractor
agency shall complete a minimum of 20 hours of basic training
provided by a qualified instructor within 30 days of their
employment. The training may be provided in a classroom or seminar setting or via Internet-based online learning programs. The substance of the training shall be related to
the work performed by the registered employee.
(c) It is the responsibility of the employer to certify,
on forms provided by the Department, that the employee
has successfully completed the training. The original form or a copy shall be a
permanent record of training completed by the employee and
shall be placed in the employee's file with the employer for
the term the employee is retained by the
employer. A private alarm contractor agency may place a
 copy of the Department form in lieu of the original
into the permanent employee registration card file. The original
form or a copy shall be returned to the employee when the employee's employment is terminated. Failure to return the original
form or a copy to the employee is grounds for discipline. The employee shall not be
required to
complete the training required under this Act
once the employee has been issued a form.
(d) Nothing in this Act prevents any employer from
providing or requiring additional training beyond the required
20 hours that the employer feels is necessary and appropriate
for competent job performance.
(e) Any certification of completion of the 20-hour
basic training issued under the Private Detective, Private
Alarm, Private Security, and Locksmith Act of 1993 or any
prior Act shall be accepted as proof of training under this
Act.
(Source: P.A. 102-152, eff. 1-1-22; 103-309, eff. 1-1-24.)