News – LLSSA

Senate Bill 489

Are you aware of SB 489

Senate Bill 489 is sponsored by Senator Cathey. This bill provides for the duties of the Louisiana State Fire Marshal was brough to our attention. We present it now to the membership to review and contact your representative.

This Bill in our reading attempts to:

Eliminates all NFPA codes and inserts the ICC (International Code Council) which was first issued in 2000. NFPA is the gold standard in building codes and was established in 1896. Louisiana utilizes NFPA 101 – Life Safety Code to protect lives and property.
Eliminates Plan Review from one central office of the SFM office and pushes plan review, licensing and building inspections to over sixty-four different parishes and seven hundred municipalities.
Eliminates State Fire Marshal oversight of the High-Rise Fire Sprinkler Act.
Architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, owners, and developers will now need to contact each parish to obtain building requirements.
Licensing for companies, inspectors, designers, technicians, etc. – How will this be managed? Sixty-four different licenses to perform work in all parishes? It is not even clear if they require licensing.
Insurance Companies run on Rules & Regulations. This will impact rates, premium options, and affordability for all. This will drive insurance companies out.
Economic Impact to the State
Safety Standards – How many lives/properties are your risking with this change – yours, your family, your business. LIVES ARE AT STAKE

We need your help now!!!!

Examining Louisiana’s Constitution

Examining Louisiana's Constitution: The Impact on Business and Industry" A.k.a. open up your kimono, Louisiana!

This article presented by Joe Mapes the LLSSA Lobbyist

While I’m not opposed to the governor’s plan to hold a constitutional convention, I do question the timing. The 1973 constitutional convention took close to two years, and Louisiana is currently considering re-tooling our state’s most precious document in roughly two weeks. Is some voodoo magic going to occur within that two-week period, or is Louisiana‘s next Constitution already drafted?

The delegate body will be comprised of legislators from both the senate and the house, as well as some individuals from the private sector. For this newly formed group to gather a consensus on so many complicated issues in such a short period of time will be next to impossible. It would be like trying to herd a bunch of cats in a room full of rocking chairs.

For decades, business and industry groups opposed a convention. Roughly 10 years ago, however, legislation was filed to call for a fiscal-matters-only constitutional convention, so business groups removed their opposition to a convention because the need to fix the state’s financial system was obvious to everyone. Several bills to create a convention have been filed since, but no bill has ever passed. Since no bills passed to create a convention, nobody looked very closely at the details, like is there even such a thing as a limited constitutional convention? The answer is no. Sub-articles in the constitution cannot be opened by themselves. That’s because the sub-articles are under their parent article, and that main article has to be opened first. When a main article is opened, all of the contents of its sub-articles are opened thus exposing all of the related industries and professions in each sub-article. As stated by Senate President, Cameron Henry, “Once you’re in a Constitutional Convention, you open up the entire Constitution”. Sunday – The Advocate

Every industry and profession should be lobbying and educating the legislature right now, as roughly 2/3 of the delegates will come from the house and the senate. Business and industry groups need to educate potential delegates and answer questions about what’s important to their industry in the constitution, before any convention begins. There’s just not enough time before May or June to do this – especially during a legislative session.

If business and industry groups are not able to educate the legislature as to what’s important to them in the Constitution prior to a convention, then who will educate the delegates? These delegates may not even know who they are right now, so they’re probably not burning the midnight oil studying all the issues that could possibly come up during a convention. A one-to-two-year period is needed so that business and industry have a chance to educate the delegates about the importance of their issues that are in the constitution. That way, when the Delegates walk into a constitutional convention, they’ll have a stack of folders filled with papers under their arms and be better prepared to do business with Louisiana’s most important document.

If it’s possible that a new constitution has already been written and the delegates are just being handpicked to vote yes for a completely rewritten, new constitution for our state, then there was little to no input from the general public. If an entirely new constitution has been written in advance of any constitutional convention, then who wrote it? With issues like personal injury rights in the courts and the personal bill of rights being in the constitution, this seems like an extremely important question to have answered.

As stated by House Speaker, Phillip DeVillier, he would like to create a Sub-Committee of Legislators to recommend the final shape of the Bill, adding that what it would contain “is on everyone’s mind”. Sunday – The Advocate

Joe Mapes of Mapes & Mapes, Inc. – 225-268-8572 (cell)

Mapes and Mapes website

Understanding Louisiana State Fire Marshal Memorandum 2019-01

In March 2019, the Louisiana State Fire Marshal issued Memorandum 2019-01, a directive aimed at enhancing fire safety measures across the state. This memorandum outlines crucial guidelines and regulations for various establishments, ensuring compliance and safeguarding against fire hazards. Understanding its provisions is essential for businesses, organizations, and individuals to prioritize fire safety and prevent potential disasters.

Key Provisions of Memorandum 2019-01:

1. Special locking Systems: The memorandum identifies the types of specialized locking systems as defined by the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code. It also clarifies their use in required settings.

2. Electric Strikes and Latch Retracting Door Hardware: Interior Doors are required to be submitted to the SFMO for review prior to installation. We bring this to your attention because this Memorandum does replace IM 2009-03 which stated otherwise.

3. Instructions for Plan Submittal for Special Locking Arrangements: The memorandum lists the information required for these types of submittals. Adhering to the list can make the process easier and faster for all parties involved.

Memorandum 2019-01 aligns with broader efforts to enhance fire safety standards and regulations at the state and national levels. By setting clear guidelines and expectations, it empowers stakeholders to take proactive measures to prevent fires and minimize their impact on communities.

Two House Bills you should be Aware of.

Our Lobbyist, Mapes and Mapes is actively monitoring these House Bills!

House Bill 491 Sponsored by Representative Kathy Edmonston

This bill provides relative to the Life Safety and Property Protection Licensing Act.

It offers an exemption to Felons whose charges are 15 years old.

House Bill 607 Representative Charles Owen

This bill provides relative to the locksmith licensing.

This bill will create new categories of licensure for locksmithing,

Welcome New Members!

We would like to Welcome our new Members to the LLSSA.

Garrison Resources, LLC is a woman and veteran owned and operated small business. They’ve developed a reputation of excellence built upon core values of Safety, Integrity, Quality, Commitment, and Teamwork. They are licensed with the Louisiana State Fire Marshal to install and maintain your extinguishers and kitchen hood systems to keep you compliant. You can visit This Associate Member at www.garrison-resources.com

Smartcomm is a leading provider of fiber optic infrastructure, network cabling, server room builds, access control, video surveillance, and more in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. With our expertise and innovative solutions, they help businesses thrive in the digital age. You can visit this Regular member at www.getsmartcomm.com

Southwest Dispatch Center keeps their alarm dealers one step ahead of the competition. They know what it takes to provide dealers and their customers just what they expect from a central station. “Exceptional service you EXPECT and DESERVE.” You can visit this Associate Member at www.southwestdispatch.com

State Fire Marshal’s Memorandum 1-2024

At this month’s state meeting in Baton Rouge, Erin St. Pierre, Deputy Chief of the Special Services and Support division of the State Fire Marshal’s Office was present. She took the time to speak on the recent Licensing Memorandum 1-2024 released on February 21,2024 to all life safety and property protection contractors.

The Memorandum clarifies some of the classes approved as in-person courses only provided by the FED. the bulk of the memo focusses on the approval of “years of experience” as a minimum requirement for licensure. These updates apply to Fire Alarm Qualifier, Fire alarm (non-Required) Qualifier, Fire Alarm (Owner) Qualifier, Fire Sprinkler Qualifier, and Security Qualifier. Be sure to review the entire memorandum so that you are up to date on all changes.

Regional 4 & 6 Meeting – March 22nd in Bossier City

The LLSSA Regional Meeting for Region 4 & 5 is Friday March 22nd. You will find us at the Comfort Suites from 11am – 2pm. Comfort Suites is at 7950 E. Texas Street, Bossier City, LA 71111.

The agenda includes updates from the LLSSA and local industry professionals. We will have a representative from the State Fire Marshal’s Office as well. Don’t miss this chance to catch up on current trends. Your meal is included with registration.

There will also be time to visit with our vendors. The Event Sponsors are PELICAN Sponsors – Alarm Monitoring Services and United Central Control.

REGISTER HERE

Regional 3 Meeting – March 21st in Lafayette

The LLSSA Regional Meeting for Region 3 is Thursday, March 21st. You will find us at the Jubilee Room in Abacus at Noon. Abacus is at 530 Pinhook Road, Lafayette, LA 70503.

The agenda includes updates from the LLSSA and local industry professionals. Don’t miss this chance to catch up on current trends. Your meal is included with registration.

There will also be time to visit with our vendors. The Event Sponsors are PELICAN Sponsors – Alarm Monitoring Services and United Central Control.

REGISTER HERE

Welcome New Associate Member!

Let’s all welcome our newest Associate member to the LLSSA – Tyler Phillips with Systems Distributors Inc SDi.

SDi was voted in as an associate Member at the February Board Meeting and has been an active member of the association for many years. Be sure to stop by and see Tyler at his table at the State Meeting in Baton Rouge on March 5th.

If you haven’t joined the LLSSA, now is the perfect time to take advantage of all the benefits offered. Discounts on meetings, CEUs, and education classes are just the start. See more information at Benefits – LLSSA

Regional I Meeting – March 20th in Kenner

The LLSSA Regional Meeting for Region 1 is Wednesday March 20th. You will find us at the Brick Oven at 2805 Williams Blvd, Kenner, La 70065 at 5:30pm.

The agenda include updated from the LLSSA and local industry professionals. Don’t miss this chance to catch up on current trends. Your meal is included with registration.

There will also be time to visit with our vendors. The Event Sponsors are PELICAN Sponsors – Alarm Monitoring Services and united Central Control. Other vendors in attendance include Wesco and LRG.

REGISTER HERE