9.14.23 – SSI – SILVER SPRING, Md.
Calling it a “key trend nationally,” Security Industry Association says security products exemption is critical.
Security Industry Association (SIA) leadership expressed excitement after final passage of Senate Bill 244 by the California state legislature on Sept. 13, making it the third and largest U.S. state to adopt “right to repair” legislation broadly applicable to manufacturers of electronic devices.
The bill now heads to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for signature.
Due to efforts led by the SIA with support from industry partners, the California bill’s measures specifically exclude alarm and fire protection systems, which cover electronic products provided by security and life safety manufacturers.
“While such products were not intended to be targeted, the lack of specific exclusions in the measure originally introduced would have put the functional integrity and cybersecurity of security and life safety systems, and the lives of those who depend on them, at risk by forcing manufacturers to make sensitive technical information and other means of compromising systems broadly available,” according to SIA.
How SIA Reacted to California Right-to-Repair Bill
SIA praised the bill’s author, state Sen. Susan Eggman (D-Stockton), and the California state legislature for “acknowledging these concerns and adding provisions early in the legislative process to clearly and thoroughly protect the integrity of these products and the obligations of the industry to its customers.”
“Reasonable public policy prevailed in California due to the leadership of Sen. Eggman and the SIA government relations team and industry partners,” says SIA CEO Don Erickson in the association announcement.
“The message has been clear for some time – right to repair legislation has the potential to create real risks to consumers if applied too broadly,” he says. “With careful deliberation and thoughtful policymaking by California leaders, we hope these concerns will continue to be taken seriously in any jurisdiction considering similar legislation.”
New York, Minnesota and California all have included provisions in their right-to-repair laws that exclude security products.
“While SIA is supportive of finding effective ways to extend the life of consumer electronics and reduce electronic waste, the association will continue to work with industry leaders, allied organizations and policymakers across the country to address risks to public safety posed by legislation that does not adequately protect security and life safety systems,” according to the announcement.