SB 401 - This act will establish the "Board of Telecommunication or Information Technology Systems Contractors" within the Division of Professional Registration of the Department of Economic Development.

The Board will consist of seven members. Each member shall be a telecommunication or information systems professional qualified for licensure under provisions of this act. Qualifications of Board members are set out in the act.

Each member of the Board will be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Terms shall be for seven years after the initial appointments to staggered terms have been completed. The powers and duties of the Board are set out in the act.

Except for certain exemptions provided by the act, any individual, firm, partnership or corporation which wishes to engage in the designing, installing, altering, servicing or testing telecommunication or information technology systems must be licensed by the Board.

No first or second classification county or any municipality, county commission, city or political subdivision located in these counties may enact or enforce an ordinance, order, rule, regulation or other enforcement mechanism which will restrict the development, installation or renovation of any telecommunication or information technology system after the effective date of this act.

Any individual, firm, partnership or corporation who violates subsection 1 of section 4 of this act will be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

TOM MORTON