093_SB1516sam002

 










                                     LRB093 08454 EFG 13704 a

 1                    AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 1516

 2        AMENDMENT NO.     .  Amend Senate Bill 1516 by  replacing
 3    everything after the enacting clause with the following:

 4        "Section  1.  Short  title.  This Act may be cited as the
 5    Crane Licensing Public Safety Act.

 6        Section 5.  Legislative purpose.   The  General  Assembly
 7    finds  that, to promote job safety and to protect life, limb,
 8    and property, the operation of crane and  hoisting  equipment
 9    is  a matter of public interest. It is further declared to be
10    a matter of public interest that the operation of cranes  and
11    hoisting  equipment  used in the performance of construction,
12    renovation, and  demolition  should  merit  and  receive  the
13    confidence  of  the  public  and  that  the State of Illinois
14    should license persons who operate or assist in the operation
15    of crane and hoisting equipment. This Act should be liberally
16    construed to carry out these subjects and purposes.

17        Section 10.  Definitions. For the purposes of  this  Act,
18    unless the context otherwise requires:
19        "Board" means the Crane Operators Licensing Board.
20        "Crane"  means  (i) any hoisting equipment that lifts and
21    rotates  or  moves  a  load  in  excess  of   10,000   pounds
 
                            -2-      LRB093 08454 EFG 13704 a
 1    horizontally  or  vertically,  including  but  not limited to
 2    hydraulic cranes,  friction  cranes,  derricks,  jib  hoists,
 3    gantry,  bridge  cranes,  floating  cranes  of  any kind, and
 4    air-borne hoisting equipment, and (ii)  a  tower  crane  that
 5    lifts  and  rotates or moves a load in excess of 2,500 pounds
 6    horizontally or vertically.
 7        "Department"  means  the   Department   of   Professional
 8    Regulation.
 9        "Director" means the Director of Professional Regulation.
10        "Hoist"  includes  but is not limited to a material hoist
11    (construction elevator), air tugger  (one  drum),  multi-drum
12    hoist,  overhead  hoist,  sideboom,  A-frame  boom  truck, or
13    behind the cab truck mounted boom.
14        "Person" means an individual,  partnership,  corporation,
15    business  trust,  limited  liability  company, or other legal
16    entity.

17        Section 15.  License required; application of Act.
18        (a)  Beginning June 1, 2004, it shall be unlawful  for  a
19    person  to  operate a power-driven crane or hoist used in the
20    performance  of  construction,  renovation,   or   demolition
21    without  first  obtaining a crane operator's license from the
22    Department.
23        (b)  Beginning June 1, 2004, it shall be unlawful  for  a
24    person  to assist in the operation of a power-driven crane or
25    hoist used in the performance of construction, renovation, or
26    demolition  without  first  obtaining  an  apprentice   crane
27    operator's license from the Department.
28        (c)  The provisions of this Act do not apply to operators
29    of  powered  industrial forklift trucks, pallet trucks, rider
30    trucks, fork trucks, lift trucks, or telehandlers.
31        (d)  The provisions of this Act do not apply to equipment
32    involved in grading, drainage, field tile, or irrigation.
33        (e)  The  provisions  of  this  Act  do  not   apply   to
 
                            -3-      LRB093 08454 EFG 13704 a
 1    activities  connected with agriculture or farming, other than
 2    construction, renovation, and demolition.
 3        (f)  The provisions of this  Act  do  not  apply  to  the
 4    operation of a crane or a hoist under the jurisdiction of the
 5    United States.
 6        (g)  The  provisions  of  this  Act  do  not apply to the
 7    operation of  a  crane  or  hoist  used  in  a  manufacturing
 8    operation  for  purposes other than construction, renovation,
 9    or demolition.

10        Section 20.  Qualifications for original crane operator's
11    license. A person is qualified to obtain  an  original  crane
12    operator's  license  under this Act if he or she meets all of
13    the following requirements:
14             (1)  Is at least 18 years of age and has submitted a
15        certified record showing crane operation of at least 2000
16        hours  in  the  5-year  period  preceding  his   or   her
17        application.
18             (2)  Has  not violated any of the provisions of this
19        Act for which disciplinary action could be taken.
20             (3)  Has passed a written examination prescribed  by
21        the Board.
22             (4)  Has  passed  a practical examination prescribed
23        by the Board.
24             (5)  Has taken a drug test prescribed by the Board.
25             (6)  Does not have a  crane  operator's  license  or
26        crane  operator's  apprentice  license  that is currently
27        revoked or suspended by the Board or  by  the  comparable
28        licensing body in another jurisdiction.

29        Section    25.  Qualifications   for   crane   operator's
30    apprentice license. A person is qualified to obtain  a  crane
31    operator's  apprentice  license  under  this Act if he or she
32    meets all of the following requirements:
 
                            -4-      LRB093 08454 EFG 13704 a
 1             (1)  Is at least 18 years of age.
 2             (2)  Has passed a written examination as  prescribed
 3        by the Department.
 4             (3)  Has  not violated any of the provisions of this
 5        Act for which disciplinary action could be taken.
 6             (4)  Does not have a  crane  operator's  license  or
 7        crane  operator's  apprentice  license  that is currently
 8        revoked or suspended by the  Board  or  by  a  comparable
 9        licensing body in another jurisdiction.

10        Section  30.  Application  for  original crane operator's
11    license.
12        (a)  Applications for original licenses shall be made  to
13    the  Department  in  writing on forms prescribed by the Board
14    and shall be accompanied by the required fee, which shall not
15    be returnable. The application shall require the  information
16    that,   in  the  judgment  of  the  Board,  will  enable  the
17    Department to pass on the qualifications of the applicant for
18    a license.
19        (b)  The Department  may  authorize  the  examination  of
20    applicants  at  any time and place that it may determine. The
21    Department shall make reasonable efforts to  provide  testing
22    sites reflecting the geographical distribution of applicants'
23    residences.  The  examination  of  applicants  shall  be of a
24    character to give a fair test of the  qualifications  of  the
25    applicant  to practice. The Agency may employ consultants for
26    the purpose of preparing and conducting examinations.
27        (c)  Applicants for examination shall be required to pay,
28    either to the Department or the designated testing service, a
29    fee covering the cost of providing  the  examination.  If  an
30    applicant  neglects, fails, or refuses to take an examination
31    or fails to pass an examination for a license under this  Act
32    within  3  years  after  filing  his  or her application, the
33    application is denied. However, the applicant may  thereafter
 
                            -5-      LRB093 08454 EFG 13704 a
 1    make a new application accompanied by the required fee.
 2        (d)  Original  crane  operator's  licenses shall be valid
 3    for a period of 5 years.

 4        Section 35.  License classifications.
 5        (a)  The Department may issue various classes of licenses
 6    reflecting the different levels  of  competency  of  a  crane
 7    operator. The classification of licenses shall include all of
 8    the following:
 9             (1)  Full  crane  operator's  license.  This license
10        shall authorize the operation of any  crane  or  hoisting
11        equipment listed in any category in this Section.
12             (2)  Tower  crane  operator's  license. This license
13        shall  authorize  the  operation  of  tower  cranes   and
14        derricks  operated from a fixed location within, attached
15        to, or adjacent to the building undergoing  construction,
16        repair,  or demolition. Classes of tower crane operator's
17        license shall include all of the following:
18                  (A)  Stationary tower cranes.
19                  (B)  Derricks, stiff leg, and guy.
20                  (C)  Unrestricted.
21             (3)  Mobile crane operator's license.  This  license
22        shall authorize the operation of mobile cranes regardless
23        of mounting or means of mobility, including track-mounted
24        cranes,  crawler  cranes, truck-mounted cranes, and truck
25        mounted towers cranes. Classes of mobile crane operator's
26        license shall include all of the following:
27                  (A)  Friction crawler and truck.
28                  (B)  Hydraulic lattice boom crawler and truck.
29                  (C)  Hydraulic all terrain/rough terrain.
30                  (D)  Unrestricted.
31             (4)  Boom truck  operator's  license.  This  license
32        shall  authorize  the operation of boom trucks regardless
33        of mounting or means of mobility. Classes of  boom  truck
 
                            -6-      LRB093 08454 EFG 13704 a
 1        operator's license shall include all of the following:
 2                  (A)  Boom truck.
 3                  (B)  A-frame.
 4                  (C)  Hydraulic sign truck.
 5                  (D)  Unrestricted.
 6             (5)  Overhead crane operator's license. This license
 7        shall  authorize  the  operation of overhead trolley type
 8        cranes.
 9             (6)  Drum hoist  operator's  license.  This  license
10        shall  authorize  the operation of drum hoisting and rack
11        and pinion types of equipment located within  or  affixed
12        to  the  structure  undergoing  construction,  repair, or
13        demolition. Classes  of  drum  hoist  operator's  license
14        shall include:
15                  (A)  Drum hoists.
16                  (B)  Rack and pinion hoists.
17                  (C)  Unrestricted.
18             (7)  Apprentice   crane   operator's  license.  This
19        license shall authorize an individual for the performance
20        of work as a crane operator under the direct  supervision
21        of a licensed crane operator.
22        (b)  The  Board  shall  set  up  appropriate  written and
23    practical testing requirements for each type of license to be
24    issued. The  Board  may  add  additional  classifications  of
25    licenses   by   rule   as  necessary  to  meet  the  changing
26    technologies  in  the  crane,  hoisting,   and   construction
27    industries.

28        Section   40.  Testing.   The  Department  shall  conduct
29    examinations of applicants for crane operator's licenses  and
30    for crane operator's apprentice licenses.

31        Section 45.  Renewal of crane operator's license.
32        (a)  At  the  expiration  of an original crane operator's
 
                            -7-      LRB093 08454 EFG 13704 a
 1    license, a licensee may apply for a renewal crane  operator's
 2    license.  A  person  is  qualified  to obtain a renewal crane
 3    operator's license if he or she meets all  of  the  following
 4    requirements:
 5             (1)  Has  submitted a certified record showing crane
 6        operation of at least 2000 hours in the 5-year period  of
 7        the  original  crane  operator's license, or has passed a
 8        practical examination prescribed by the Board.
 9             (2)  Has not violated any of the provisions of  this
10        Act for which disciplinary action could be taken.
11             (3)  Has  passed a written examination prescribed by
12        the Board.
13             (4)  Has taken a drug test prescribed by the Board.
14             (5)  Does not have a crane operator's  license  that
15        is  currently revoked or suspended by the Board or by the
16        comparable licensing body in another jurisdiction.
17        (b)  Renewal crane operator's licenses shall be valid for
18    a period of 5 years.

19        Section 50.  Military  exemption.  The  Department  shall
20    reinstate  a  crane  operator's  license that expires while a
21    licensee is in active military service of the  United  States
22    upon  application  to the Department by the licensee within 2
23    years after termination of the military service,  payment  of
24    the  annual  license  fee,  and submission of evidence of the
25    military service. The license  shall  be  reinstated  without
26    examination and without payment of the lapsed renewal fee.

27        Section 55.  Fees; Crane Operators Licensing Fund.
28        (a)  The Department shall impose a fee established by the
29    Board  for  an  original  license  and  for a renewal license
30    issued under this Act.
31        (b)  All  fees  and  fines  received  by  the  Department
32    pursuant to this Section shall be deposited  into  the  Crane
 
                            -8-      LRB093 08454 EFG 13704 a
 1    Operators Licensing Fund, a special fund created in the State
 2    Treasury.  Moneys  in the Fund may be used by the Department,
 3    subject to appropriation, solely for  the  administration  of
 4    this Act.

 5        Section 60.  Board; crane inspector.
 6        (a)  The  Crane  Operators  Licensing  Board  is  created
 7    within  the  Department  and  shall  consist of the following
 8    voting members appointed by the Director:
 9             (1)  Three members of the Board shall be members  of
10        unions  representing  operating  engineers. These members
11        shall serve 3-year terms,  except  that  of  the  initial
12        members  appointed,  one shall be appointed for a term of
13        one year, one for a term of 2 years, and one for  a  term
14        of 3 years.
15             (2)  One   member   of   the   Board   shall   be  a
16        representative of the construction industry. This  member
17        shall serve a 3-year term, except that the initial member
18        shall be appointed for a term of 2 years.
19             (3)  One   member   of   the   Board   shall   be  a
20        representative of the  property  and  casualty  insurance
21        industry.  This  member shall serve a 3-year term, except
22        that the initial member shall be appointed for a term  of
23        one year.
24             (4)  One   member   of   the   Board   shall   be  a
25        representative of the building and  construction  trades.
26        This  member  shall  serve a 3-year term, except that the
27        initial member shall be appointed for a term of 2 years.
28             (5)  Two  members  of  the  Board  shall  be  public
29        members. These members shall serve 3-year  terms,  except
30        that  of  the  initial  members  appointed,  one shall be
31        appointed for  a  term  of  2  years  and  one  shall  be
32        appointed for a term of 3 years.
33        (b)  Each  member  shall  have experience, knowledge, and
 
                            -9-      LRB093 08454 EFG 13704 a
 1    expertise relating to the subject matter of this Act.
 2        (c)  Board members  shall  receive  no  compensation  for
 3    their  services  on the Board, but they may be reimbursed for
 4    their actual expenses in serving on the Board.
 5        (d)  The Board shall annually elect one of its members as
 6    chairperson, one as vice-chairperson, and one  as  secretary.
 7    No  officer  of the Board shall be elected more than twice in
 8    succession to a full term in the same  office.  Each  officer
 9    shall  serve  until his or her successor has been elected and
10    qualified. If there is a vacancy in  an  officer's  position,
11    the  remaining  Board  members  shall  promptly  fill  it  by
12    appointing  a  member of the Board to the vacant position for
13    the unexpired portion of the term.
14        (e)  Four members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
15    A vacancy in the membership of the Board shall not impair the
16    right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform  all
17    of the duties of the Board.
18        (f)  The Director shall promptly appoint a person to fill
19    any  vacancy  on  the  Board for the unexpired portion of the
20    term.
21        (g)  The Department shall  employ  and  the  Board  shall
22    approve  a  crane  inspector.  The crane inspector shall have
23    all of the following powers and duties:
24             (1)  To assist the Board in carrying out its  duties
25        under this Act.
26             (2)  To periodically inspect cranes.
27             (3)  To investigate accidents involving cranes.
28             (4)  To  inspect  job sites to ensure that all crane
29        and hoisting equipment personnel are duly licensed.
30        The Department may employ additional personnel to  assist
31    in enforcing the provisions of this Act.

32        Section 65.  Licensing penalties.
33        (a)  The Board may refuse to issue or renew or may revoke
 
                            -10-     LRB093 08454 EFG 13704 a
 1    or  suspend  a  license  or  place  on probation, censure, or
 2    reprimand a licensee, for  one  or  any  combination  of  the
 3    following causes:
 4             (1)  The   practice   of  any  fraud  or  deceit  in
 5        obtaining or attempting to obtain a license.
 6             (2)  Any   gross   negligence,   incompetence,    or
 7        misconduct  in  the  operation  of  a  crane  or hoisting
 8        equipment while under the influence of alcohol or another
 9        drug.
10             (3)  Any   gross   negligence,   incompetence,    or
11        misconduct as an apprentice assisting in the operation of
12        a  crane  or hoisting equipment while under the influence
13        of alcohol or another drug.
14             (4)  The entry of any order  by  any  circuit  court
15        establishing  that  a person holding a license under this
16        Act is a person subject to  involuntary  admission  under
17        the  Mental  Health  and Developmental Disabilities Code.
18        The person may have his or her license restored only upon
19        the determination by a circuit court that he or  she  has
20        recovered  from  the mental illness that subjected him or
21        her to involuntary admission and upon  the  determination
22        of  the  Board  that  the  license be restored. Where the
23        circumstances so  indicate,  the  Board  may  require  an
24        examination prior to restoring any license.
25             (5)  Failure to comply with any of the provisions of
26        this  Act  or  any  rules adopted by the Department under
27        this Act.
28             (6)  Revocation or suspension  of  a  license  as  a
29        crane   or   hoist  operator  or  apprentice  in  another
30        jurisdiction.
31             (7)  Failure within 60 days to  provide  information
32        requested  by  the  Board  as  a  result  of  a formal or
33        informal complaint to the Department that would  indicate
34        a violation of this Act.
 
                            -11-     LRB093 08454 EFG 13704 a
 1        (b)  The  Board  shall refuse to issue or renew and shall
 2    revoke the license of a licensee who has been  determined  by
 3    the Board to have more than 3 violations of operating a crane
 4    without   possessing   a   crane   operator's  license  under
 5    subsection (a) of Section 85 or more  than  3  violations  of
 6    assisting   in   operating   a  crane  without  possessing  a
 7    apprentice crane operator's license under subsection  (c)  of
 8    Section 85.

 9        Section 70.  Hearing
10        (a)  The  Board  may  upon its own motion, and shall upon
11    the sworn complaint in writing of any  person  setting  forth
12    charges  that,  if  proved,  would  constitute  grounds under
13    Section 65  for  refusal,  suspension,  or  revocation  of  a
14    license,  investigate  the  actions  of any person holding or
15    claiming to hold a license.
16        (b)  The Board shall, at least 10 days prior to the  date
17    set for the hearing and before refusing to issue, suspend, or
18    revoke  any  license,  notify  the applicant or holder of the
19    license, in writing, of any charges made,  and  shall  afford
20    him  or  her  an  opportunity  to  be  heard  in person or by
21    counsel. The notice may be served by personal delivery to the
22    accused person or by registered mail to  the  last  place  of
23    business  specified by the accused person in the notification
24    to the Agency.
25        (c)  At the time and place fixed in the notice, the Board
26    shall proceed to the hearing of  the  charges  and  both  the
27    accused  person  and  the complainant shall be accorded ample
28    opportunity  to  present,  in  person  or  by  counsel,   any
29    statement,  testimony,  evidence,  or  argument  that  may be
30    pertinent to the  charges  or  to  any  defense  against  the
31    charges.  The  Board  may  continue  the hearing from time to
32    time. If the Board is not sitting at the time  and  place  to
33    which  the  hearing  has  been  continued, the Department may
 
                            -12-     LRB093 08454 EFG 13704 a
 1    continue the hearing for a period not to exceed 30 days,  and
 2    all  parties  in interest shall be given notice in writing of
 3    the date and hour to which the hearing has been continued and
 4    the place at which it is to be held.

 5        Section 75.  Review.
 6        (a)  All final administrative decisions of the Department
 7    shall  be  subject  to  judicial  review  pursuant   to   the
 8    provisions   of   the  Administrative  Review  Law,  and  all
 9    amendments and modifications thereof, and the  rules  adopted
10    pursuant  thereto.  The  term  "administrative  decision"  is
11    defined  as  in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
12    The proceedings for judicial review shall be commenced in the
13    circuit court of the county in which the party  applying  for
14    review  resides.   If  the  party  is  not a resident of this
15    State, the venue shall be in Sangamon County.
16        (b)  The Department shall not be required to certify  any
17    record  to the court or file any answer in court or otherwise
18    appear in any court in a judicial  review  proceeding  unless
19    there is filed in the court with the complaint a receipt from
20    the   Department   acknowledging  payment  of  the  costs  of
21    furnishing and certifying the record, which  costs  shall  be
22    computed  at  the  rate  of  20 cents per page of the record.
23    Exhibits shall be certified without cost. Failure on the part
24    of the plaintiff to file the receipt with the court shall  be
25    grounds for dismissal of the action.

26        Section 80.  Injunction.
27        (a)  Operating  or  assisting in the operation of a crane
28    in this State or offering to operate, assist, or  use  or  to
29    advertise  or  otherwise represent to the public any title or
30    description implying that the person is a crane  or  hoisting
31    equipment  operator  or  apprentice  by a person who does not
32    possess a  valid  and  current  license  under  this  Act  is
 
                            -13-     LRB093 08454 EFG 13704 a
 1    declared to be against the public welfare and to constitute a
 2    public nuisance.
 3        (b)  The  Attorney  General,  the  Director,  the State's
 4    Attorney for any county in the State, or any resident citizen
 5    may maintain an action in the name of the people of the State
 6    of Illinois to perpetually enjoin any person from  unlawfully
 7    operating  as  a  crane  or  hoisting  equipment  operator or
 8    apprentice  and  from  committing  or  continuing  any   such
 9    unlawful act.
10        (c)  In  all  proceedings,  the court, in its discretion,
11    may apportion the costs among the parties interested  in  the
12    suit, including the costs of filing the complaint, service of
13    process,  witness  fees and expenses, court reporter charges,
14    and  reasonable  attorneys'  fees.  This  proceeding  is   in
15    addition to and not in lieu of criminal prosecution.

16        Section 85.  Penalties.
17        (a)  Any  person  who operates a crane or a hoist in this
18    State without obtaining an operator's license under this  Act
19    from the Agency shall be guilty of a business offense and for
20    the  first violation shall be fined not more than $1,000, for
21    a second violation shall be fined not more than  $3,000,  and
22    for  a third or subsequent conviction shall be fined not more
23    than $5,000.
24        (b)  Any employer,  contractor  or  agent  who  knowingly
25    permits  any individual to operate a crane or a hoist in this
26    State without the individual possessing  a  valid  operator's
27    license  issued  under  this Act shall be guilty of a Class A
28    misdemeanor and may be fined not more  than  $1,000  for  the
29    first  offense,  not more than $3,000 for the second offense,
30    and not more than $5,000 for a third or subsequent offense.
31        (c)  Any person who assists in the operation of  a  crane
32    or  hoist  in  this  State  without obtaining an apprentice's
33    license under this Act from the Board shall be  guilty  of  a
 
                            -14-     LRB093 08454 EFG 13704 a
 1    business  offense  and for the first violation shall be fined
 2    not more than $1,000, for a second violation shall  be  fined
 3    not   more  than  $3,000,  and  for  a  third  or  subsequent
 4    conviction shall be fined not more than $5,000.
 5        (d)  Any employer,  contractor  or  agent  who  knowingly
 6    permits  any individual to assist in the operation of a crane
 7    or hoist in this State without the  individual  possessing  a
 8    valid  apprentice's  license  issued  under this Act shall be
 9    guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and may  be  fined  not  more
10    than  $1,000  for the first offense, not more than $3,000 for
11    the second offense, and not more than $5,000 for a  third  or
12    subsequent offense.

13        Section 90.  Rules.
14        (a)  The  Department  shall exercise the power and duties
15    prescribed by the Civil Administrative Code of  Illinois  for
16    the  administration  of licensing Acts and shall exercise any
17    other powers and duties invested by this Act.
18        (b)  The Board may promulgate rules consistent  with  the
19    provisions   of   this   Act,   for  the  administration  and
20    enforcement thereof and may prescribe  forms  that  shall  be
21    issued in connection therewith.

22        Section  900.  The State Finance Act is amended by adding
23    Section 5.595 as follows:

24        (30 ILCS 105/5.595 new)
25        Sec. 5.595.  The Crane Operators Licensing Fund.

26        Section 999.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
27    becoming law.".