Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB1880
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Full Text of SB1880  93rd General Assembly

SB1880 93rd General Assembly


093_SB1880

 
                                     LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b

 1        AN ACT concerning the regulation of electricians.

 2        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section  1.  Short  title.   This Act may be cited as the
 5    Electricians Licensing Act.

 6        Section 5.  Purpose and policy.  It has been  established
 7    by  documented  evidence  that improper electrical wiring can
 8    adversely affect the well  being  of  the  public.   Improper
 9    electrical  wiring  can cause fires due to short circuits and
10    overloading  of  protection  devices.    Faulty   wiring   is
11    potentially  lethal  and  can  cause  widespread  fires  with
12    disastrous  consequences to persons and property.  To protect
13    the health of the public, it  is  essential  that  electrical
14    wiring be installed by persons who have proven their skill in
15    installing electrical wiring.
16        Consistent  with  its duty to safeguard the health of the
17    people of this State,  the  General  Assembly  declares  that
18    individuals   who  plan,  inspect,  install,  alter,  extend,
19    repair, and  maintain  electrical  wiring  systems  shall  be
20    individuals  of  proven skill.  Further, the General Assembly
21    declares that a  guide  for  minimum  control  of  electrical
22    materials  and  equipment,  the design of electrical systems,
23    and the construction and installation methods  of  electrical
24    systems is essential for the protection of public health.  In
25    order  to  insure proper electrical wiring practice, this Act
26    provides for the licensing  of  electricians  and  electrical
27    contractors  and  for the adoption of the National Electrical
28    Code as standards by the Department. This  Act  is  therefore
29    declared to be essential to the public interest.

30        Section 10.  Definitions. As used in this Act:
 
                            -2-      LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1        "Approved apprenticeship program" means an apprenticeship
 2    program  approved  by  the  United States Department of Labor
 3    Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training.
 4        "Board" means the  Illinois  State  Board  of  Electrical
 5    Examiners.
 6        "Department" means the Illinois Department of Labor.
 7        "Director"  means the Director of the Illinois Department
 8    of Labor.
 9        "Electrical  contractor"  means  a   person,   firm,   or
10    corporation operating a business that undertakes or offers to
11    undertake  to  plan for, lay out, supervise, or install or to
12    make additions, alterations, maintenance, or repairs  in  the
13    installation  of  wiring, apparatus or equipment for electric
14    light, heat, or power with or without compensation and who is
15    licensed as an electrical contractor  by  the  Department  of
16    Labor.  An electrical contractor's license does not of itself
17    qualify  its holder to perform the electrical work authorized
18    by holding any class of electrician's license.
19        "Electrical  work"  means   the   wiring,   installation,
20    maintenance,  and repair of electrical wiring, apparatus, and
21    equipment and the planning, laying out,  and  supervision  of
22    the  installation,  maintenance,  and  repair of such wiring,
23    apparatus, and equipment for electric heat, light, and power.
24        "Governmental unit" means a city,  village,  incorporated
25    town, or county.
26        "Journeyman   electrician"  means  a  person  having  the
27    necessary qualifications, training, experience, and technical
28    knowledge  to  wire  for,  install,  maintain,   and   repair
29    electrical  wiring,  apparatus, and equipment who is licensed
30    as a journeyman electrician by the Department of Labor.
31        "Master electrician" means a person having the  necessary
32    qualifications, training, experience, and technical knowledge
33    to  install,  maintain,  and repair and to properly plan, lay
34    out, and supervise the installation of wiring, apparatus, and
 
                            -3-      LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1    equipment for electric light, heat, power, and other purposes
 2    who is licensed as a master electrician by the Department  of
 3    Labor.
 4        "Owner"  means  a  natural person who physically performs
 5    electrical work on premises  the  person  owns  and  actually
 6    occupies as a single family residence or owns and will occupy
 7    as a single family residence upon completion of construction.
 8        "Registered  apprentice"  means  a person registered with
 9    the Department of Labor, who is learning the trade under  the
10    supervision of a licensed electrician.
11        "Residential  electrician"  means  a  person  having  the
12    necessary qualifications, training, experience, and technical
13    knowledge  involving  the  construction,  wiring, alteration,
14    maintenance, or repair of single family houses  or  apartment
15    buildings and who is licensed as a residential electrician by
16    the Department of Labor.
17        "Supervision"  means that any new electrical work done by
18    a registered apprentice  electrician  must  be  inspected  at
19    least once after initial rough-in and once upon completion by
20    an   Illinois   licensed   electrician.    In  addition,  all
21    renovation, alteration, repair, extension, modification,  and
22    maintenance  work done by a registered apprentice electrician
23    on an existing electrical  system  must  be  approved  by  an
24    Illinois licensed electrician.

25        Section  15.  Board  of  Electrical  Examiners.  There is
26    created the Illinois  State  Board  of  Electrical  Examiners
27    which  shall  exercise  its duties provided in this Act under
28    the supervision of the Department of Labor.  The Board  shall
29    consist of 11 members appointed by the Director of Labor. The
30    Board  shall be composed of 3 licensed master electricians, 3
31    licensed  electrical  contractors  who  are  members  of  the
32    National Electrical  Contractors  Association,  one  licensed
33    electrical  engineer,  one  electrical  inspector who holds a
 
                            -4-      LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1    master   or    journeyman    electrician's    license,    one
 2    representative  of  a public utility, the State Fire Marshal,
 3    and  a  member  of  the  general  public.   In   making   the
 4    appointments  to  the  Board, the Director shall consider the
 5    recommendations  of  individuals,  firms,  or   organizations
 6    involved  in  electrical  wiring  installation in this State.
 7    The Director shall also take into consideration the  minority
 8    representation  in the population when making appointments to
 9    the Board. Members of the Board shall serve 4 year terms  and
10    until  their  successors  are  appointed  and qualified.  The
11    initial appointments, however, shall be as follows: 3 members
12    for terms of 2 years, 3 members for 3 years,  and  4  members
13    for  4  years.  The State Fire Marshal's service on the Board
14    shall  be  continuous.  Board  members   shall   receive   no
15    compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in
16    connection with their duties as Board members.

17        Section  20.  Powers  and  duties  of  the Director.  The
18    Director shall take all actions necessary under this  Act  to
19    carry  out  the duties and responsibilities of the Department
20    under this Act. The Director,  with  the  assistance  of  the
21    Board, shall:
22             (a)  prepare  and  issue  licenses  and  provide for
23        registration as provided in this Act;
24             (b)  prescribe rules and regulations for examination
25        of applicants for  master,  journeyman,  and  residential
26        licenses;
27             (c)  prepare   and   give  uniform  examinations  to
28        applicants  for  master,  journeyman,   and   residential
29        licenses    that   shall   test   their   knowledge   and
30        qualifications in the planning and design  of  electrical
31        systems,  their  knowledge,  qualifications,  and  manual
32        skills  in  electrical installations, and their knowledge
33        of the National Electrical Code  relating  to  materials,
 
                            -5-      LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1        design,   and   installation  of  methods  of  electrical
 2        systems;
 3             (d)  issue   electrical   contractor   and   master,
 4        journeyman, and residential licenses and license renewals
 5        to applicants who have met the requirements for licensure
 6        and complied with all the prerequisites to licensure;
 7             (e)  prescribe rules for hearings to deny,  suspend,
 8        revoke, or reinstate licenses as provided in this Act;
 9             (f)  maintain a current record showing (i) the names
10        and addresses of licensed electrical contractors, master,
11        journeyman,  and residential electricians, and registered
12        apprentices; (ii) the  dates  of  issuance  of  licenses;
13        (iii) the date and substance for the charges set forth in
14        any  hearing for denial, suspension, or revocation of any
15        license; (iv) the date and substance of the  final  order
16        issued  upon a hearing; and (v) the date and substance of
17        all petitions for  reinstatement  of  license  and  final
18        orders on petitions;
19             (g)  establish and collect fees for the examination,
20        issuance, and renewal of licenses;
21             (h)  provide  for  the  inspection of new electrical
22        installations in construction,  remodeling,  replacement,
23        maintenance, and repair work, where required by this Act;
24             (i)  establish and collect fees for the handling and
25        inspection of new electrical installations; and
26             (j)  formulate   and   publish  rules  necessary  or
27        appropriate to carrying out the provisions of this Act.

28        Section 25.  License and registration.
29        (a)  Master electrician.  Except as otherwise provided by
30    law, no person shall plan,  install,  repair,  maintain,  lay
31    out,  or  supervise the installation of wiring, apparatus, or
32    equipment  for  electrical  light,  heat,  power,  or   other
33    purposes unless the person is:
 
                            -6-      LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1             (1)  licensed   by   the   Department  as  a  master
 2        electrician; and
 3             (2)  the  work  is   for   a   licensed   electrical
 4        contractor  and  the  person  is  the licensed electrical
 5        contractor or an employee, partner,  or  officer  of  the
 6        licensed  electrical contractor, or the work is performed
 7        for  the  person's  employer  on  electrical   equipment,
 8        apparatus,  or facilities owned or leased by the employer
 9        that is located within the limits of  property  owned  or
10        leased, operated, and maintained by the employer.
11        An applicant for a master electrician's license shall (i)
12    have   a  Bachelor  of  Science  degree  from  an  accredited
13    electrical engineering program and  have  had  at  least  one
14    year's  experience,  acceptable  to  the Board, as a licensed
15    journeyman; (ii)  have  had  at  least  5  years  experience,
16    acceptable  to  the  Board,  in  planning  for,  laying  out,
17    supervising,  and  installing wiring, apparatus, or equipment
18    for electrical light, heat, and power; or (iii) have  had  at
19    least  6  years  experience, acceptable to the Board, with an
20    electrical  contracting  company  in  planning,   estimating,
21    laying  out,  and  supervising,  under  the  supervision of a
22    licensed master electrician, the installation  of  electrical
23    work for electric light, heat, and power.
24        (b)  Journeyman   electrician.    Except   as   otherwise
25    provided by law, no person shall wire for, install, maintain,
26    or  repair electrical wiring, apparatus, or equipment, unless
27    the person is licensed by  the  Department  as  a  journeyman
28    electrician  employed  by  a  licensed electrical contractor.
29    Nothing in this subsection (b),  however,  shall  prohibit  a
30    master  electrician  from performing the work of a journeyman
31    electrician.
32        An applicant for a journeyman electrician's license shall
33    have had at least 5 years of experience,  acceptable  to  the
34    Board,  in  wiring  for, installing, and repairing electrical
 
                            -7-      LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1    wiring, apparatus, or equipment. The Department may  by  rule
 2    provide  for  the  allowance of one year of experience credit
 3    for successful completion  of  a  2  year  post  high  school
 4    electrical course approved by the Board.
 5        (c)  Registered  apprentice.  A person who is enrolled in
 6    an approved apprenticeship  program  may  perform  electrical
 7    work  only  under  the supervision of a licensed electrician.
 8    All apprentices shall be registered with the Department.
 9        (d)  Residential  electrician.    Except   as   otherwise
10    provided  by  law,  no  person  shall construct, wire, alter,
11    maintain,  or  repair  single  family  houses  or   apartment
12    buildings  unless the person is licensed by the Department as
13    a residential electrician employed by a  licensed  electrical
14    contractor.  Nothing  in  this subsection (d), however, shall
15    prohibit a master electrician or journeyman electrician  from
16    performing the work of a residential electrician.
17        An  applicant  for  a  residential  electrician's license
18    shall have had at least 4 years of experience, acceptable  to
19    the  Board, in having the necessary qualifications, training,
20    and technical knowledge involving the  construction,  wiring,
21    alteration,  or  repair  of single family houses or apartment
22    buildings.  The  Department  may  by  rule  provide  for  the
23    allowance of one year of  experience  credit  for  successful
24    completion  of  a  2  year post high school electrical course
25    approved by the Board.
26        (e)  Contractors.  Except as otherwise provided  by  law,
27    no  person  other  than  an employee of a licensed electrical
28    contractor as defined in this Act shall undertake or offer to
29    undertake to plan for, lay out, supervise, or install  or  to
30    make  additions,  alterations, or repairs in the installation
31    of, or  to  maintain,  wiring  apparatus  and  equipment  for
32    electrical light, heat, or power with or without compensation
33    unless the person obtains an electrical contractor's license.
34    An  electrical  contractor's  license  shall be issued by the
 
                            -8-      LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1    Department upon the contractor's giving bond to the State  in
 2    an  amount to be determined by the Department. The bond shall
 3    be filed with the Department and shall  be  in  lieu  of  all
 4    other  license  bonds to any political subdivision.  The bond
 5    shall be  written  by  a  corporate  surety  licensed  to  do
 6    business in the State of Illinois.
 7        Each   licensed  electrical  contractor  shall  have  and
 8    maintain in effect insurance. Specific insurance requirements
 9    and  minimum  limits  per  occurrence  are  as  follows:  (a)
10    commercial  general  liability,  $1,000,000;   fire   damage,
11    $50,000;   medical   expenses,   $5,000;   personal   injury,
12    $1,000,000;   general  aggregate,  $2,000,000;  products  and
13    completed   operations   coverage,   $1,000,000;   automobile
14    liability, each auto $1,000,000 combined single limit; excess
15    liability,  $10,000,000;   and   workers   compensation   and
16    employers  liability with limits as required by Illinois law.
17    The insurance shall be written by an insurer licensed  to  do
18    business   in   the  State  of  Illinois  and  each  licensed
19    electrical  contractor  shall  maintain  on  file  with   the
20    Department  a  certificate evidencing insurance that provides
21    that the insurance shall not be cancelled without the insurer
22    first giving 15 days written notice to the Department of  the
23    cancellation.
24        No  contractor  shall engage in business unless he or she
25    is or has in his or her employ a licensed master electrician,
26    who  shall  be  responsible  for  the  performance   of   all
27    electrical  work  in accordance with the requirements of this
28    Act.  When an electrical contractor's license is held  by  an
29    individual,  partnership,  or corporation and the individual,
30    one of the  partners,  or  an  officer  of  the  corporation,
31    respectively,  is  not  the responsible master electrician of
32    record, all requests for inspection shall be  signed  by  the
33    responsible  master  electrician  of record.  The application
34    for  an  electrical  contractor's  license  must  include   a
 
                            -9-      LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1    verified  statement  that  the  designated responsible master
 2    electrician is  a  full  time  employee  of  the  individual,
 3    partnership,   or  corporation  applying  for  an  electrical
 4    contractor's license.  For purposes of this Section,  a  full
 5    time  employee  of  a  licensed  electrical  contractor is an
 6    individual who is not employed in any capacity as a  licensed
 7    electrician by any other electrical contractor.
 8        (f)  The  Department  shall prepare guidelines as to what
 9    work experience qualifies in determining whether an applicant
10    meets the requirements for  licensure  under  the  Act.   The
11    Board  has  discretion  in determining whether any particular
12    applicant's experience  shall  count  toward  the  experience
13    necessary for licensure under this Act.

14        Section   30.  Examination.    In   addition   to   other
15    requirements  imposed  by  this  Act  and except as otherwise
16    provided in this Act, as a precondition  to  issuance  of  an
17    electrician's  license,  each  applicant  must pass a written
18    examination given by the Department for the type  of  license
19    sought  to  insure  the  competence  of  each  applicant  for
20    license.   No person failing an examination may retake it for
21    6 months, but may, within 6 months, take an examination for a
22    lesser grade of license.  Any licensee failing to  renew  his
23    or her license for 2 years or more after its expiration shall
24    be  required  to  retake  the examination before he or she is
25    issued a new license.

26        Section 35.  Military exemption.   The  Department  shall
27    reinstate  a  license  that  expires  while  a licensee is in
28    active Military Service of the United States upon application
29    to the Department  by  the  licensee  within  2  years  after
30    termination  of  the  military service, payment of the annual
31    license fee, and  submission  of  evidence  of  the  military
32    service.  The license shall be reinstated without examination
 
                            -10-     LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1    and without payment of the lapsed renewal fee.

 2        Section 40.  Expiration of license;  fees.  All  licenses
 3    issued  under  this  Act shall expire annually in a manner as
 4    provided by the Department.  Application,  renewal,  and  all
 5    other  fees  provided for in this Act shall be established by
 6    the Department by rule.

 7        Section 45.  Grounds for discipline.  The Department  may
 8    by order deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a license,
 9    or  may  censure  a  licensee  if  it finds that it is in the
10    public interest to do so and that the applicant or licensee:
11        (a)  has filed an application for a license that contains
12    any statement that, in light of the circumstances under which
13    it is made, is  false  or  misleading  with  respect  to  any
14    material fact;
15        (b)  has   engaged   in  any  fraudulent,  deceptive,  or
16    dishonest practice;
17        (c)  has been convicted within the  past  5  years  of  a
18    misdemeanor involving a violation of this Act; or
19        (d)  has  violated  or  failed to comply with this Act or
20    its rules or any order issued under this  Act.   A  violation
21    need not be willful.
22        The  Department  may  adopt  rules further specifying the
23    grounds for suspension, revocation, and refusal  to  renew  a
24    license and establishing standards of conduct for licensees.

25        Section 50.  Hearing procedure.
26        (a)  The  Board, may upon its own motion, investigate the
27    actions of any person holding or claiming to hold  a  license
28    if  there  is reason to believe such person has engaged or is
29    engaging in activity that constitutes grounds for  discipline
30    under Section 45 of this Act.
31        (b)  The  Board shall, at least 10 days prior to the date
 
                            -11-     LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1    set for the hearing and before refusing to  issue  or  renew,
 2    suspend,  or  revoke  any  license,  notify  the applicant or
 3    holder of the license, in writing, of any charges  made,  and
 4    shall  afford him or her an opportunity to be heard in person
 5    or by counsel. The notice may be served by personal  delivery
 6    to the accused person or by registered mail to the last place
 7    of   business   specified   by  the  accused  person  in  the
 8    notification to the Agency.
 9        (c)  At the time and place fixed in the notice, the Board
10    shall proceed to the hearing of  the  charges  and  both  the
11    accused  person  and  the complainant shall be accorded ample
12    opportunity  to  present,  in  person  or  by  counsel,   any
13    statement,  testimony,  evidence,  or  argument  that  may be
14    pertinent to the  charges  or  to  any  defense  against  the
15    charges.  The  Board  may  continue  the hearing from time to
16    time. If the Board is not sitting at the time  and  place  to
17    which  the  hearing  has  been  continued, the Department may
18    continue the hearing for a period not to exceed 30 days,  and
19    all  parties  in interest shall be given notice in writing of
20    the date and hour to which the hearing has been continued and
21    the place at which it is to be held.

22        Section 55.  Nonpayment  of  taxes.  The  Department  may
23    refuse  to issue or may suspend the license of any person who
24    fails (i) to file a federal of State tax return, (ii) to  pay
25    the  tax,  penalty,  or  interest shown in a filed return, or
26    (iii) to  pay  any  final  assessment  of  tax,  penalty,  or
27    interest,  as  required  by  any  tax Act administered by the
28    Illinois  Department  of  Revenue,   until   the   time   the
29    requirements of the tax Act are satisfied.

30        Section  60.  Continuation  of business by estates.  Upon
31    the death of  a  master  electrician  who  is  an  electrical
32    contractor,   the   Department   may  permit  the  decedent's
 
                            -12-     LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1    representative to carry on the business of the decedent for a
 2    period not  in  excess  of  6  months,  for  the  purpose  of
 3    completing  work  under  contract or otherwise to comply with
 4    this Act.  The decedent's  representative  may  petition  the
 5    Board  for an extension of the 6 month period in the event he
 6    or she  can  demonstrate  undue  hardship  or  other  special
 7    circumstances.    The   extension   may  be  granted  at  the
 8    recommendation of the Board, subject to Department  approval.
 9    The  representative shall give any bond as the Department may
10    require conditioned upon the faithful and lawful  performance
11    of  the  work.   The bond shall be for the benefit of persons
12    injured or suffering financial loss by reason of  failure  of
13    performance.  The bond shall be written by a corporate surety
14    licensed  to  do  business  in  the  State  of Illinois.  The
15    decedent's representative shall also comply with  all  public
16    liability  and property damage insurance requirements imposed
17    by this Act upon a licensed electrical contractor.

18        Section 65.  Reciprocity.  The  Department  may  grant  a
19    license,  without examination, of the same grade and class to
20    an electrician who has been licensed by any other state  that
21    provides  for  the  licensing  of  electricians  in a similar
22    manner.  The license may be granted for at  least  one  year,
23    upon  payment  by  the applicant of the required fee and upon
24    the  Department  being  furnished   with   proof   that   the
25    qualifications   of   the   applicant   are   equal   to  the
26    qualifications of holders of similar licenses in Illinois.

27        Section 70.  Exemptions.
28        (a)  Employees of, or independent contractors  performing
29    work for, any electric utility or electric utility affiliate,
30    or  communications  or railway utility or any electric system
31    owned and operated by a  municipal  corporation  or  unit  of
32    local government (notwithstanding any other provision of this
 
                            -13-     LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1    Act),  electric  cooperative as defined in Section 3.4 of the
 2    Electric  Supplier  Act,  telephone   or   telecommunications
 3    cooperative  as  defined  in  Section  13-212  of  the Public
 4    Utilities Act, or a telephone company shall not  be  required
 5    to  hold  a  license  while performing work on installations,
 6    materials, or equipment that are owned or  leased,  operated,
 7    and  maintained  by  the electric utility or electric utility
 8    affiliate, communications or railway utility, electric system
 9    owned and operated by a  municipal  corporation  or  unit  of
10    local  government, electric, telephone, or telecommunications
11    cooperative, or telephone company  in  the  exercise  of  its
12    utility   or  telephone  function,  and  that  (i)  are  used
13    exclusively for the generation, transformation, distribution,
14    transmission,  or  metering  of  electric  current,  or   the
15    operation   of   railway  signals,  or  the  transmission  of
16    intelligence and do not have  as  a  principal  function  the
17    consumption  or use of electric current by or for the benefit
18    of any person other than the  electric  utility  or  electric
19    utility   affiliate,   communications   or  railway  utility,
20    electric system owned and operated by a municipal corporation
21    or  unit  of  local  government,  electric,   telephone,   or
22    telecommunications cooperative, or telephone company and (ii)
23    are  generally  accessible  only to employees of the electric
24    utility or  electric  utility  affiliate,  communications  or
25    railway  utility,  electric  system  owned  and operated by a
26    municipal corporation or unit of local government,  electric,
27    telephone,  or  telecommunications  cooperative, or telephone
28    company or persons acting under its control or direction.
29        (b)  An owner shall not be required  to  hold  a  license
30    under  this  Act.  Nevertheless, electrical work performed by
31    an owner shall comply with the minimum standards contained in
32    the  National  Electrical  Code  and  shall  be  subject   to
33    inspection  by  the  Department.   An  owner shall not employ
34    anyone other than an electrician licensed under this  Act  to
 
                            -14-     LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1    assist him or her.
 2        (c)  Any  city,  village,  or  incorporated town having a
 3    population of 500,000 or more may, by an ordinance containing
 4    provisions substantially the same as those in  this  Act  and
 5    specifying  educational or experience requirements equivalent
 6    to those prescribed in  the  Act,  provide  for  a  board  of
 7    electrical  examiners  to  conduct  examinations  for, and to
 8    issue, suspend, or revoke, electricians' licenses within  the
 9    city,  village,  or incorporated town.  Upon the enactment of
10    such an ordinance, the provisions of this Act shall not apply
11    within that municipality except as otherwise provided in this
12    Act.  Any person licensed as an  electrician  under  a  local
13    ordinance,  or licensed by the Department under this Act, may
14    engage in electrical wiring  installation  anywhere  in  this
15    State.
16        (d)  Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent an
17    owner  or  operator  of  a  farm or his or her employees from
18    installing, making additions to,  altering,  maintaining,  or
19    repairing wiring, apparatus, or equipment for electric light,
20    heat,  or  power on the farm that he or she owns or operates.
21    For purposes of this  subsection,  "farm"  means  land  or  a
22    building appurtenant to land that is used for an agricultural
23    purpose or for a purpose accessory to an agriculture purpose.
24        (e)  Employees  of  a  manufacturing  corporation  having
25    2,000  or  more  employees that engage in activities normally
26    requiring licensure under  this  Act  are  exempt  when  such
27    activities  are incidental to the operation or maintenance of
28    its  existing  business  and  facilities.   A   manufacturing
29    corporation that is involved in new construction that results
30    in  the expansion of its business and facilities must utilize
31    licensed electricians for any associated electrical work.
32        (f)  The minor repair of existing electrical systems does
33    not require licensure under this Act.  For  the  purposes  of
34    this  subsection,  "minor  repair"  means repairs to existing
 
                            -15-     LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1    electrical systems that do not require a permit to be  issued
 2    under any local ordinance.

 3        Section    75.  Governmental    units.     No   municipal
 4    corporation  or  political  subdivision   shall   engage   in
 5    electrical  work  unless  the electrical work is performed by
 6    one or more licensed electricians or apprentice  electricians
 7    under   the   supervision   of   licensed   electricians.   A
 8    governmental unit may, however, contract for electrical  work
 9    with  any  person  authorized to engage in electrical work in
10    this State.

11        Section 80.  Display of license.  Persons  who  advertise
12    electrical wiring services shall, at their place of business,
13    display  the  master  electrician's  license  of at least one
14    member of the firm, partnership or officer of the corporation
15    and shall maintain a register listing the names  and  license
16    numbers  of  all  licensed  electricians  and  all registered
17    apprentices currently employed  by  them.   When  advertising
18    electrical  wiring  services,  the  license  number  shall be
19    included in all forms of written or printed  advertising  and
20    included   with   the  electrical  wiring  identification  of
21    vehicles.  The Department may, by rule or regulation, require
22    additional information concerning licensed  electricians  and
23    registered apprentices to be maintained in the register.

24        Section  85.  Safety  standards.   All electrical wiring,
25    apparatus, and equipment for electric light, heat, and  power
26    shall  comply  with all applicable rules of the Department of
27    Labor and shall be  installed  in  conformity  with  accepted
28    standards  of  construction  for safety to life and property.
29    For the purposes of this  Act,  the  regulations  and  safety
30    standards  stated  at  the  time the work is done in the then
31    most recently published edition of  the  National  Electrical
 
                            -16-     LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1    Code  as adopted by the National Fire Protection Association,
 2    Inc.  and  approved  by  the  American   National   Standards
 3    Institute,   and  the  National  Electrical  Safety  Code  as
 4    published by the  Institute  of  Electrical  and  Electronics
 5    Engineers,   Inc.  and  approved  by  the  American  National
 6    Standards  Institute,  shall  be  prima  facie  evidence   of
 7    accepted  standards  of  construction  for safety to life and
 8    property.  In  the  event  an  Illinois  building   code   is
 9    formulated   containing   approved   methods   of  electrical
10    construction for safety to life and property, compliance with
11    the methods of electrical construction  of  that  code  shall
12    also  constitute  compliance  with  this Section.  Nothing in
13    this Act shall prohibit any political subdivision from making
14    and enforcing more stringent requirements than set  forth  in
15    this Act and those requirements shall be complied with by all
16    licensed electricians working within the jurisdiction of that
17    political  subdivision; except that nothing in this Act shall
18    be construed to give a political subdivision the authority to
19    apply those standards  or  requirements  to  electrical  work
20    performed on a farm.

21        Section 90.  Inspections.
22        (a)  Except   where  any  political  subdivision  has  by
23    ordinance provided for electrical inspection similar to  that
24    provided  in  this  Act, every new electrical installation in
25    any construction, remodeling, replacement, or repair shall be
26    inspected by the  Department  for  compliance  with  accepted
27    standards of construction for safety to life and property.
28        (b)  No such inspections shall be required for electrical
29    work performed by persons exempt from licensure under Section
30    70 of this Act; except that inspections shall be required for
31    work performed under subsection (b) of Section 70.
32        (c)  All   inspectors   for  the  Department  shall  hold
33    licenses as master or journeyman electricians under this Act.
 
                            -17-     LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1        Section 95.  Procedures for inspection.
 2        (a)  At  or  before  commencement  of  any   installation
 3    required  to  be  inspected by the Department, the electrical
 4    contractor or owner making the installation shall  submit  to
 5    the Department a request for inspection, in a form prescribed
 6    by  the  Department,  together with the fees required for the
 7    installation.
 8        (b)  The  fees  required  are  a  handling  fee  and   an
 9    inspection  fee.   The  handling  fee  shall  be  set  by the
10    Department in  an  amount  sufficient  to  pay  the  cost  of
11    bringing and handling the form requesting an inspection.  The
12    inspection  fee  shall  be set by the Department in an amount
13    sufficient to pay the actual costs of the inspection and  the
14    Department's costs in administering the inspection.
15        (c)  If  the inspector finds that the installation is not
16    in compliance with accepted  standards  of  construction  for
17    safety  to  life  and  property  as required by this Act, the
18    inspector shall, by written order, condemn  the  installation
19    or  the  noncomplying  portion  of the installation, or order
20    service to the installation disconnected, and  shall  send  a
21    copy  of the order to the Department.  If the installation or
22    the noncomplying part will seriously and proximately endanger
23    human life and property, the order  of  the  inspector,  when
24    approved by the inspector's superior, shall require immediate
25    condemnation or disconnection.  In all other cases, the order
26    of  the  inspector  shall permit a reasonable opportunity for
27    the installation to be brought into compliance with  accepted
28    standards  of  construction  for  safety to life and property
29    prior to the effective time established for  condemnation  or
30    disconnection.
31        (d)  Copies  of  each condemnation or disconnection order
32    shall be served personally  or  by  mail  upon  the  property
33    owner,  the  electrical  contractor or electrician making the
34    installation, and other persons as the Department by rule may
 
                            -18-     LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1    direct.  An aggrieved party may appeal  any  condemnation  or
 2    disconnection order by filing with the Department a notice of
 3    appeal  within  10  days after (i) service upon the aggrieved
 4    party of the condemnation or  disconnection  order,  if  this
 5    service  is  required  or  (ii)  filing of the order with the
 6    Department, whichever is later. The  Department  shall  adopt
 7    rules  providing  procedures  for  the  conduct  of  appeals,
 8    including provisions for the stay of enforcement of the order
 9    of  the  inspector  pending  an  appeal when justified by the
10    circumstances.
11        (e)  The inspectors of  the  Department  shall  have  the
12    authority to enter any building or premises at any reasonable
13    hour  in  the  discharge of their duties, and they shall have
14    the authority, when necessary, to order the  removal  of  any
15    existing obstructions such as laths, plastering, boarding, or
16    partitions  that  may  prevent  a  proper  inspection  of the
17    electrical installation.
18        (f)  No electrical installation subject to inspection  by
19    the  Department  shall  be newly connected or reconnected for
20    use  until  there  is  filed,  with  the  electrical  utility
21    supplying power, a  certificate  of  the  property  owner  or
22    licensed  electrician  directing the work that inspection has
23    been requested and that the conditions  of  the  installation
24    are  safe  for  energization.  In all cases where an order of
25    condemnation or disconnection has  been  issued  against  the
26    installation  or  any  part  of  the  installation,  prior to
27    connection or reconnection, there shall also first  be  filed
28    with  the electrical utility supplying the power a copy of an
29    order of the inspector or the Department dismissing the prior
30    order of  condemnation  or  disconnection  or  approving  the
31    installation  as  being in compliance with accepted standards
32    of construction  for  safety  to  life  and  property.   With
33    respect  to  transient  projects, this certificate shall also
34    contain a certification that the request for  inspection  has
 
                            -19-     LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1    been  or  will  be  filed  with  the  Department  so as to be
 2    received by it at least 5 days prior to  the  date  and  time
 3    energization  of the installation by the utility is to occur,
 4    and that the request for inspection states the date and time.
 5    It shall be the responsibility  of  the  Department  to  have
 6    inspection  of  the transient project occur prior to the date
 7    and time at which  the  request  states  energization  is  to
 8    occur.
 9        (g)  Any  political  subdivision  may  make provision for
10    inspection   of   electrical   installations    within    its
11    jurisdiction,  in  which  case it shall keep on file with the
12    Department copies of its current  inspection  ordinances  and
13    codes.  Any political subdivision may require any individual,
14    partnership,   corporation,  or  other  business  association
15    holding a license from the Department  to  pay  any  license,
16    registration  fee,  or permit fees. Any political subdivision
17    may provide by ordinance a requirement that each  individual,
18    partnership, corporation, or other business association doing
19    electrical  work  within  the  jurisdiction  of the political
20    subdivision have on file with  the  political  subdivision  a
21    copy of the current license issued by the Department or other
22    evidence of the license as may be provided by the Department.
23    Each  electrical inspector of any political subdivision shall
24    be a licensed master or  journeyman  electrician  under  this
25    Act.

26        Section 100.  Violations.
27        (a)  Any  person  violating  any provision of this Act or
28    its rules shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor and  fined
29    a  minimum  of  $100  for  the  first  offense.   A second or
30    subsequent  violation  of  this  Act  shall  be  a  Class   A
31    misdemeanor with a minimum fine of $200. Each day a violation
32    continues   constitutes   a  separate  offense.  The  State's
33    Attorney of the County in which the violation occurred or the
 
                            -20-     LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1    Attorney General may prosecute these actions in the  name  of
 2    the People of the State of Illinois. The court may enjoin the
 3    use  of electricity installed in violation of this Act or its
 4    rules until it has been corrected to comply with the National
 5    Electrical Code.
 6        (b)  If it is established that the defendant, contrary to
 7    this Act, has been engaging, is  engaging,  or  is  about  to
 8    engage  in  electrical  work  without  having  been  issued a
 9    license, or has been  engaging  or  is  about  to  engage  in
10    electrical  work  after his or her license has been suspended
11    or revoked or after his or her license has not been  renewed,
12    the  Department  may  levy a penalty not to exceed $5,000 per
13    offense.  This penalty shall be assessed  by  the  Department
14    after a hearing is held in accordance with the provisions set
15    forth in Section 50 of this Act.

16        Section  105.  Electricians  practicing  before this Act.
17    Electrical contractors who are in business on January 1, 2004
18    and who file a license application with the Department within
19    180 days after the  effective  date  of  this  Act  shall  be
20    granted  a license which shall be valid for one year from the
21    date of issuance. Thereafter,  electrical  contractors  shall
22    comply  with  all  of  the  requirements  of this Act.  These
23    licenses shall be subject to annual renewal  as  provided  in
24    this Act.
25        Persons  who  have  a  minimum  of  5 years experience in
26    performing electrical work as defined in this Act on  January
27    1,   2004  and  who  file  a  license  application  with  the
28    Department within 180 days after January  1,  2004  shall  be
29    granted  a  license without examination, which shall be valid
30    for one year from the date  of  issuance.   The  category  of
31    initial  licensure  shall  be  determined  by the Department.
32    These licenses shall be subject to annual renewal as provided
33    in this Act.
 
                            -21-     LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1        Electrical inspectors who are employed by a  governmental
 2    unit   and  engaged  in  the  regulation  and  inspection  of
 3    electrical wiring activities  regulated  under  this  Act  on
 4    January  1,  2004,  and  who  file  an  application  with the
 5    Department within 180 days after January 1,  2004,  shall  be
 6    permitted to conduct electrical inspections for one year from
 7    the  application  date.  Thereafter, the inspectors must meet
 8    all of the requirements of this Act.

 9        Section 110.  Administrative Procedure Act;  application.
10    The  provisions  of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
11    are expressly adopted and shall apply to  all  administrative
12    rules  and  procedures  of the Department of Labor under this
13    Act, except that Section 5  of  the  Illinois  Administrative
14    Procedure  Act relating to procedures for rulemaking does not
15    apply to the adoption of any rule required by federal law  in
16    connection with which the Department is precluded by law from
17    exercising any discretion.

18        Section 115.  Review under Administrative Review Law. All
19    final administrative decisions of the Director under this Act
20    shall  be subject to judicial review under the Administrative
21    Review Law and its rules.

22        Section  120.  Home  rule.  A  home  rule  unit  may  not
23    regulate  the  licensing  of  electricians   and   electrical
24    contractors  in  a manner inconsistent with the regulation by
25    the State of electricians and electrical contractors.    This
26    Section  is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of
27    Article VII of the Illinois Constitution  on  the  concurrent
28    exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised
29    by the State.

30        Section  900.  The  Regulatory  Sunset  Act is amended by
 
                            -22-     LRB093 08373 AMC 11350 b
 1    changing Section 4.24 as follows:

 2        (5 ILCS 80/4.24)
 3        Sec.  4.24.  Acts  repealed  on  January  1,  2014.   The
 4    following Acts are repealed on January 1, 2014:
 5        The Electricians Licensing Act.
 6        The Electrologist Licensing Act.
 7        The Illinois Public Accounting Act.
 8    (Source: P.A. 92-457, eff. 8-21-01; 92-750, eff. 1-1-03.)

 9        Section 999. Effective date.  This Act  takes  effect  on
10    January 1, 2004.