Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB2211
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Full Text of SB2211  100th General Assembly

SB2211 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

  
  

 


 
100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB2211

 

Introduced 5/30/2017, by Sen. Don Harmon

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
225 ILCS 317/30
225 ILCS 317/35
225 ILCS 317/50

    Amends the Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act. Provides that an individual who performs inspection and testing of fire sprinkler systems and control equipment must possess on his or her person a photo identification card issued by the State Fire Marshal as proof of compliance with the Act. Provides that the photo identification card shall be issued by the State Fire Marshal annually at a fee determined by the State Fire Marshal by rule. Provides that all inspections and testing of fire sprinkler systems and control equipment must be recorded on an inspection report issued by the State Fire Marshal and provides requirements for the inspection reports. Provides that all fire sprinkler systems must be affixed with a pre-printed label bearing specified information that shall be purchased by the licensed contractor from the State Fire Marshal. Provides that a copy of the inspection report must be forwarded to the State Fire Marshal within 24 hours after completion of the inspection. Provides that the fees for an inspection form and photo identification card shall be determined by the State Fire Marshal by rule. Provides that the State Fire Marshal has the power and duty to establish a database of all persons involved in the inspection or testing of existing fire sprinkler systems or control equipment.


LRB100 13028 SMS 27356 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2211LRB100 13028 SMS 27356 b

1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act is
5amended by changing Sections 30, 35, and 50 as follows:
 
6    (225 ILCS 317/30)
7    Sec. 30. Requirements for the installation, repair,
8inspection, and testing of fire protection systems.
9    (a) Equipment shall be listed by a nationally recognized
10testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. or
11Factory Mutual Laboratories, Inc., or shall comply with
12nationally accepted standards. The State Fire Marshal shall
13adopt by rule procedures for determining whether a laboratory
14is nationally recognized, taking into account the laboratory's
15facilities, procedures, use of nationally recognized
16standards, and any other criteria reasonably calculated to
17reach an informed determination.
18    (b) Equipment shall be installed in accordance with the
19applicable standards of the National Fire Protection
20Association and the manufacturer's specifications.
21    (c) The contractor shall furnish the user with operating
22instructions for all equipment installed, together with a
23diagram of the final installation.

 

 

SB2211- 2 -LRB100 13028 SMS 27356 b

1    (d) All fire sprinkler systems shall have a backflow
2prevention device or, in a municipality with a population over
3500,000, a double detector check assembly installed by a
4licensed plumber before the fire sprinkler system connection to
5the water service. Connection to the backflow prevention device
6or, in a municipality with a population over 500,000, a double
7detector assembly shall be done in a manner consistent with the
8Department of Public Health's Plumbing Code.
9    (e) This licensing Act is not intended to require any
10additional fire inspections at State level.
11    (f) Inspections and testing of existing fire sprinkler
12systems and control equipment must be performed by a licensee
13or an individual employed or contracted by a licensee. Any
14individual who performs inspection and testing duties under
15this subsection (f) must possess on his or her person a photo
16identification card issued by the State Fire Marshal as proof
17that the individual is in compliance with this Act and must
18possess proof of (i) certification by a nationally recognized
19certification organization at an appropriate level, such as
20NICET Level II in Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Water
21Based Systems or the equivalent, by January 1, 2009 or (ii)
22satisfactory completion of a certified sprinkler fitter
23apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department of
24Labor. The photo identification card shall be issued by the
25State Fire Marshal annually at a fee determined by the State
26Fire Marshal by rule. State employees who perform inspections

 

 

SB2211- 3 -LRB100 13028 SMS 27356 b

1and testing on behalf of State institutions and who meet all
2other requirements of this subsection (f) need not be licensed
3under this Act or employed by a licensee under this Act in
4order to perform inspection and testing duties under this
5subsection (f). The requirements of this subsection (f) do not
6apply to individuals performing inspections or testing of fire
7sprinkler systems on behalf of a municipality, a county, a fire
8protection district, or the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
9This subsection (f) does not apply to cursory weekly and
10monthly inspections of gauges and control valves conducted in
11accordance with the standards of the National Fire Protection
12Association.
13    All inspections and testing of fire sprinkler systems and
14control equipment must be recorded on an inspection report
15issued by the State Fire Marshal. The contents of an inspection
16report shall be established by the State Fire Marshal by rule;
17however, the inspection report shall include the license number
18of the licensee performing the inspection and the NICET Level
19II Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems certification
20number or journeymen number of the person performing the
21inspection.
22    All fire sprinkler systems, upon completion of inspection
23and testing, must be affixed with a pre-printed label bearing
24the name of the person performing the inspection, the license
25number of the licensee performing the inspection, and the name
26of the licensed fire sprinkler contractor who installed or

 

 

SB2211- 4 -LRB100 13028 SMS 27356 b

1repaired the fire sprinkler system and control equipment. The
2label required under this Section shall be purchased by the
3licensed fire sprinkler contractor from the Office of the State
4Fire Marshal.
5    A copy of the inspection report for an inspection performed
6pursuant to this subsection (f) must be forwarded by the entity
7performing the inspection to the local fire department or fire
8protection district in which the sprinkler system is located.
9In addition, a copy of the inspection report must be forwarded
10to the Office of the State Fire Marshal within 24 hours after
11completion of the inspection. The inspection report must
12include the NICET Level II Inspection and Testing of
13Water-Based Water Based Systems certification number or
14journeymen number of the person performing the inspection.
15(Source: P.A. 96-256, eff. 1-1-10; 97-112, eff. 7-14-11.)
 
16    (225 ILCS 317/35)
17    Sec. 35. Fees, renewals, continuing education, and
18required insurance.
19    (a) The fees for an original license, inspection form,
20photo identification card, and each renewal and for duplicate
21copies of licenses shall be determined by the State Fire
22Marshal by rule.
23    (b) Each license must be renewed every 2 years. Each
24licensee must complete 16 hours of continuing education in the
252-year period following his or her renewal or initial licensure

 

 

SB2211- 5 -LRB100 13028 SMS 27356 b

1after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th
2General Assembly. Current licensure as a professional engineer
3or proof of current NICET certification in Level III or IV
4shall satisfy this requirement for designated certified
5persons. Continuing education offered through nationally
6recognized building and fire code organizations and their
7affiliates; nationally recognized fire sprinkler organizations
8and their affiliates; institutions of higher education;
9educational bodies specializing in automatic fire suppression
10system technology; as well as other entities approved by the
11State Fire Marshal shall be also acceptable. All continuing
12education entities seeking to be approved providers of
13continuing education shall make application to the State Fire
14Marshal and offer programs that:
15        (1) contribute to the advancement, extension, or
16    enhancement of the professional skills or technical
17    knowledge of the licensee in the practice of fire sprinkler
18    contracting; and
19        (2) are developed and presented by persons with
20    education or experience in the subject manner of the
21    program.
22    (c) Any person who fails to file a renewal application by
23the date of expiration of a license shall be assessed a late
24filing charge, which shall be determined by the State Fire
25Marshal by rule.
26    (d) All fees shall be paid by check or money order. Any fee

 

 

SB2211- 6 -LRB100 13028 SMS 27356 b

1required by this Act is not refundable in the event that the
2original application or application for renewal is denied.
3    (e) Every application for an original license shall be
4accompanied by a certificate of insurance issued by an
5insurance company authorized to do business in the State of
6Illinois or by a risk retention or purchasing group formed
7pursuant to the federal Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986,
8which provides primary, first dollar public liability coverage
9of the applicant or licensee for personal injuries for not less
10than $500,000 per person or $1,000,000 per occurrence, and, in
11addition, for not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence for
12property damage. The insurance policy shall be in effect at all
13times during the license year and a new certificate of
14insurance shall be filed with the State Fire Marshal within 30
15days after the renewal of the insurance policy.
16(Source: P.A. 97-112, eff. 7-14-11.)
 
17    (225 ILCS 317/50)
18    Sec. 50. Powers and duties of the State Fire Marshal. The
19State Fire Marshal has all of the following powers and duties:
20    (a) To prescribe and furnish application forms, licenses,
21and any other forms necessary under this Act.
22    (b) To suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew
23licenses for cause.
24    (c) To conduct hearings concerning the suspension,
25revocation, or refusal to issue or renew licenses.

 

 

SB2211- 7 -LRB100 13028 SMS 27356 b

1    (d) To levy and collect fines pursuant to this Act.
2    (e) To promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the
3administration of this Act.
4    (f) To establish a database of all persons involved in the
5inspection or testing of existing fire sprinkler systems or
6control equipment.
7(Source: P.A. 92-871, eff. 1-3-03.)