Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB1880
Illinois General Assembly

Previous General Assemblies

Full Text of SB1880  93rd General Assembly

SB1880sam001 93rd General Assembly


093_SB1880sam001

 










                                     LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a

 1                    AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 1880

 2        AMENDMENT NO.     .  Amend Senate Bill 1880 by  replacing
 3    everything after the enacting clause with the following:

 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,
 
                            -2-      LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1    and the construction and installation methods  of  electrical
 2    systems is essential for the protection of public health.  In
 3    order  to  insure proper electrical wiring practice, this Act
 4    provides for the licensing  of  electricians  and  electrical
 5    contractors  and  for the adoption of the National Electrical
 6    Code as standards by the Department. This  Act  is  therefore
 7    declared to be essential to the public interest.

 8        Section 10.  Definitions. As used in this Act:
 9        "Approved apprenticeship program" means an apprenticeship
10    program  approved  by  the  United States Department of Labor
11    Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training.
12        "Board" means the  Illinois  State  Board  of  Electrical
13    Examiners.
14        "Department" means the Illinois Department of Labor.
15        "Director"  means the Director of the Illinois Department
16    of Labor.
17        "Electrical  contractor"  means  a   person,   firm,   or
18    corporation operating a business that undertakes or offers to
19    undertake  to  plan for, lay out, supervise, or install or to
20    make additions, alterations, maintenance, or repairs  in  the
21    installation  of  wiring, apparatus or equipment for electric
22    light, heat, or power with or without compensation and who is
23    licensed as an electrical contractor  by  the  Department  of
24    Labor.  An electrical contractor's license does not of itself
25    qualify  its holder to perform the electrical work authorized
26    by holding any class of electrician's license.
27        "Electrical  work"  means   the   wiring,   installation,
28    maintenance,  and repair of electrical wiring, apparatus, and
29    equipment and the planning, laying out,  and  supervision  of
30    the  installation,  maintenance,  and  repair of such wiring,
31    apparatus, and equipment for electric heat, light, and power.
32        "Governmental unit" means a city,  village,  incorporated
33    town, or county.
 
                            -3-      LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1        "Journeyman   electrician"  means  a  person  having  the
 2    necessary qualifications, training, experience, and technical
 3    knowledge  to  wire  for,  install,  maintain,   and   repair
 4    electrical  wiring,  apparatus, and equipment who is licensed
 5    as a journeyman electrician by the Department of Labor.
 6        "Master electrician" means a person having the  necessary
 7    qualifications, training, experience, and technical knowledge
 8    to  install,  maintain,  and repair and to properly plan, lay
 9    out, and supervise the installation of wiring, apparatus, and
10    equipment for electric light, heat, power, and other purposes
11    who is licensed as a master electrician by the Department  of
12    Labor.
13        "Owner"  means  a  natural person who physically performs
14    electrical work on premises  the  person  owns  and  actually
15    occupies as a single family residence or owns and will occupy
16    as a single family residence upon completion of construction.
17        "Registered  apprentice"  means  a person registered with
18    the Department of Labor, who is learning the trade under  the
19    supervision of a licensed electrician.
20        "Residential  electrician"  means  a  person  having  the
21    necessary qualifications, training, experience, and technical
22    knowledge  involving  the  construction,  wiring, alteration,
23    maintenance, or repair of single family houses  or  apartment
24    buildings and who is licensed as a residential electrician by
25    the Department of Labor.
26        "Supervision"  means that any new electrical work done by
27    a registered apprentice  electrician  must  be  inspected  at
28    least once after initial rough-in and once upon completion by
29    an   Illinois   licensed   electrician.    In  addition,  all
30    renovation, alteration, repair, extension, modification,  and
31    maintenance  work done by a registered apprentice electrician
32    on an existing electrical  system  must  be  approved  by  an
33    Illinois licensed electrician.
 
                            -4-      LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1        Section  15.  Board  of  Electrical  Examiners.  There is
 2    created the Illinois  State  Board  of  Electrical  Examiners
 3    which  shall  exercise  its duties provided in this Act under
 4    the supervision of the Department of Labor.  The Board  shall
 5    consist of 11 members appointed by the Director of Labor. The
 6    Board  shall be composed of 3 licensed master electricians, 3
 7    licensed  electrical  contractors  who  are  members  of  the
 8    National Electrical  Contractors  Association,  one  licensed
 9    electrical  engineer,  one  electrical  inspector who holds a
10    master   or    journeyman    electrician's    license,    one
11    representative  of  a public utility, the State Fire Marshal,
12    and a licensed  real  estate  professional.   In  making  the
13    appointments  to  the  Board, the Director shall consider the
14    recommendations  of  individuals,  firms,  or   organizations
15    involved  in  electrical  wiring  installation in this State.
16    The Director shall also take into consideration the  minority
17    representation  in the population when making appointments to
18    the Board. Members of the Board shall serve 4 year terms  and
19    until  their  successors  are  appointed  and qualified.  The
20    initial appointments, however, shall be as follows: 3 members
21    for terms of 2 years, 3 members for 3 years,  and  4  members
22    for  4  years.  The State Fire Marshal's service on the Board
23    shall  be  continuous.  Board  members   shall   receive   no
24    compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in
25    connection with their duties as Board members.

26        Section  20.  Powers  and  duties  of  the Director.  The
27    Director shall take all actions necessary under this  Act  to
28    carry  out  the duties and responsibilities of the Department
29    under this Act. The Director,  with  the  assistance  of  the
30    Board, shall:
31             (a)  prepare  and  issue  licenses  and  provide for
32        registration as provided in this Act;
33             (b)  prescribe rules and regulations for examination
 
                            -5-      LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1        of applicants for  master,  journeyman,  and  residential
 2        licenses;
 3             (c)  prepare   and   give  uniform  examinations  to
 4        applicants  for  master,  journeyman,   and   residential
 5        licenses    that   shall   test   their   knowledge   and
 6        qualifications in the planning and design  of  electrical
 7        systems,  their  knowledge,  qualifications,  and  manual
 8        skills  in  electrical installations, and their knowledge
 9        of the National Electrical Code  relating  to  materials,
10        design,   and   installation  of  methods  of  electrical
11        systems;
12             (d)  issue   electrical   contractor   and   master,
13        journeyman, and residential licenses and license renewals
14        to applicants who have met the requirements for licensure
15        and complied with all the prerequisites to licensure;
16             (e)  prescribe rules for hearings to deny,  suspend,
17        revoke, or reinstate licenses as provided in this Act;
18             (f)  maintain a current record showing (i) the names
19        and addresses of licensed electrical contractors, master,
20        journeyman,  and residential electricians, and registered
21        apprentices; (ii) the  dates  of  issuance  of  licenses;
22        (iii) the date and substance for the charges set forth in
23        any  hearing for denial, suspension, or revocation of any
24        license; (iv) the date and substance of the  final  order
25        issued  upon a hearing; and (v) the date and substance of
26        all petitions for  reinstatement  of  license  and  final
27        orders on petitions;
28             (g)  establish and collect fees for the examination,
29        issuance, and renewal of licenses;
30             (h)  provide  for  the  inspection of new electrical
31        installations in construction,  remodeling,  replacement,
32        maintenance, and repair work, where required by this Act;
33             (i)  establish and collect fees for the handling and
34        inspection of new electrical installations; and
 
                            -6-      LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1             (j)  formulate   and   publish  rules  necessary  or
 2        appropriate to carrying out the provisions of this Act.

 3        Section 25.  License and registration.
 4        (a)  Master electrician.  Except as otherwise provided by
 5    law, no person shall plan,  install,  repair,  maintain,  lay
 6    out,  or  supervise the installation of wiring, apparatus, or
 7    equipment  for  electrical  light,  heat,  power,  or   other
 8    purposes unless the person is:
 9             (1)  licensed   by   the   Department  as  a  master
10        electrician; and
11             (2)  the  work  is   for   a   licensed   electrical
12        contractor  and  the  person  is  the licensed electrical
13        contractor or an employee, partner,  or  officer  of  the
14        licensed  electrical contractor, or the work is performed
15        for  the  person's  employer  on  electrical   equipment,
16        apparatus,  or facilities owned or leased by the employer
17        that is located within the limits of  property  owned  or
18        leased, operated, and maintained by the employer.
19        An applicant for a master electrician's license shall (i)
20    have   a  Bachelor  of  Science  degree  from  an  accredited
21    electrical engineering program and  have  had  at  least  one
22    year's  experience,  acceptable  to  the Board, as a licensed
23    journeyman; (ii)  have  had  at  least  5  years  experience,
24    acceptable  to  the  Board,  in  planning  for,  laying  out,
25    supervising,  and  installing wiring, apparatus, or equipment
26    for electrical light, heat, and power; or (iii) have  had  at
27    least  6  years  experience, acceptable to the Board, with an
28    electrical  contracting  company  in  planning,   estimating,
29    laying  out,  and  supervising,  under  the  supervision of a
30    licensed master electrician, the installation  of  electrical
31    work for electric light, heat, and power.
32        (b)  Journeyman   electrician.    Except   as   otherwise
33    provided by law, no person shall wire for, install, maintain,
 
                            -7-      LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1    or  repair electrical wiring, apparatus, or equipment, unless
 2    the person is licensed by  the  Department  as  a  journeyman
 3    electrician  employed  by  a  licensed electrical contractor.
 4    Nothing in this subsection (b),  however,  shall  prohibit  a
 5    master  electrician  from performing the work of a journeyman
 6    electrician.
 7        An applicant for a journeyman electrician's license shall
 8    have had at least 5 years of experience,  acceptable  to  the
 9    Board,  in  wiring  for, installing, and repairing electrical
10    wiring, apparatus, or equipment. The Department may  by  rule
11    provide  for  the  allowance of one year of experience credit
12    for successful completion  of  a  2  year  post  high  school
13    electrical course approved by the Board.
14        (c)  Registered  apprentice.  A person who is enrolled in
15    an approved apprenticeship  program  may  perform  electrical
16    work  only  under  the supervision of a licensed electrician.
17    All apprentices shall be registered with the Department.
18        (d)  Residential  electrician.    Except   as   otherwise
19    provided  by  law,  no  person  shall construct, wire, alter,
20    maintain,  or  repair  single  family  houses  or   apartment
21    buildings  unless the person is licensed by the Department as
22    a residential electrician employed by a  licensed  electrical
23    contractor.  Nothing  in  this subsection (d), however, shall
24    prohibit a master electrician or journeyman electrician  from
25    performing the work of a residential electrician.
26        An  applicant  for  a  residential  electrician's license
27    shall have had at least 4 years of experience, acceptable  to
28    the  Board, in having the necessary qualifications, training,
29    and technical knowledge involving the  construction,  wiring,
30    alteration,  or  repair  of single family houses or apartment
31    buildings.  The  Department  may  by  rule  provide  for  the
32    allowance of one year of  experience  credit  for  successful
33    completion  of  a  2  year post high school electrical course
34    approved by the Board.
 
                            -8-      LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1        (e)  Contractors.  Except as otherwise provided  by  law,
 2    no  person  other  than  an employee of a licensed electrical
 3    contractor as defined in this Act shall undertake or offer to
 4    undertake to plan for, lay out, supervise, or install  or  to
 5    make  additions,  alterations, or repairs in the installation
 6    of, or  to  maintain,  wiring  apparatus  and  equipment  for
 7    electrical light, heat, or power with or without compensation
 8    unless the person obtains an electrical contractor's license.
 9    An  electrical  contractor's  license  shall be issued by the
10    Department upon the contractor's giving bond to the State  in
11    an  amount to be determined by the Department. The bond shall
12    be filed with the Department and shall  be  in  lieu  of  all
13    other  license  bonds to any political subdivision.  The bond
14    shall be  written  by  a  corporate  surety  licensed  to  do
15    business in the State of Illinois.
16        Each   licensed  electrical  contractor  shall  have  and
17    maintain   in   effect   insurance.     Specific    insurance
18    requirements  and  minimum  limits  per  occurrence  shall be
19    determined by the Department in consultation with the Board.
20    The insurance shall be written by an insurer licensed  to  do
21    business   in   the  State  of  Illinois  and  each  licensed
22    electrical  contractor  shall  maintain  on  file  with   the
23    Department  a  certificate evidencing insurance that provides
24    that the insurance shall not be cancelled without the insurer
25    first giving 15 days written notice to the Department of  the
26    cancellation.
27        No  contractor  shall engage in business unless he or she
28    is or has in his or her employ a licensed master electrician,
29    who  shall  be  responsible  for  the  performance   of   all
30    electrical  work  in accordance with the requirements of this
31    Act.  When an electrical contractor's license is held  by  an
32    individual,  partnership,  or corporation and the individual,
33    one of the  partners,  or  an  officer  of  the  corporation,
34    respectively,  is  not  the responsible master electrician of
 
                            -9-      LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1    record, all requests for inspection shall be  signed  by  the
 2    responsible  master  electrician  of record.  The application
 3    for  an  electrical  contractor's  license  must  include   a
 4    verified  statement  that  the  designated responsible master
 5    electrician is  a  full  time  employee  of  the  individual,
 6    partnership,   or  corporation  applying  for  an  electrical
 7    contractor's license.  For purposes of this Section,  a  full
 8    time  employee  of  a  licensed  electrical  contractor is an
 9    individual who is not employed in any capacity as a  licensed
10    electrician by any other electrical contractor.
11        (f)  The  Department  shall prepare guidelines as to what
12    work experience qualifies in determining whether an applicant
13    meets the requirements for  licensure  under  the  Act.   The
14    Board  has  discretion  in determining whether any particular
15    applicant's experience  shall  count  toward  the  experience
16    necessary for licensure under this Act.

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

29        Section 35.  Military exemption.   The  Department  shall
30    reinstate  a  license  that  expires  while  a licensee is in
31    active Military Service of the United States upon application
32    to the Department  by  the  licensee  within  2  years  after
 
                            -10-     LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1    termination  of  the  military service, payment of the annual
 2    license fee, and  submission  of  evidence  of  the  military
 3    service.  The license shall be reinstated without examination
 4    and without payment of the lapsed renewal fee.

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

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

28        Section 50.  Hearing procedure.
29        (a)  The  Board, may upon its own motion, investigate the
30    actions of any person holding or claiming to hold  a  license
31    if  there  is reason to believe such person has engaged or is
 
                            -11-     LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1    engaging in activity that constitutes grounds for  discipline
 2    under Section 45 of this Act.
 3        (b)  The  Board shall, at least 10 days prior to the date
 4    set for the hearing and before refusing to  issue  or  renew,
 5    suspend,  or  revoke  any  license,  notify  the applicant or
 6    holder of the license, in writing, of any charges  made,  and
 7    shall  afford him or her an opportunity to be heard in person
 8    or by counsel. The notice may be served by personal  delivery
 9    to the accused person or by registered mail to the last place
10    of   business   specified   by  the  accused  person  in  the
11    notification to the Agency.
12        (c)  At the time and place fixed in the notice, the Board
13    shall proceed to the hearing of  the  charges  and  both  the
14    accused  person  and  the complainant shall be accorded ample
15    opportunity  to  present,  in  person  or  by  counsel,   any
16    statement,  testimony,  evidence,  or  argument  that  may be
17    pertinent to the  charges  or  to  any  defense  against  the
18    charges.  The  Board  may  continue  the hearing from time to
19    time. If the Board is not sitting at the time  and  place  to
20    which  the  hearing  has  been  continued, the Department may
21    continue the hearing for a period not to exceed 30 days,  and
22    all  parties  in interest shall be given notice in writing of
23    the date and hour to which the hearing has been continued and
24    the place at which it is to be held.

25        Section 55.  Nonpayment  of  taxes.  The  Department  may
26    refuse  to issue or may suspend the license of any person who
27    fails (i) to file a federal or State tax return, (ii) to  pay
28    the  tax,  penalty,  or  interest shown in a filed return, or
29    (iii) to  pay  any  final  assessment  of  tax,  penalty,  or
30    interest,  as  required  by  any  tax Act administered by the
31    Illinois  Department  of  Revenue,   until   the   time   the
32    requirements of the tax Act are satisfied.
 
                            -12-     LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1        Section  60.  Continuation  of business by estates.  Upon
 2    the death of  a  master  electrician  who  is  an  electrical
 3    contractor,   the   Department   may  permit  the  decedent's
 4    representative to carry on the business of the decedent for a
 5    period not  in  excess  of  one  year,  for  the  purpose  of
 6    completing  work  under  contract or otherwise to comply with
 7    this Act.  The decedent's  representative  may  petition  the
 8    Board for an extension of the one-year period in the event he
 9    or  she  can  demonstrate  undue  hardship  or  other special
10    circumstances.   The  extension  may  be   granted   at   the
11    recommendation  of the Board, subject to Department approval.
12    The representative shall give any bond as the Department  may
13    require  conditioned upon the faithful and lawful performance
14    of the work.  The bond shall be for the  benefit  of  persons
15    injured  or  suffering financial loss by reason of failure of
16    performance.  The bond shall be written by a corporate surety
17    licensed to do  business  in  the  State  of  Illinois.   The
18    decedent's  representative  shall also comply with all public
19    liability and property damage insurance requirements  imposed
20    by this Act upon a licensed electrical contractor.

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

30        Section 70.  Exemptions.
31        (a)  Employees  of, or independent contractors performing
32    work for, any electric utility or electric utility affiliate,
 
                            -13-     LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1    or communications or railway utility or any  electric  system
 2    owned  and  operated  by  a  municipal corporation or unit of
 3    local government (notwithstanding any other provision of this
 4    Act), electric cooperative as defined in Section 3.4  of  the
 5    Electric   Supplier   Act,  telephone  or  telecommunications
 6    cooperative as  defined  in  Section  13-212  of  the  Public
 7    Utilities  Act,  or a telephone company shall not be required
 8    to hold a license while  performing  work  on  installations,
 9    materials,  or  equipment that are owned or leased, operated,
10    and maintained by the electric utility  or  electric  utility
11    affiliate, communications or railway utility, electric system
12    owned  and  operated  by  a  municipal corporation or unit of
13    local government, electric, telephone, or  telecommunications
14    cooperative,  or  telephone  company  in  the exercise of its
15    utility  or  telephone  function,  and  that  (i)  are   used
16    exclusively for the generation, transformation, distribution,
17    transmission,   or  metering  of  electric  current,  or  the
18    operation  of  railway  signals,  or  the   transmission   of
19    intelligence  and  do  not  have  as a principal function the
20    consumption or use of electric current by or for the  benefit
21    of  any  person  other  than the electric utility or electric
22    utility  affiliate,  communications   or   railway   utility,
23    electric system owned and operated by a municipal corporation
24    or   unit   of  local  government,  electric,  telephone,  or
25    telecommunications cooperative, or telephone company and (ii)
26    are generally accessible only to employees  of  the  electric
27    utility  or  electric  utility  affiliate,  communications or
28    railway utility, electric system  owned  and  operated  by  a
29    municipal  corporation or unit of local government, electric,
30    telephone, or telecommunications  cooperative,  or  telephone
31    company  or  persons  acting  under its control or direction.
32    Persons performing work subcontracted out to an electrical or
33    construction contractor, however, must be in compliance  with
34    the licensure requirements of this Act.
 
                            -14-     LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1        (b)  An  owner  shall  not  be required to hold a license
 2    under this Act.  Nevertheless, electrical work  performed  by
 3    an owner shall comply with the minimum standards contained in
 4    the   National  Electrical  Code  and  shall  be  subject  to
 5    inspection by the Department.   An  owner  shall  not  employ
 6    anyone  other  than an electrician licensed under this Act to
 7    assist him or her.
 8        (c)  Any city, village, or  incorporated  town  having  a
 9    population of 500,000 or more may, by an ordinance containing
10    provisions  substantially  the  same as those in this Act and
11    specifying educational or experience requirements  equivalent
12    to  those  prescribed  in  the  Act,  provide  for a board of
13    electrical examiners to  conduct  examinations  for,  and  to
14    issue,  suspend, or revoke, electricians' licenses within the
15    city, village, or incorporated town.  Upon the  enactment  of
16    such an ordinance, the provisions of this Act shall not apply
17    within that municipality except as otherwise provided in this
18    Act.   Any  person  licensed  as an electrician under a local
19    ordinance, or licensed by the Department under this Act,  may
20    engage  in  electrical  wiring  installation anywhere in this
21    State.
22        (d)  Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent an
23    owner or operator of a farm or  his  or  her  employees  from
24    installing,  making  additions  to, altering, maintaining, or
25    repairing wiring, apparatus, or equipment for electric light,
26    heat, or power on the farm that he or she owns  or  operates.
27    For  purposes  of  this  subsection,  "farm"  means land or a
28    building appurtenant to land that is used for an agricultural
29    purpose or for a purpose accessory to an agriculture purpose.
30        (e)  Employees of a manufacturing corporation that engage
31    in activities normally requiring licensure under this Act are
32    exempt when such activities are incidental to  the  operation
33    or  maintenance  of  its existing business and facilities.  A
34    manufacturing   corporation   that   is   involved   in   new
 
                            -15-     LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1    construction that results in the expansion  of  its  business
 2    and  facilities  must  utilize  licensed electricians for any
 3    associated electrical work.
 4        (f)  The minor repair of existing electrical systems does
 5    not require licensure under this Act.  For  the  purposes  of
 6    this  subsection,  "minor  repair"  means repairs to existing
 7    electrical systems that do not require a permit to be  issued
 8    under any local ordinance.
 9        (g)  Elevator  construction  does  not  require licensure
10    under this Act.

11        Section   75.  Governmental    units.     No    municipal
12    corporation   or   political   subdivision  shall  engage  in
13    electrical work unless the electrical work  is  performed  by
14    one  or more licensed electricians or apprentice electricians
15    under  the   supervision   of   licensed   electricians.    A
16    governmental  unit may, however, contract for electrical work
17    with any person authorized to engage in  electrical  work  in
18    this State.

19        Section  80.  Display  of license.  Persons who advertise
20    electrical wiring services shall, at their place of business,
21    display the master electrician's  license  of  at  least  one
22    member of the firm, partnership or officer of the corporation
23    and  shall  maintain a register listing the names and license
24    numbers of  all  licensed  electricians  and  all  registered
25    apprentices  currently  employed  by  them.  When advertising
26    electrical wiring  services,  the  license  number  shall  be
27    included  in  all forms of written or printed advertising and
28    included  with  the  electrical  wiring   identification   of
29    vehicles.  The Department may, by rule or regulation, require
30    additional  information  concerning licensed electricians and
31    registered apprentices to be maintained in the register.
 
                            -16-     LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1        Section 85.  Safety standards.   All  electrical  wiring,
 2    apparatus,  and equipment for electric light, heat, and power
 3    shall comply with all applicable rules of the  Department  of
 4    Labor  and  shall  be  installed  in conformity with accepted
 5    standards of construction for safety to  life  and  property.
 6    For  the  purposes  of  this  Act, the regulations and safety
 7    standards stated at the time the work is  done  in  the  then
 8    most  recently  published  edition of the National Electrical
 9    Code as adopted by the National Fire Protection  Association,
10    Inc.   and   approved  by  the  American  National  Standards
11    Institute,  and  the  National  Electrical  Safety  Code   as
12    published  by  the  Institute  of  Electrical and Electronics
13    Engineers,  Inc.  and  approved  by  the  American   National
14    Standards   Institute,  shall  be  prima  facie  evidence  of
15    accepted standards of construction for  safety  to  life  and
16    property.   In   the  event  an  Illinois  building  code  is
17    formulated  containing   approved   methods   of   electrical
18    construction for safety to life and property, compliance with
19    the  methods  of  electrical  construction of that code shall
20    also constitute compliance with  this  Section.   Nothing  in
21    this Act shall prohibit any political subdivision from making
22    and  enforcing  more stringent requirements than set forth in
23    this Act and those requirements shall be complied with by all
24    licensed electricians working within the jurisdiction of that
25    political subdivision; except that nothing in this Act  shall
26    be construed to give a political subdivision the authority to
27    apply  those  standards  or  requirements  to electrical work
28    performed on a farm.

29        Section 90.  Inspections.
30        (a)  Except  where  any  political  subdivision  has   by
31    ordinance  provided for electrical inspection similar to that
32    provided in this Act, every new  electrical  installation  in
33    any construction, remodeling, replacement, or repair shall be
 
                            -17-     LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1    inspected  by  the  Department  for  compliance with accepted
 2    standards of construction for safety to life and property.
 3        (b)  No such inspections shall be required for electrical
 4    work performed by persons exempt from licensure under Section
 5    70 of this Act; except that inspections shall be required for
 6    work performed under subsection (b) of Section 70.
 7        (c)  All  inspectors  for  the  Department   shall   hold
 8    licenses as master or journeyman electricians under this Act;
 9    except  that in areas of this State where a sufficient number
10    of master or journeyman electricians are not available to the
11    Department  to  perform  inspections  under  this  Act,   the
12    Department  may designate other persons whom it determines to
13    be suitably qualified by training or experience.

14        Section 95.  Procedures for inspection.
15        (a)  At  or  before  commencement  of  any   installation
16    required  to  be  inspected by the Department, the electrical
17    contractor or owner making the installation shall  submit  to
18    the Department a request for inspection, in a form prescribed
19    by  the  Department,  together with the fees required for the
20    installation.
21        (b)  The  fees  required  are  a  handling  fee  and   an
22    inspection  fee.   The  handling  fee  shall  be  set  by the
23    Department in  an  amount  sufficient  to  pay  the  cost  of
24    bringing and handling the form requesting an inspection.  The
25    inspection  fee  shall  be set by the Department in an amount
26    sufficient to pay the actual costs of the inspection and  the
27    Department's costs in administering the inspection.
28        (c)  If  the inspector finds that the installation is not
29    in compliance with accepted  standards  of  construction  for
30    safety  to  life  and  property  as required by this Act, the
31    inspector shall, by written order, condemn  the  installation
32    or  the  noncomplying  portion  of the installation, or order
33    service to the installation disconnected, and  shall  send  a
 
                            -18-     LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1    copy  of the order to the Department.  If the installation or
 2    the noncomplying part will seriously and proximately endanger
 3    human life and property, the order  of  the  inspector,  when
 4    approved by the inspector's superior, shall require immediate
 5    condemnation or disconnection.  In all other cases, the order
 6    of  the  inspector  shall permit a reasonable opportunity for
 7    the installation to be brought into compliance with  accepted
 8    standards  of  construction  for  safety to life and property
 9    prior to the effective time established for  condemnation  or
10    disconnection.
11        (d)  Copies  of  each condemnation or disconnection order
12    shall be served personally  or  by  mail  upon  the  property
13    owner,  the  electrical  contractor or electrician making the
14    installation, and other persons as the Department by rule may
15    direct.  An aggrieved party may appeal  any  condemnation  or
16    disconnection order by filing with the Department a notice of
17    appeal  within  10  days after (i) service upon the aggrieved
18    party of the condemnation or  disconnection  order,  if  this
19    service  is  required  or  (ii)  filing of the order with the
20    Department, whichever is later. The  Department  shall  adopt
21    rules  providing  procedures  for  the  conduct  of  appeals,
22    including provisions for the stay of enforcement of the order
23    of  the  inspector  pending  an  appeal when justified by the
24    circumstances.
25        (e)  The inspectors of  the  Department  shall  have  the
26    authority to enter any building or premises at any reasonable
27    hour  in  the  discharge of their duties, and they shall have
28    the authority, when necessary, to order the  removal  of  any
29    existing obstructions such as laths, plastering, boarding, or
30    partitions  that  may  prevent  a  proper  inspection  of the
31    electrical installation.
32        (f)  No electrical installation subject to inspection  by
33    the  Department  shall  be newly connected or reconnected for
34    use  until  there  is  filed,  with  the  electrical  utility
 
                            -19-     LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1    supplying power, a  certificate  of  the  property  owner  or
 2    licensed  electrician  directing the work that inspection has
 3    been requested and that the conditions  of  the  installation
 4    are  safe  for  energization.  In all cases where an order of
 5    condemnation or disconnection has  been  issued  against  the
 6    installation  or  any  part  of  the  installation,  prior to
 7    connection or reconnection, there shall also first  be  filed
 8    with  the electrical utility supplying the power a copy of an
 9    order of the inspector or the Department dismissing the prior
10    order of  condemnation  or  disconnection  or  approving  the
11    installation  as  being in compliance with accepted standards
12    of construction  for  safety  to  life  and  property.   With
13    respect  to  transient  projects, this certificate shall also
14    contain a certification that the request for  inspection  has
15    been  or  will  be  filed  with  the  Department  so as to be
16    received by it at least 5 days prior to  the  date  and  time
17    energization  of the installation by the utility is to occur,
18    and that the request for inspection states the date and time.
19    It shall be the responsibility  of  the  Department  to  have
20    inspection  of  the transient project occur prior to the date
21    and time at which  the  request  states  energization  is  to
22    occur.
23        (g)  Any  political  subdivision  may  make provision for
24    inspection   of   electrical   installations    within    its
25    jurisdiction,  in  which  case it shall keep on file with the
26    Department copies of its current  inspection  ordinances  and
27    codes.  Any political subdivision may require any individual,
28    partnership,   corporation,  or  other  business  association
29    holding a license from the Department  to  pay  any  license,
30    registration  fee,  or permit fees. Any political subdivision
31    may provide by ordinance a requirement that each  individual,
32    partnership, corporation, or other business association doing
33    electrical  work  within  the  jurisdiction  of the political
34    subdivision have on file with  the  political  subdivision  a
 
                            -20-     LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1    copy of the current license issued by the Department or other
 2    evidence of the license as may be provided by the Department.
 3    Each  electrical inspector of any political subdivision shall
 4    be a licensed master or  journeyman  electrician  under  this
 5    Act.

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

29        Section  105.  Electricians  practicing  before this Act.
30    Electrical contractors who are in business on January 1, 2004
31    and who file a license application with the Department within
32    180 days after the  effective  date  of  this  Act  shall  be
 
                            -21-     LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1    granted  a license which shall be valid for one year from the
 2    date of issuance. Thereafter,  electrical  contractors  shall
 3    comply  with  all  of  the  requirements  of this Act.  These
 4    licenses shall be subject to annual renewal  as  provided  in
 5    this Act.
 6        Persons  who  have  a  minimum  of  5 years experience in
 7    performing electrical work as defined in this Act on  January
 8    1,   2004  and  who  file  a  license  application  with  the
 9    Department within 180 days after January  1,  2004  shall  be
10    granted  a  license without examination, which shall be valid
11    for one year from the date  of  issuance.   The  category  of
12    initial  licensure  shall  be  determined  by the Department.
13    These licenses shall be subject to annual renewal as provided
14    in this Act.
15        Electrical inspectors who are employed by a  governmental
16    unit   and  engaged  in  the  regulation  and  inspection  of
17    electrical wiring activities  regulated  under  this  Act  on
18    January  1,  2004,  and  who  file  an  application  with the
19    Department within 180 days after January 1,  2004,  shall  be
20    permitted to conduct electrical inspections for one year from
21    the  application  date.  Thereafter, the inspectors must meet
22    all of the requirements of this Act.

23        Section 110.  Administrative Procedure Act;  application.
24    The  provisions  of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
25    are expressly adopted and shall apply to  all  administrative
26    rules  and  procedures  of the Department of Labor under this
27    Act, except that Section 5  of  the  Illinois  Administrative
28    Procedure  Act relating to procedures for rulemaking does not
29    apply to the adoption of any rule required by federal law  in
30    connection with which the Department is precluded by law from
31    exercising any discretion.

32        Section 115.  Review under Administrative Review Law. All
 
                            -22-     LRB093 08373 AMC 13053 a
 1    final administrative decisions of the Director under this Act
 2    shall  be subject to judicial review under the Administrative
 3    Review Law and its rules.

 4        Section  120.  Home  rule.  A  home  rule  unit  may  not
 5    regulate  the  licensing  of  electricians   and   electrical
 6    contractors  in  a manner inconsistent with the regulation by
 7    the State of electricians and electrical contractors.    This
 8    Section  is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of
 9    Article VII of the Illinois Constitution  on  the  concurrent
10    exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised
11    by the State.

12        Section  900.  The  Regulatory  Sunset  Act is amended by
13    changing Section 4.24 as follows:

14        (5 ILCS 80/4.24)
15        Sec.  4.24.  Acts  repealed  on  January  1,  2014.   The
16    following Acts are repealed on January 1, 2014:
17        The Electricians Licensing Act.
18        The Electrologist Licensing Act.
19        The Illinois Public Accounting Act.
20    (Source: P.A. 92-457, eff. 8-21-01; 92-750, eff. 1-1-03.)

21        Section 999. Effective date.  This Act  takes  effect  on
22    January 1, 2004.".