225 ILCS 340/20.5

(225 ILCS 340/20.5)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2030)

Sec. 20.5. Unlicensed practice; violation; civil penalty.

(a) Use of the title "structural engineer" or any of its derivations is limited to those persons or entities licensed or registered under this Act. Any person who practices, offers to practice, attempts to practice, or holds himself or herself out to practice as a structural engineer or structural engineer intern without being licensed, enrolled, or exempt under this Act shall, in addition to any other penalty provided by law, pay a civil penalty to the Department in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for each offense, as determined by the Department. The civil penalty shall be assessed by the Department after a hearing is held in accordance with the provisions in this Act regarding the provision of a hearing for the discipline of a licensee.

(b) An entity or business that offers structural engineering services under this Act without being registered as a professional design firm or exempt under this Act shall, as determined by the Department, in addition to any other penalty provided by law, pay a civil penalty to the Department in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for each offense, as determined by the Department. The civil penalty shall be assessed by the Department after a hearing is held in accordance with the provisions in this Act regarding the provision of a hearing for the discipline of a licensee.

(c) The Department may investigate any actual, alleged, or suspected unlicensed activity.

(d) The civil penalty shall be paid within 60 days after the effective date of the order imposing the civil penalty. The order shall constitute a final judgment and may be filed and execution had thereon in the same manner as any judgment from any court of record.

(e) A person or entity not licensed or registered under this Act that has violated any provision of this Act or its rules is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class 4 felony for a second and subsequent offenses.

(Source: P.A. 101-312, eff. 8-9-19.)