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UTILITIES (220 ILCS 32/) Electric Transmission Systems Construction Standards Act.

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Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS)

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    (220 ILCS 32/1)
    Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Electric Transmission Systems Construction Standards Act.
(Source: P.A. 103-1066, eff. 2-20-25.)

    (220 ILCS 32/5)
    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 104-458)
    Sec. 5. Definitions. For the purposes of this Act:
    "Commission" means the Illinois Commerce Commission.
    "Construction contractor" means any entity responsible for the construction, installation, maintenance, or repair of electric transmission systems subject to this Act.
    "Electric transmission systems" means an electrical transmission system designed and constructed with the capability of being safely and reliably energized at 69 kilovolts or more, including transmission lines, transmission towers, conductors, insulators, foundations, grounding systems, access roads, and all associated transmission facilities, including transmission substations. "Electric transmission systems" does not include projects located on the electric generating facility's side of the facility's point of interconnection.
    "OSHA" means Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
    "Utility" has the meaning given to that term in Section 3-105 of the Public Utilities Act.
(Source: P.A. 103-1066, eff. 2-20-25.)
 
    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 104-458)
    Sec. 5. Definitions. For the purposes of this Act:
    "Commission" means the Illinois Commerce Commission.
    "Construction contractor" means any nonutility entity responsible for the construction, installation, maintenance, or repair of electric transmission systems subject to this Act.
    "Electric transmission systems" means an electrical transmission system designed and constructed with the capability of being safely and reliably energized at 69 kilovolts or more, including transmission lines, transmission towers, conductors, insulators, foundations, grounding systems, access roads, and all associated transmission facilities, including transmission substations. "Electric transmission systems" does not include projects located on the electric generating facility's side of the facility's point of interconnection or facilities not functionally classified as transmission systems, regardless of voltage.
    "OSHA" means Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
    "Utility" means an entity that is a public utility, as defined in Section 3-105 of the Public Utilities Act, and that serves residential customers.
(Source: P.A. 103-1066, eff. 2-20-25; 104-458, eff. 6-1-26.)

    (220 ILCS 32/10)
    Sec. 10. Policy. The State of Illinois adopts the following policies to ensure that electric transmission systems are constructed to the highest standards of safety, competency, and reliability:
        (1) Mandate the use of qualified, properly trained
    
employees on all electric transmission systems.
        (2) Protect workers by ensuring fair compensation in
    
accordance with the Prevailing Wage Act.
        (3) Promote public safety through OSHA-certified
    
safety training and adherence to apprenticeship standards.
(Source: P.A. 103-1066, eff. 2-20-25.)

    (220 ILCS 32/15)
    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 104-458)
    Sec. 15. Requirements for contractors.
    (a) Prevailing wage compliance. All utilities and construction contractors responsible for the construction, installation, maintenance, or repair of electric transmission systems shall pay employees performing the construction, installation, maintenance, or repair work of such systems wages and benefits consistent with the Prevailing Wage Act.
    (b) Training and competence requirement. To ensure safety and reliability in the construction, installation, maintenance, and repair of electric transmission systems, each electric utility and construction contractor must demonstrate the competence of their employees who are performing the work of construction, installation, maintenance, or repair of electric transmission systems, which shall be consistent with the standards required by Illinois utilities as of January 1, 2007, or greater. Competence must include, at a minimum: (1) completion, or active participation with ultimate completion, in an accredited or recognized apprenticeship program for the relevant craft, trade, or skill; or (2) a minimum of 2 years of direct employment in the specific work function.
    The Commission shall oversee compliance to ensure employees meet these standards.
    (c) Safety training. All employees engaged in the construction, installation, maintenance, or repair of electric transmission systems must successfully complete OSHA-certified safety training required for their specific roles on the project site.
    (d) Diversity Plan.
        (1) All construction contractors engaged in the
    
construction, installation, maintenance, or repair of electric transmission systems shall develop a Diversity Plan that sets forth:
            (A) the goals for apprenticeship hours to be
        
performed by minorities and women;
            (B) the goals for total hours to be performed by
        
underrepresented minorities and women; and
            (C) spending for women-owned, minority-owned,
        
veteran-owned, and small business enterprises in the previous calendar year.
        (2) These goals shall be expressed as a percentage of
    
the total work performed by the construction contractor submitting the plan and the actual spending for all women-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned, and small business enterprises shall also be expressed as a percentage of the total work performed by the construction contractor submitting the Diversity Plan.
        (3) For purposes of the Diversity Plan, minorities
    
and women shall have the same definition as defined in the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act.
        (4) The construction contractor shall submit the
    
Diversity Plan to the Commission.
(Source: P.A. 103-1066, eff. 2-20-25.)
 
    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 104-458)
    Sec. 15. Requirements for construction contractors.
    (a) Prevailing wage compliance. All construction contractors responsible for the construction, installation, maintenance, or repair of electric transmission systems shall pay employees performing the construction, installation, maintenance, or repair work of such systems wages and benefits consistent with the Prevailing Wage Act.
    (b) Training and competence requirement. To ensure safety and reliability in the construction, installation, maintenance, and repair of electric transmission systems, each construction contractor must demonstrate the competence of their employees who are performing the work of construction, installation, maintenance, or repair of electric transmission systems, which shall be consistent with the standards required by Illinois utilities as of January 1, 2007, or greater. Competence must include, at a minimum: (1) completion, or active participation with ultimate completion, in an accredited or recognized apprenticeship program for the relevant craft, trade, or skill; or (2) a minimum of 2 years of direct employment in the specific work function.
    The Commission shall oversee compliance to ensure employees meet these standards.
    (c) Safety training. All employees engaged in the construction, installation, maintenance, or repair of electric transmission systems must successfully complete OSHA-certified safety training required for their specific roles on the project site.
    (d) Diversity Plan.
        (1) All construction contractors engaged in the
    
construction, installation, maintenance, or repair of electric transmission systems shall develop a Diversity Plan that sets forth:
            (A) the goals for apprenticeship hours to be
        
performed by minorities and women;
            (B) the goals for total hours to be performed by
        
underrepresented minorities and women; and
            (C) spending for women-owned, minority-owned,
        
veteran-owned, and small business enterprises in the previous calendar year.
        (2) These goals shall be expressed as a percentage of
    
the total work performed by the construction contractor submitting the plan and the actual spending for all women-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned, and small business enterprises shall also be expressed as a percentage of the total work performed by the construction contractor submitting the Diversity Plan.
        (3) For purposes of the Diversity Plan, minorities
    
and women shall have the same definition as defined in the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act.
        (4) The construction contractor shall submit the
    
Diversity Plan to the Commission.
(Source: P.A. 103-1066, eff. 2-20-25; 104-458, eff. 6-1-26.)

    (220 ILCS 32/20)
    Sec. 20. Rulemaking authority. The Commission shall adopt rules to implement and enforce this Act, including investigation procedures, penalties, and reporting requirements.
(Source: P.A. 103-1066, eff. 2-20-25.)

    (220 ILCS 32/50)
    Sec. 50. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-1066, eff. 2-20-25; text omitted.)

    (220 ILCS 32/55)
    Sec. 55. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-1066, eff. 2-20-25; text omitted.)

    (220 ILCS 32/60)
    Sec. 60. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-1066, eff. 2-20-25; text omitted.)

    (220 ILCS 32/65)
    Sec. 65. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-1066, eff. 2-20-25; text omitted.)

    (220 ILCS 32/70)
    Sec. 70. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-1066, eff. 2-20-25; text omitted.)

    (220 ILCS 32/99)
    Sec. 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.
(Source: P.A. 103-1066, eff. 2-20-25.)