HB5336 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 19418 HLH 64671 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB5336

Introduced 2/8/2012, by Rep. Lisa M. Dugan

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
20 ILCS 605/605-875	was 20 ILCS 605/46.68
20 ILCS 608/15
20 ILCS 1505/1505-55 new

Creates the OSHA Program Reorganization Act. Transfers, on July 1, 2012 or as soon thereafter as practical, certain powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities related to the Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program (the OSHA program) from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to the Department of Labor. Provides that certain functions concerning the administration and management of employee benefits are unaffected by the transfer. Provides for the transfer of specified staff, records, unexpended moneys, and rules. Makes conforming changes in other Acts. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the OSHA Program Reorganization Act.

Section 10. Transfer of the Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program.

(a) On July 1, 2012 or as soon thereafter as practical, all of the powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities related to the Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program (the OSHA Program) are transferred from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to the Department of Labor.

(b) The powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities vested in or associated with the Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program (the OSHA Program) are not affected by this Act, except that all management and staff support or other resources necessary to the operation of the Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program (the OSHA Program) shall be provided by the Department of Labor.

Section 15. Representation on boards or other entities. When any provision of an Executive Order or Act provides for the membership of the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity on any council, commission, board, or other entity relating to the Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program (the OSHA Program), the Director of Labor, or his or her designee, shall serve in that place. If more than one such person is required by law to serve on any council, commission, board, or other entity, an equivalent number of the representatives of the Department of Labor shall so serve.

Section 20. Personnel transferred. The status and rights of employees of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity engaged in the performance of the functions of the Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program (the OSHA Program) shall not be affected by the transfer. The status and rights of those employees, and the rights of the State of Illinois and its agencies, under the Personnel Code and applicable collective bargaining agreements or under any pension, retirement, or annuity plan are not affected by this Act. Personnel under the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity affected by this Act shall continue their service within the Department of Labor.

Section 25. Books and records transferred. All books, records, papers, documents, property (real and personal), contracts, and pending business pertaining to the powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities related to the Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program (the OSHA Program) and transferred by this Act from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to the Department of Labor, including, but not limited to, material in electronic or magnetic format and necessary computer hardware and software, shall be delivered to the Department of Labor; however, the delivery of that information may not violate any applicable confidentiality constraints.

Section 30. Unexpended moneys transferred. With respect to the Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program (the OSHA Program), the Department of Labor is the successor agency to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity under the Successor Agency Act and Section 9b of the State Finance Act. All unexpended appropriations and balances and other funds available for use in connection with the Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program (the OSHA Program) are transferred for use by the Department of Labor for the Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program (the OSHA Program) pursuant to the direction of the Governor. Unexpended balances so transferred shall be expended only for the purpose for which the appropriation was originally made.

Section 35. Exercise of transferred powers; savings provisions. The powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities related to the Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program (the OSHA Program) transferred from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity by this Act are vested in and shall be exercised by the Department of Labor. Each act done in the exercise of those powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities shall have the same legal effect as if done by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or its divisions, officers, or employees.

Section 40. Rights, obligations, and duties unaffected by transfer. The transfer of powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to the Department of Labor under this Act does not affect any person's rights, obligations, or duties, including any civil or criminal penalties applicable thereto, arising out of those transferred powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities.

Section 45. Agency officers; penalties. Every officer of the Department of Labor is, for any offense, subject to the same penalty or penalties, civil or criminal, as are prescribed by existing law for the same offense by any officer whose powers or duties are transferred under this Act.

Section 50. Reports, notices, or papers. Whenever reports or notices are required to be made or given or papers or documents furnished or served by any person to or upon the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in connection with any of the functions of the Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program (the OSHA Program) transferred by this Act, the same shall be made, given, furnished, or served in the same manner to or upon the Department of Labor.

Section 55. Acts and actions unaffected by transfer. This Act does not affect any act done, ratified, or canceled, or any right occurring or established, before July 1, 2012 in connection with the Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program (the OSHA Program). This Act does not affect any action or proceeding had or commenced before July 1, 2012 in an administrative, civil, or criminal cause regarding the Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program (the OSHA Program), but any such action or proceeding may be defended, prosecuted, or continued by the Department of Labor.

Section 60. Rules.

(a) Any rule of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity that (i) relates to the Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program (the OSHA Program), (ii) is in full force on July 1, 2012, and (iii) has been duly adopted by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall become the rule of the Department of Labor. This Act does not affect the legality of any such rules contained in the Illinois Administrative Code.

(b) Any proposed rule filed with the Secretary of State by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity that is pending in the rulemaking process on July 1, 2012 and that pertains to the functions transferred under this Act shall be deemed to have been filed by the Department of Labor.

(c) As soon as practical after July 1, 2012, the Department of Labor shall revise and clarify the rules transferred to it under this Section to reflect the reorganization of rights, powers, and duties effected by this Act, using the procedures for recodification of rules available under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, except that existing title, part, and section numbering for the affected rules may be retained.

(d) The Department of Labor may propose and adopt, under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, other rules of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity that will now be administered by the Department of Labor.

Section 900. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by changing Section 605-875 as follows:

(20 ILCS 605/605-875) (was 20 ILCS 605/46.68)

Sec. 605-875. Safety loan program.

(a) The Department may develop and implement a small business safety loan program to allow employers the opportunity to improve workplace safety. The loans shall be made from appropriations for that purpose. The loans shall be secured by adequate collateral, may be for a term of no more than 5 years, and may bear interest at a discounted rate. The Department shall promulgate all necessary rules to implement the program.

(b) Any loan made under this Section shall: (1) be made only if an on-site safety and health consultations consultation and recommendations for correction have been completed by both the Department's Industrial Service Division, with regard to requirements of State and federal environmental regulations, and the Department of Labor, with regard to requirements of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration; and (2) finance no more than $50,000 or 80% of the total project and no less than $10,000.

(c) The Illinois Safety Revolving Loan Fund is created as a separate fund within the State treasury.

The purpose of the Fund is to provide loans to and finance administration of loans to small businesses in Illinois.

There shall be deposited into the Fund amounts including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) All receipts, including dividends, principal, and interest payments from any applicable loan agreement made from the Fund or from direct appropriations.

(2) All proceeds of assets of whatever nature received by the Department as a result of default or delinquency with respect to loan agreements made from the Fund or from direct appropriations by the General Assembly, including proceeds from the sale, disposal, lease, or rental of real or personal property that the Department may have received as a result of the default or delinquency.

(3) Any appropriations, grants, or gifts made to the Fund.

(4) Any income received from interest on investments of moneys in the Fund.

(d) The implementation of or continuation of this program during any fiscal year is dependent upon federal funding, through the Department of Labor, committed to the Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program prior to the beginning of that fiscal year.

(Source: P.A. 91-239, eff. 1-1-00.)

Section 905. The Business Assistance and Regulatory Reform Act is amended by changing Section 15 as follows:

(20 ILCS 608/15)

Sec. 15. Providing Information and Expediting Permit Reviews.

(a) The office shall provide an information system using a toll-free business assistance number. The number shall be advertised throughout the State. If requested, the caller will be sent a basic business kit, describing the basic requirements and procedures for doing business in Illinois. If requested, the caller shall be directed to one or more of the additional services provided by the office. All persons providing advice to callers on behalf of the office and all persons responsible for directly providing services to persons visiting the office or one of its branches shall be persons with small business experience in an administrative or managerial capacity.

(b) (Blank).

(c) Any applicant for permits required for a business activity may confer with the office to obtain assistance in the prompt and efficient processing and review of applications. The office may designate an employee of the office to act as a permit assistance manager to:

(1) facilitate contacts for the applicant with responsible agencies;

(2) arrange conferences to clarify the requirements of interested agencies;

(3) consider with State agencies the feasibility of consolidating hearings and data required of the applicant;

(4) assist the applicant in resolution of outstanding issues identified by State agencies; and

(5) coordinate federal, State and local regulatory procedures and permit review actions to the extent possible.

(d) The office shall publish a directory of State business permits and State programs to assist small businesses.

(e) The office shall attempt to establish agreements with local governments to allow the office to provide assistance to applicants for permits required by these local governments.

(f) Interested State agencies shall, to the maximum extent feasible, establish procedures to expedite applications for infrastructure projects. Applications for permits for infrastructure projects shall be approved or disapproved within 45 days of submission, unless law or regulations specify a different period. If the interested agency is unable to act within that period, the agency shall provide a written notification to the office specifying reasons for its inability to act and the date by which approval or disapproval shall be determined. The office may require any interested State agency to designate an employee who will coordinate the handling of permits in that area.

(g) In addition to its responsibilities in connection with permit assistance, the office shall provide general regulatory information by directing businesses to appropriate officers in State agencies to supply the information requested.

(h) The office shall help businesses to locate and apply to training programs available to train current employees in particular skills, techniques or areas of knowledge relevant to the employees' present or anticipated job duties. In pursuit of this objective, the office shall provide businesses with pertinent information about training programs offered by State agencies, units of local government, public universities and colleges, community colleges, and school districts in Illinois.

(i) The office shall help businesses to locate and apply to State programs offering to businesses grants, loans, loan or bond guarantees, investment partnerships, technology or productivity consultation, or other forms of business assistance.

(j) To the extent authorized by federal law, the office shall assist businesses in ascertaining and complying with the requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

(k) The office shall provide confidential on-site assistance in identifying problems and solutions in compliance with requirements of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other State and federal environmental regulations. The office shall work through and contract with the Waste Management and Research Center to provide confidential on-site consultation audits that (i) assist regulatory compliance and (ii) identify pollution prevention opportunities.

(k-5) Until July 1, 2012, the office shall provide confidential on-site assistance, including, but not limited to, consultation audits, to identify problems and solutions regarding compliance with the requirements of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. On and after July 1, 2012, the Department of Labor shall provide confidential on-site assistance, including, but not limited to, consultation audits, to identify problems and solutions regarding compliance with the requirements of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

(l) The office shall provide information on existing loan and business assistance programs provided by the State.

(m) Each State agency having jurisdiction to approve or deny a permit shall have the continuing power heretofore or hereafter vested in it to make such determinations. The provisions of this Act shall not lessen or reduce such powers and shall modify the procedures followed in carrying out such powers only to the extent provided in this Act.

(n) (1) Each State agency shall fully cooperate with the office in providing information, documentation, personnel or facilities requested by the office.

(2) Each State agency having jurisdiction of any permit to which the master application procedure is applicable shall designate an employee to act as permit liaison office with the office in carrying out the provisions of this Act.

(o) (1) The office has authority, but is not required, to keep and analyze appropriate statistical data regarding the number of permits issued by State agencies, the amount of time necessary for the permits to be issued, the cost of obtaining such permits, the types of projects for which specific permits are issued, a geographic distribution of permits, and other pertinent data the office deems appropriate.

The office shall make such data and any analysis of the data available to the public.

(2) The office has authority, but is not required, to conduct or cause to be conducted a thorough review of any agency's permit requirements and the need by the State to require such permits. The office shall draw on the review, on its direct experience, and on its statistical analyses to prepare recommendations regarding how to:

(i) eliminate unnecessary or antiquated permit requirements;

(ii) consolidate duplicative or overlapping permit requirements;

(iii) simplify overly complex or lengthy application procedures;

(iv) expedite time-consuming agency review and approval procedures; or

(v) otherwise improve the permitting processes in the State.

The office shall submit copies of all recommendations within 5 days of issuance to the affected agency, the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.

(p) The office has authority to review State forms on its own initiative or upon the request of another State agency to ascertain the burden, if any, of complying with those forms. If the office determines that a form is unduly burdensome to business, it may recommend to the agency issuing the form either that the form be eliminated or that specific changes be made in the form.

(q) Not later than March 1 of each year, beginning March 1, 1995, the office shall submit an annual report of its activities during the preceding year to the Governor and General Assembly. The report shall describe the activities of the office during the preceding year and shall contain statistical information on the permit assistance activities of the office.

(Source: P.A. 90-454, eff. 8-16-97; 90-490, eff. 8-17-97; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)

Section 910. The Department of Labor Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 1505-55 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1505/1505-55 new)

Sec. 1505-55. Transfer of Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program. On and after July 1, 2012, as provided in the OSHA Program Reorganization Act, the powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities related to the Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program, including, but not limited to, the duty to provide confidential on-site assistance to identify problems and solutions regarding compliance with the requirements of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, are transferred from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to the Department of Labor.

Section 997. Severability. The provisions of this Act are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.

Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.