(225 ILCS 305/23.5)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2030)
    Sec. 23.5. Unlicensed practice; violation; civil penalty.
    (a) Use of the title "architect" 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 an architect without being licensed 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 set forth in this Act regarding the provision of a hearing for the discipline of a licensee.
    (b) An entity or business that offers design services under this Act without being registered as a professional design firm 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 set forth 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 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 who 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. 101-346, eff. 8-9-19.)