Public Act 0310 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2037 Enrolled LRB097 10106 CEL 50287 b

Public Act 097-0310

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 5. The Elevator Safety and Regulation Act is amended by changing Sections 35, 95, and 120 as follows:

(225 ILCS 312/35)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2013)

Sec. 35. Powers and duties of the Board and Administrator.

(a) The Board shall consult with engineering authorities and organizations and adopt rules consistent with the provisions of this Act for the administration and enforcement of this Act. The Board may prescribe forms to be issued in connection with the administration and enforcement of this Act. The rules shall establish standards and criteria consistent with this Act for licensing of elevator mechanics, inspectors, and installers of elevators, including the provisions of the Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators (ASME A17.1), the provisions of the Performance-Based Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators (ASME A17.7), the Standard for the Qualification of Elevator Inspectors (ASME QEI-1), the Automated People Mover Standards (ASCE 21), the Safety Requirements for Personnel Hoists and Employee Elevators (ANSI A10.4), and the Safety Standard for Platform Lifts and Stairway Chairlifts (ASME A18.1). The Board shall adopt or amend and adopt the latest editions of the standards referenced in this subsection within 12 months after the effective date of the standards.

The Board shall make determinations authorized by this Act regarding variances, interpretations, and the installation of new technology. Such determinations shall have a binding precedential effect throughout the State regarding equipment, structure, or the enforcement of codes unless limited by the Board to the fact-specific issues.

(b) The Administrator or Local Administrator shall have the authority to grant exceptions and variances from the literal requirements of applicable State codes, standards, and regulations in cases where such variances would not jeopardize the public safety and welfare. The Administrator has the right to review and object to any exceptions or variances granted by the Local Administrator. The Board shall have the authority to hear appeals, for any denial by the Local Administrator or for any denial or objection by the Administrator. The Board shall hold hearings, and decide upon such within 30 days of the appeal.

(c) The Board shall establish fee schedules for licenses, and registrations issued by the Administrator. The Board shall also establish fee schedules for permits, certificates, and inspections for conveyances not under a Local Administrator. The fees shall be set at an amount necessary to cover the actual costs and expenses to operate the Board and to conduct the duties as described in this Act.

(d) The Board shall be authorized to recommend the amendments of applicable legislation, when appropriate, to legislators.

(e) The Administrator may solicit the advice and expert knowledge of the Board on any matter relating to the administration and enforcement of this Act.

(f) The Administrator may employ professional, technical, investigative, or clerical help, on either a full-time or part-time basis, as may be necessary for the enforcement of this Act.

(g) (Blank).

(h) Notwithstanding anything else in this Section, the following upgrade requirements of the 2007 edition of the Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators (ASME A17.1) and the 2005 edition of the Safety Code for Existing Elevators (ASME A17.3) must be completed by January 1, 2015, but the Administrator or Local Administrator may not require their completion prior to January 1, 2013:

(i) restricted opening of hoistway doors or car doors on passenger elevators;

(ii) car illumination;

(iii) emergency operation and signaling devices;

(iv) phase reversal and failure protection;

(v) reopening device for power operated doors or gates;

(vi) stop switch pits; and

(vii) pit ladder installation in accordance with Section 2.2.4.2 of ASME A17.1-2007.

(i) In the event that a conveyance regulated by this Act is altered, the alteration shall comply with ASME A17.1. Notwithstanding anything else in this Section, the firefighter's emergency operation, and the hydraulic elevator cylinder, including the associated safety devices outlined in Section 4.3.3(b) of ASME A17.3-2005, are not required to be upgraded unless: (1) there is an alteration, (2) the equipment fails, or (3) failing to replace the equipment jeopardizes the public safety and welfare as determined by the Local Administrator or the Board.

(j) The Administrator may choose to require the inspection of any conveyance to be performed by its own inspectors or by third-party licensed inspectors employed by the Administrator.

(Source: P.A. 95-573, eff. 8-31-07; 96-54, eff. 7-23-09.)

(225 ILCS 312/95)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2013)

Sec. 95. New installations; annual inspections and registrations.

(a) All new conveyance installations regulated by this Act shall be performed by a person, firm, or company to which a license to install or service conveyances has been issued. Subsequent to installation, the licensed person, firm, or company must certify compliance with the applicable Sections of this Act. Prior to any conveyance being used, the property owner or lessee must obtain a certificate of operation from the Administrator or Local Administrator. A fee as authorized by Section 35 of this Act or as set by the Local Administrator shall be paid for the certificate of operation. It shall be the responsibility of the owner to complete and submit first time registration for new installations.

(b) (Blank).

(c) A certificate of operation is renewable annually, except that a certificate of operation is renewable every 3 years for a conveyance (i) that is located in a building owned and occupied by any church, synagogue, or other building, structure, or place used primarily for religious worship and is the only conveyance in the building, (ii) that is under the jurisdiction of the Administrator, (iii) that is limited in use to 2 levels, and (iv) for which the church, synagogue, or other building, structure, or place used primarily for religious worship has an annual maintenance examination that includes the applicable category tests. For these occupancies, on-site witnessing of the category test shall be witnessed every 3 years. Records of the applicable maintenance checks and elevator category test results shall be maintained on-site by the building owner. The certificates of operation or copy thereof, must be clearly displayed in the conveyance for the benefit of code enforcement staff.

(Source: P.A. 96-54, eff. 7-23-09.)

(225 ILCS 312/120)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2013)

Sec. 120. Inspection and testing.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of Section 95 of this Act, it It shall be the responsibility of the owner of all new and existing conveyances located in any building or structure to have the conveyance inspected annually by a person, firm, or company to which a license to inspect conveyances has been issued. Subsequent to inspection, the licensed person, firm, or company must supply the property owner or lessee and the Administrator with a written inspection report describing any and all code violations. Property owners shall have 30 days from the date of the published inspection report to be in full compliance by correcting the violations. The Administrator shall determine whether such violations have been corrected and may extend the compliance dates for good cause, provided that such violations are minor and pose no threat to public safety.

(b) It shall be the responsibility of the owner of all conveyances to have a licensed elevator contractor, as defined in this Act, ensure that the required tests are performed at intervals in compliance with the ASME A 17.1, ASME A 18.1 and ASCE 21.

(c) All tests shall be performed by a licensed elevator mechanic.

(Source: P.A. 94-698, eff. 11-22-05; 95-573, eff. 8-31-07.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.

Effective Date: 8/11/2011