HB4740 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 37653 SPS 67780 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB4740

Introduced 2/6/2024, by Rep. Laura Faver Dias

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 1505/1505-225 new

Amends the Department of Labor Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, no later than 180 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Director of Labor, in collaboration with the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, shall adopt rules to establish a procedure to protect the health and safety of employees of this State or employees of employers who contract with this State who are exposed to unhealthy or hazardous amounts of particulate matter air pollution. Sets forth the minimum standards for the procedures and exceptions. 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 5. The Department of Labor Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 1505-225 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1505/1505-225 new)

Sec. 1505-225. Air quality standards for employees.

(a) As used in this Section, "Air Quality Index" or "AQI" means a measurement of air quality developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an indicator of overall air quality based on the criteria pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act, including ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.

(b) No later than 180 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, the Director, in collaboration with the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, shall adopt rules to establish a procedure to protect the health and safety of employees of this State or employees of employers who contract with this State who are exposed to unhealthy or hazardous amounts of particulate matter air pollution. The procedures shall, at a minimum:

(1) require an employer of an employee exposed to air with an AQI of 101 through 250 to:

(A) assess and monitor air quality at each work location where employees are exposed;

(B) provide and document employee training;

(C) implement a 2-way communication system; and

(D) provide NIOSH-approved filtering facepiece respirators for voluntary use; and

(2) require an employer of an employee exposed to air with an AQI of 250 or above, in addition to the procedures described in paragraph (1), provide NIOSH-approved filtering facepiece respirators for mandatory use and provide employees training in the proper wear, storage, and disposal of the respirator, including how to check the respirator's seal.

(c) The procedures described in subsection (b) shall not apply to:

(1) employees working in enclosed buildings, structures, and vehicles in which air is filtered by a mechanical ventilation system and exterior openings are kept closed except when it is necessary to briefly open doors to enter or exit;

(2) employers that have predetermined to suspend operations to prevent employee exposure to air with an AQI of 101 or above;

(3) employees working at home;

(4) employees assisting in firefighting operations or other emergency operations; and

(5) employees whose work activities involve exposure of less than 15 minutes per hour to air with an AQI of 101 or above for a total exposure of less than one hour in a single 24-hour period.

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