HB0880enr 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0880 Enrolled LRB096 10402 ASK 20572 b

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 5. The Professional Geologist Licensing Act is amended by changing Sections 15, 20, 35, and 50 and by adding Section 17 as follows:

(225 ILCS 745/15)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2016)

Sec. 15. Definitions. In this Act:

"Board" means the Board of Licensing for Professional Geologists.

"Department" means the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

"Director" means the Director of Professional Regulation.

"Geologist" means an individual who, by reason of his or her knowledge of geology, mathematics, and the physical and life sciences, acquired by education and practical experience as defined by this Act, is capable of practicing the science of geology.

"Geology" means the science that includes the treatment of the earth and its origin and history including, but not limited to, (i) the investigation of the earth's crust and interior and the solids and fluids, including all surface and underground waters, gases, and other materials that compose the earth as they may relate to geologic processes; (ii) the study of the natural agents, forces, and processes that cause changes in the earth; and (iii) the utilization of this knowledge of the earth and its solids, fluids, and gases, and their collective properties and processes, for the benefit of humankind.

"Person" or "individual" means a natural person.

"Practice of professional geology" means the performance of, or the offer to perform, the services of a geologist, including consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, mapping, inspection of geologic work, and other services that require extensive knowledge of geologic laws, formulas, principles, practice, and methods of data interpretation.

A person shall be construed to practice or offer to practice professional geology, within the meaning and intent of this Act, if that person (i) by verbal claim, sign, advertisement, letterhead, card, or any other means, represents himself or herself to be a professional geologist or through the use of some title implies that he or she is a professional geologist or is licensed under this Act or (ii) holds himself or herself out as able to perform or does perform services or work defined in this Act as the practice of professional geology.

Examples of the practice of professional geology include, but are not limited to, the conduct of, or responsible charge for, the following types of activities: (i) mapping, sampling, and analysis of earth materials, interpretation of data, and the preparation of oral or written testimony regarding the probable geological causes of events; (ii) planning, review, and supervision of data gathering activities, interpretation of geological data gathered by direct and indirect means, preparation of geological maps, cross-sections, interpretive maps and reports for the purpose of evaluating regional or site specific geological conditions; (iii) the planning, review, and supervision of data gathering activities and interpretation of data on regional or site specific geological characteristics affecting groundwater; (iv) the interpretation of geological conditions on the surface and at depth at a specific site on the Earth's surface for the purpose of determining whether those conditions correspond to a geologic map of the site; and (v) the conducting of environmental property audits.

"Licensed professional geologist" means an individual who is licensed under this Act to engage in the practice of professional geology in Illinois.

"Responsible charge" means the independent control and direction, by use of initiative, skill, and independent judgment, of geological work or the supervision of that work.

"Secretary" means the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation.

(Source: P.A. 89-366, eff. 7-1-96.)

(225 ILCS 745/17 new)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2016)

Sec. 17. References to Department or Director of Professional Regulation. References in this Act (i) to the Department of Professional Regulation are deemed, in appropriate contexts, to be references to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and (ii) to the Director of Professional Regulation are deemed, in appropriate contexts, to be references to the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation.

(225 ILCS 745/20)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2016)

Sec. 20. Exemptions. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to restrict the use of the title "geologist" or similar words by any person engaged in a practice of geology exempted under this Act, provided the person does not hold himself or herself out as being a licensed professional geologist or does not practice professional geology in a manner requiring licensure under this Act. Performance of the following activities does not require licensure as a licensed professional geologist under this Act:

(a) The practice of professional geology by an employee or a subordinate of a licensee under this Act, provided the work does not include responsible charge of geological work and is performed under the direct supervision of a licensed professional geologist who is responsible for the work.

(b) The practice of professional geology by officers and employees of the United States government within the scope of their employment.

(c) The practice of professional geology as geologic research to advance basic knowledge for the purpose of offering scientific papers, publications, or other presentations (i) before meetings of scientific societies, (ii) internal to a partnership, corporation, proprietorship, or government agency, or (iii) for publication in scientific journals, or in books.

(d) The teaching of geology in schools, colleges, or universities, as defined by rule.

(e) The practice of professional geology exclusively in the exploration for or development of energy resources or base, precious and nonprecious minerals, including sand, gravel, and aggregate, that does not require, by law, rule, or ordinance, the submission of reports, documents, or oral or written testimony to public agencies. Public agencies may, by law or by rule, allow required oral or written testimony, reports, permit applications, or other documents based on the science of geology to be submitted to them by persons not licensed under this Act. Unless otherwise required by State or federal law, public agencies may not require that the geology-based aspects of testimony, reports, permits, or other documents so exempted be reviewed by, approved, or otherwise certified by any person who is not a licensed professional geologist. Licensure is not required for the submission and review of reports or documents or the provision of oral or written testimony made under the Well Abandonment Act, the Illinois Oil and Gas Act, the Surface Coal Mining Land Conservation and Reclamation Act, or the Surface-Mined Land Conservation and Reclamation Act.

(f) The practice of professional engineering as defined in the Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989.

(g) The practice of structural engineering as defined in the Structural Engineering Practice Act of 1989.

(h) The practice of architecture as defined in the Illinois Architecture Practice Act of 1989.

(i) The practice of land surveying as defined in the Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act of 1989.

(j) The practice of landscape architecture as defined in the Illinois Landscape Architecture Act of 1989.

(k) The practice of professional geology for a period not to exceed 9 months by any person pursuing a course of study leading to a degree in geology from an accredited college or university, as set forth in this Act and as established by rule, provided that (i) such practice constitutes a part of a supervised course of study, (ii) the person is under the supervision of a geologist licensed under this Act, and (iii) the person is designated by a title that clearly indicates his or her status as a student or trainee.

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

(225 ILCS 745/35)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2016)

Sec. 35. Board of Licensing for Professional Geologists; members; qualifications; duties.

(a) The Director shall appoint a Board of Licensing for Professional Geologists which shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Director. The Board shall be composed of 8 persons, 7 of whom shall be voting members appointed by the Director, who shall give due consideration to recommendations by members of the profession of geology and of geology organizations within the State. In addition, the State Geologist or his or her designated representative, shall be an advisory, non-voting member of the Board.

(b) Insofar as possible, the geologists appointed to serve on the Board shall be generally representative of the occupational and geographical distribution of geologists within this State.

(c) Of the 7 appointed voting members of the Board, 6 shall be geologists and one shall be a member of the general public with no family or business connection with the practice of geology.

(d) Each of the first appointed geologist members of the Board shall have at least 10 years of active geological experience and shall possess the education and experience required for licensure. Each subsequently appointed geologist member of the Board shall be a professional geologist licensed under this Act.

(e) Of the initial appointments, the Director shall appoint 3 voting members for a term of 4 years, 2 voting members for a term of 3 years, and 2 voting members for a term of 2 years. Thereafter, voting members shall be appointed for 4-year terms. Terms shall commence on the 3rd Monday in January.

(f) Members shall hold office until the expiration of their terms or until their successors have been appointed and have qualified.

(g) No voting member of the Board shall serve more than 2 consecutive full terms.

(h) Vacancies in the membership of the Board shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term.

(i) The Director may remove or suspend any member of the Board for cause at any time before the expiration of his or her term.

(j) The Board shall annually elect one of its members as chairperson.

(k) The members of the Board shall be reimbursed for all legitimate and necessary expenses authorized by the Department incurred in attending the meetings of the Board.

(l) The Board may make recommendations to the Director to establish the examinations and their method of grading.

(m) The Board may submit written recommendations to the Director concerning formulation of rules and a Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics. The Board may recommend or endorse revisions and amendments to the Code and to the rules from time to time.

(n) The Board may make recommendations on matters relating to continuing education of licensed professional geologists, including the number of hours necessary for license renewal, waivers for those unable to meet that requirement, and acceptable course content. These recommendations shall not impose an undue burden on the Department or an unreasonable restriction on those seeking a license renewal.

(o) Four voting Board members constitutes a quorum. A quorum is required for all Board decisions.

(Source: P.A. 89-366, eff. 7-1-96.)

(225 ILCS 745/50)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2016)

Sec. 50. Qualifications for licensure.

(a) The Department may issue a license to practice as a licensed professional geologist to any applicant who meets the following qualifications:

(1) The applicant has completed an application form and paid submitted the required fees.

(2) The applicant is of good ethical character, including compliance with the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics under this Act, and has not committed any act or offense in any jurisdiction that would constitute the basis for disciplining a professional geologist licensed under this Act.

(3) The applicant has earned a degree in geology from an accredited college or university, as established by rule, with a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of course credits in geology, of which 24 semester or 36 quarter hours are in upper level courses. The Department may, upon the recommendation of the Board, allow the substitution of appropriate experience as a geologist for prescribed educational requirements as established by rule.

(4) The applicant has a documented record of a minimum of 4 years of professional experience, obtained after completion of the education requirements specified in this Section, in geologic or directly related work, demonstrating that the applicant is qualified to assume responsible charge of such work upon licensure as a professional geologist or such specialty of professional geology that the Board may recommend and the Department may recognize. The Department may require evidence acceptable to it that up to 2 years of professional experience have been gained under the supervision of a person licensed under this Act or similar Acts in any other state, or under the supervision of others who, in the opinion of the Department, are qualified to have responsible charge of geological work under this Act.

(5) The applicant has passed an examination authorized by the Department for the practice of professional geology.

(6) The applicant has complied with all other requirements of this Act and rules established for the implementation of this Act.

(b) A license to practice professional geology shall not be denied any applicant because of the applicant's race, religion, creed, national origin, political beliefs or activities, age, sex, sexual orientation, or physical impairment.

(Source: P.A. 89-366, eff. 7-1-96.)

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