State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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90_HB0061ham001

                                             LRB9005074DPcwam
 1                     AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 61
 2        AMENDMENT NO.     .  Amend House Bill 61 by replacing the
 3    title with the following:
 4        "AN ACT concerning the regulation of electricians."; and
 5    by replacing everything after the enacting  clause  with  the
 6    following:
 7        "Section  1.  Short  title.  This Act may be cited as the
 8    Electrician Licensing Act.
 9        "Section 5.  Purpose and policy.  It has been established
10    by documented evidence that improper  electrical  wiring  can
11    adversely  affect  the  well  being  of the public.  Improper
12    electrical wiring can cause fires due to short  circuits  and
13    overloading   of   protection   devices.   Faulty  wiring  is
14    potentially  lethal  and  can  cause  widespread  fires  with
15    disastrous consequences to persons and property.  To  protect
16    the  health  of  the  public  it is essential that electrical
17    wiring  be  installed  by  persons  who  have  proven   their
18    understanding,  ability,  and  skill in installing electrical
19    wiring.
20        Consistent with its duty to safeguard the health  of  the
21    people  of  this  State,  the  General Assembly declares that
                            -2-              LRB9005074DPcwam
 1    individuals  who  plan,  inspect,  install,  alter,   extend,
 2    repair,  and  maintain  electrical  wiring  systems  shall be
 3    individuals of proven skill.  Further, the  General  Assembly
 4    declares  that  a  guide  for  minimum  control of electrical
 5    materials and equipment, the design  of  electrical  systems,
 6    and  the  construction and installation methods of electrical
 7    systems is essential for the protection of public health.  In
 8    order to insure proper electrical wiring practice,  this  Act
 9    provides  for  the  licensing  of electricians and electrical
10    contractors and for the adoption of the  National  Electrical
11    Code  as  standards  by the Department. This Act is therefore
12    declared to be essential to the public interest.
13        Section 10.  Definitions. As used in this Act:
14        "Approved    apprenticeship    program"     means     any
15    apprenticeship   program   registered   with   the   Illinois
16    Department of Public Health.
17        "Board"  means  the  Illinois  State  Board of Electrical
18    Examiners.
19        "Department" means  the  Illinois  Department  of  Public
20    Health.
21        "Director" means the Director of Public Health.
22        "Electrical   contractor"   means   a  person,  firm,  or
23    corporation operating a business that undertakes or offers to
24    undertake to complete, organize for, supervise, or install or
25    to make additions, alterations, maintenance,  or  repairs  in
26    the  installation  of  wiring,  apparatus  or  equipment  for
27    electric  light,  heat, or power with or without compensation
28    and who is  licensed  as  an  electrical  contractor  by  the
29    Department.   An  electrical contractor's license does not of
30    itself qualify its holder  to  perform  the  electrical  work
31    authorized  by  holding  any  class of electrician's license.
32    "Electrical contractor" shall not include  any  manufacturing
33    corporation  having  2000  or  more employees that engages in
                            -3-              LRB9005074DPcwam
 1    activities described in  this  paragraph  incidental  to  the
 2    operation or maintenance of its own business and facilities.
 3        "Governmental  unit"  means a city, village, incorporated
 4    town, or county.
 5        "Journeyman  electrician"  means  a  person  having   the
 6    necessary qualifications, training, experience, and technical
 7    knowledge   to   wire  for,  install,  maintain,  and  repair
 8    electrical wiring, apparatus, and equipment who  is  licensed
 9    as  a  journeyman  electrician  by  the  Department of Public
10    Health.
11        "Master electrician" means a person having the  necessary
12    qualifications, training, experience, and technical knowledge
13    to  install,  maintain,  and repair and to properly complete,
14    organize,  and  supervise   the   installation   of   wiring,
15    apparatus,  and equipment for electric light, heat, and power
16    who is licensed as a master electrician by the Department  of
17    Public Health.
18        "Owner"  means  a  natural person who physically performs
19    electrical work on premises  the  person  owns  and  actually
20    occupies  as  a  residence  or  owns  and  will  occupy  as a
21    residence upon completion of construction.
22        "Registered apprentice" means a  person  registered  with
23    the  United  States  Department  of  Public Health, Bureau of
24    Apprenticeship Training who is learning the trade  under  the
25    supervision of a licensed electrician.
26        "Residential  electrician"  means  a  person  having  the
27    necessary qualifications, training, experience, and technical
28    knowledge  involving  the  construction,  wiring, alteration,
29    maintenance, or repair of single family houses  or  apartment
30    buildings and who is licensed as a residential electrician by
31    the Department.
32        "Supervision"  means  any  new  electrical work done by a
33    registered apprentice electrician must be inspected at  least
34    once  after  initial  rough-in and once upon completion by an
                            -4-              LRB9005074DPcwam
 1    Illinois licensed electrician.  In addition, all  renovation,
 2    alteration,  repair, extension, modification, and maintenance
 3    work done  by  a  registered  apprentice  electrician  on  an
 4    existing  electrical  system  must be approved by an Illinois
 5    licensed electrician.
 6        Section 15.  Board of Electrical Examiners.
 7        (a)  There  is  created  the  Illinois  State  Board   of
 8    Electrical Examiners which shall exercise its duties provided
 9    in  this  Act  under  the supervision of the Department.  The
10    Board shall consist of 11 members appointed by the  Director.
11    The   Board   shall   be   composed   of  3  licensed  master
12    electricians, 3 licensed electrical contractors, one licensed
13    electrical engineer, one electrical inspector employed  on  a
14    full-time basis by a government entity, one representative of
15    a public utility, the State Fire Marshal, and a member of the
16    general public.  In making the appointments to the Board, the
17    Director  shall  consider the recommendations of individuals,
18    firms,  or  organizations  involved  in   electrical   wiring
19    installation  in  this State. The Director shall further take
20    into consideration the minority makeup of the population  and
21    appoint  minorities in proportion. Members of the Board shall
22    serve 4 year terms and until their successors  are  appointed
23    and  qualified.   The initial appointments, however, shall be
24    as follows: 3 members for terms of 2 years, 3 members  for  3
25    years,  and  4  members for 4 years. The State Fire Marshal's
26    service on the Board shall be continuous. Board members shall
27    receive no compensation but shall be reimbursed for  expenses
28    incurred in connection with their duties as Board members.
29        (b)  The  Board shall aid the Director and the Department
30    by:
31             (1)  Preparing subject matter  for  examinations  as
32        provided in this Act.
33             (2)  Suggesting  rules  to  govern  examinations and
                            -5-              LRB9005074DPcwam
 1        hearing for suspension, revocation, or  reinstatement  of
 2        licenses.
 3             (3)  Submitting recommendations to the Director from
 4        time  to  time  for  the efficient administration of this
 5        Act.
 6             (4)  Performing  other  duties  from  time  to  time
 7        prescribed by the Director.
 8        Section 20.  Powers and  duties  of  the  Director.   The
 9    Director shall:
10        (a)  Prepare  forms  for  application for examination for
11    master, journeyman, and residential licenses.
12        (b)  Prepare and issue licenses as provided in this Act.
13        (c)  With the aid  of  the  Board,  prescribe  rules  and
14    regulations   for   examination  of  applicants  for  master,
15    journeyman, and residential licenses.
16        (d)  With the aid of the Board, prepare and give  uniform
17    and  comprehensive  examinations  to  applicants  for master,
18    journeyman, and residential licenses that  shall  test  their
19    knowledge,  and  qualifications in the planning and design of
20    electrical  systems,  their  knowledge,  qualifications,  and
21    manual  skills  in  electrical   installations,   and   their
22    knowledge   of  the  National  Electrical  Code  relating  to
23    materials, design, and installation of methods of  electrical
24    systems.
25        (e)  All  tests  shall be given, administered, and graded
26    by State employees in a manner that does not  compromise  the
27    integrity of the Act.
28        (f)  Issue  master,  journeyman, and residential licenses
29    and license renewals to every applicant who  has  passed  the
30    examination and who has paid the required license and renewal
31    fee.
32        (g)  Prescribe  rules  for  hearings  to  deny,  suspend,
33    revoke, or reinstate licenses as provided in this Act.
                            -6-              LRB9005074DPcwam
 1        (h)  Maintain  a current record showing (i) the names and
 2    addresses of licensed  master,  journeyman,  and  residential
 3    electricians  and  registered  apprentices; (ii) the dates of
 4    issuance of licenses; (iii) the date and  substance  for  the
 5    charges  set  forth in any hearing for denial, suspension, or
 6    revocation of any license; (iv) the date and substance of the
 7    final order issued upon a  hearing;  and  (v)  the  date  and
 8    substance  of  all petitions for reinstatement of license and
 9    final orders on petitions.
10        (i)  Establish and  collect  fees  for  the  examination,
11    issuance, and renewal of licenses.
12        (j)  Provide   for   the  inspection  of  new  electrical
13    installations  in  construction,   remodeling,   replacement,
14    maintenance, and repair work.
15        (k)  Establish  and  collect  fees  for  the handling and
16    inspection of new electrical installations.
17        (l)  Formulate and publish rules necessary or appropriate
18    to carrying out the provisions of this Act.
19        Section 25.  Licenses.
20        (a)  Master electrician.  Except as otherwise provided by
21    law, no person shall  complete,  organize,  install,  repair,
22    maintain,  lay  out, or supervise the installation of wiring,
23    apparatus, or equipment for electrical light, heat, or  power
24    unless the person is:
25             (1)  licensed   by   the   Department  as  a  master
26        electrician; and
27             (2)  the  work  is   for   a   licensed   electrical
28        contractor  and  the  person  is  the licensed electrical
29        contractor or an employee, partner,  or  officer  of  the
30        licensed  electrical contractor, or the work is performed
31        for  the  person's  employer  on  electrical   equipment,
32        apparatus,  or facilities owned or leased by the employer
33        that is located within the limits of  property  owned  or
                            -7-              LRB9005074DPcwam
 1        leased, operated, and maintained by the employer.
 2        An applicant for a master electrician's license shall (i)
 3    have a Bachelor of Science degree from an approved electrical
 4    engineering  program;  (ii)  have  had  at  least  one year's
 5    experience,  acceptable  to  the  Director,  as  a   licensed
 6    journeyman;  (iii)  have  had  at  least  5 years experience,
 7    acceptable to the Director,  in  organizing  for,  directing,
 8    completing, supervising, and installing wiring, apparatus, or
 9    equipment for electrical light, heat, and power; or (iv) have
10    had  at least 6 years experience, acceptable to the Director,
11    with  an  electrical  contracting  company   in   organizing,
12    estimating, directing, completing, and supervising, under the
13    supervision   of   a   licensed   master   electrician,   the
14    installation of electrical work for electric light, heat, and
15    power.
16        (b)  Journeyman   electrician.    Except   as   otherwise
17    provided by law, no person shall wire for, install, maintain,
18    or  repair electrical wiring, apparatus, or equipment, unless
19    the person is licensed by  the  Department  as  a  journeyman
20    electrician  employed  by  a  licensed electrical contractor.
21    Nothing in this subsection (b),  however,  shall  prohibit  a
22    master  electrician  from performing the work of a journeyman
23    electrician.
24        An applicant for a journeyman electrician's license shall
25    have had at least 5 years of experience,  acceptable  to  the
26    Director, in wiring for, installing, and repairing electrical
27    wiring, apparatus, or equipment. The Department, however, may
28    by  rule  or regulation provide for the allowance of one year
29    of experience credit for successful completion of  a  2  year
30    post high school electrical course approved by the Board. The
31    Director   shall  accept  as  the  necessary  experience  the
32    successful completion of an approved apprenticeship  training
33    program,  provided  the    applicant  has  completed  4 years
34    experience with one or more licensed contractors.
                            -8-              LRB9005074DPcwam
 1        (c)  Apprentices.  Any person may work as  an  apprentice
 2    to  a  licensed  electrician  who  is enrolled in an approved
 3    program, but shall do no electrical wiring except  under  the
 4    on-the-job supervision of a licensed electrician.
 5        (d)  Residential   electrician.    Except   as  otherwise
 6    provided by law, no  person  shall  construct,  wire,  alter,
 7    maintain,   or  repair  single  family  houses  or  apartment
 8    buildings unless the person is licensed by the Department  as
 9    a  residential  electrician employed by a licensed electrical
10    contractor. Nothing in this subsection  (d),  however,  shall
11    prohibit  a master electrician or journeyman electrician from
12    performing the work of a residential electrician.
13        An applicant  for  a  residential  electrician's  license
14    shall  have had at least 3 years of experience, acceptable to
15    the  Director,  in  having  the   necessary   qualifications,
16    training  and technical knowledge involving the construction,
17    wiring, alteration, or repair  of  single  family  houses  or
18    apartment  buildings. The Department, however, may by rule or
19    regulation  provide  for  the  allowance  of  one   year   of
20    experience  credit for successful completion of a 2 year post
21    high school electrical course  approved  by  the  Board.  The
22    Director shall accept as the necessary 3 years experience the
23    successful  completion  of an approved apprenticeship program
24    provided the applicant has completed 3 years experience  with
25    one or more licensed contractors.
26        (e)  Contractors.   Except  as otherwise provided by law,
27    no person other than an employee  of  a  licensed  electrical
28    contractor   as   defined  in  this  Act  or  employee  of  a
29    manufacturing corporation having 2000 or more employees  that
30    engages   in  the  activities  of  an  electrical  contractor
31    incidental  to  the  operation  or  maintenance  of  its  own
32    business and facilities shall undertake or offer to undertake
33    to organize for, direct, complete, supervise, or  install  or
34    to   make   additions,   alterations,   or   repairs  in  the
                            -9-              LRB9005074DPcwam
 1    installation  of,  or  to  maintain,  wiring  apparatus   and
 2    equipment  for  electrical  light,  heat,  or  power  with or
 3    without compensation unless the person obtains an  electrical
 4    contractor's  license.   An  electrical  contractor's license
 5    shall be issued  by  the  Department  upon  the  contractor's
 6    giving  bond  to  the  State  in  the  penal  sum  of  $5,000
 7    conditioned  upon  the faithful and lawful performance of all
 8    work entered into by  the  contractor  within  the  State  of
 9    Illinois.  The  bond  shall  be  for  the  benefit of persons
10    injured or suffering financial loss by reason of  failure  of
11    performance.  The bond shall be filed with the Department and
12    shall  be in lieu of all other license bonds to any political
13    subdivision.  The bond shall be written by a corporate surety
14    licensed to do business in the State of Illinois.
15        Each  licensed  electrical  contractor  shall  have   and
16    maintain in effect general liability insurance, that includes
17    premises  and operations insurance and products and completed
18    operations insurance, with limits of at  least  $100,000  per
19    occurrence,  $300,000  aggregate limit for bodily injury, and
20    property damage insurance with limits of at least $25,000  or
21    a  policy  with a single limit for bodily injury and property
22    damage of $300,000  per  occurrence  and  $300,000  aggregate
23    limits.   The  insurance  shall  be  written  by  an  insurer
24    licensed  to  do  business  in the State of Illinois and each
25    licensed electrical contractor shall maintain  on  file  with
26    the   Department  a  certificate  evidencing  insurance  that
27    provides that the insurance shall not  be  cancelled  without
28    the  insurer  first  giving  15  days  written  notice to the
29    Department of the cancellation.
30        No contractor shall engage in business unless he  or  she
31    is or has in his or her employ a licensed master electrician,
32    who   shall   be  responsible  for  the  performance  of  all
33    electrical work in accordance with the requirements  of  this
34    Act.    When an electrical contractor's license is held by an
                            -10-             LRB9005074DPcwam
 1    individual, partnership, or corporation and  the  individual,
 2    one  of  the  partners,  or  an  officer  of the corporation,
 3    respectively, is not the responsible  master  electrician  of
 4    record,  all  requests  for inspection shall be signed by the
 5    responsible master electrician of  record.   The  application
 6    for   an  electrical  contractor's  license  must  include  a
 7    verified statement that  the  designated  responsible  master
 8    electrician  is  a  full  time  employee  of  the individual,
 9    partnership,  or  corporation  applying  for  an   electrical
10    contractor's  license.   For purposes of this Section, a full
11    time employee of  a  licensed  electrical  contractor  is  an
12    individual  who is not employed in any capacity as a licensed
13    electrician by any other electrical contractor.
14        Section   30.  Examination.    In   addition   to   other
15    requirements imposed by this  Act  and  except  as  otherwise
16    provided  in  this  Act,  as a precondition to issuance of an
17    electrician's license, each applicant  must  pass  a  written
18    examination  given  by the Department for the type of license
19    sought  to  insure  the  competence  of  each  applicant  for
20    license.  No person failing an examination may retake it  for
21    6 months, but may, within 6 months, take an examination for a
22    lesser  grade  of license.  Any licensee failing to renew his
23    or her license for 2 years or more after its expiration shall
24    be required to retake the examination before  he  or  she  is
25    issued a new license.
26        Section 35.  Experience requirements.
27        (a)  Except   as   otherwise   provided   for   a  master
28    electrician's license under Section 25, an applicant  for  an
29    electrician's  license shall meet the experience requirements
30    of this Section before examination for licensure.
31        (b)  The  maximum   allowable   credit   for   electrical
32    experience:
                            -11-             LRB9005074DPcwam
 1             (1)  before age 16 is 6 months;
 2             (2)  in the military service is 12 months;
 3             (3)  in foreign countries is 12 months; and
 4             (4)  acquired  during the school term of an approved
 5        post high school electrical course is one.
 6        (c)  Experience in the categories of organizing  for  the
 7    installation  of  wiring, apparatus, and equipment for light,
 8    heat and power; directing for  the  installation  of  wiring,
 9    apparatus,   and   equipment  for  light,  heat,  and  power;
10    supervising  the  installation  of  wiring,  apparatus,   and
11    equipment   for  light,  heat,  and  power,  and  wiring  and
12    installing electrical wiring, apparatus,  and  equipment  for
13    light,  heat,  and power is acceptable to the Director in the
14    following situations:
15             (1)  Experience while in the employ of an electrical
16        contractor licensed under this Act.
17             (2)  Experience while working  in  Illinois  for  an
18        employer  who  is  not  required  to  be  licensed  as an
19        electrical contractor, if the work is inspected and  done
20        under the supervision of a properly licensed electrician.
21             (3)  Experience  while performing electrical work in
22        Illinois for an employer who  is  exempt  from  licensing
23        when  the work is exempt from inspection or when the work
24        is performed on federal property by a  federal  employee,
25        if the Department has determined in either situation that
26        the experience is substantially equal to that acquired in
27        performing  work  while  in  the  employ  of  a  licensed
28        electrical contractor.
29             (4)  Experience  while  performing  electrical  work
30        outside  of Illinois, which the Department has determined
31        is substantially equivalent to the work  performed  while
32        in  the  employ  of  a  licensed electrical contractor in
33        Illinois.   This  determination  must  be  based   on   a
34        certification  by  the  employer  for  the  type  of work
                            -12-             LRB9005074DPcwam
 1        performed.
 2        Section  40.  Military  and  government  exemption.   The
 3    Department shall reinstate a license  that  expires  while  a
 4    licensee  is in active Military Service or government service
 5    of the United States upon application to  the  Department  by
 6    the licensee within 2 years after termination of the military
 7    service  or government service, payment of the annual license
 8    fee, and submission of evidence of the  military  service  or
 9    government  service.  The license shall be reinstated without
10    examination and without payment of the lapsed renewal fee.
11        Section 45.  License  and  renewal  fees.   All  licenses
12    issued  under  this  Act shall expire annually in a manner as
13    provided by the Department.  Fees, as set by the  Department,
14    shall  be  payable  for  examination  for,  and  issuance and
15    renewal of, all licenses under this Act.
16        Section  50.  Denial,  suspension,  and   revocation   of
17    licenses.  The Department may by order deny, suspend, revoke,
18    or refuse to renew a license, or may censure a licensee if it
19    finds that it is in the public interest to do so and that the
20    applicant or licensee:
21        (a)  has  filed  an  application  for  a  license that is
22    incomplete in any material respect or contains any  statement
23    that,  in  light of the circumstances under which it is made,
24    is false or misleading with respect to any material fact;
25        (b)  has  engaged  in  any  fraudulent,   deceptive,   or
26    dishonest practice;
27        (c)  has  been  convicted  within  the  past 5 years of a
28    misdemeanor involving a violation of this Act; or
29        (d)  has violated or failed to comply with  this  Act  or
30    its  rules  or  any order issued under this Act.  A violation
31    need not be willful.
                            -13-             LRB9005074DPcwam
 1        The Department may adopt  rules  further  specifying  and
 2    defining  actions  and  omissions that constitute fraudulent,
 3    deceptive, or dishonest practices, and establishing standards
 4    of conduct for licensees.
 5        Section  55.  Grounds  for  suspension  of  license.  The
 6    Department may temporarily suspend a license and call  for  a
 7    hearing when findings show one or more of the following:
 8        (a)  That  the licensee obtained or conspired with others
 9    to obtain a license by inducing the issuance of  the  license
10    in  consideration  of the payment of money or delivery of any
11    other thing of value or by and through  misrepresentation  of
12    facts.
13        (b)  That the licensee willfully violated any law of this
14    State  or any rules, regulation or code regulating electrical
15    wiring installations, licensed  electricians,  or  registered
16    apprentice electricians.
17        (c)  That  the  licensee has been guilty of negligence or
18    incompetence in the performance of installation of electrical
19    wiring.
20        (d)  That the  licensee  has  loaned  or  in  any  manner
21    transferred his or her license to another person.
22        If  a  license is suspended or revoked, the license shall
23    be surrendered to the Department but it shall be returned  to
24    the licensee upon the termination of the suspension period.
25        The  Department  may  refuse  to issue or may suspend the
26    license of any person who fails (i) to file a return, (ii) to
27    pay the tax, penalty or interest shown in a filed return,  or
28    (iii)  to  pay  any  final  assessment  of  tax,  penalty  or
29    interest,  as  required  by  any  tax Act administered by the
30    Illinois  Department  of  Revenue,   until   the   time   the
31    requirements of the tax Act are satisfied.
32        Section  60.  Continuation  of business by estates.  Upon
                            -14-             LRB9005074DPcwam
 1    the death of  a  master  electrician  who  is  an  electrical
 2    contractor,   the   Department   may  permit  the  decedent's
 3    representative to carry on the business of the decedent for a
 4    period not  in  excess  of  6  months,  for  the  purpose  of
 5    completing  work  under  contract or otherwise to comply with
 6    this Act.  The representative shall  give  any  bond  as  the
 7    Department  may  require  conditioned  upon  the faithful and
 8    lawful performance of the work.  The bond shall  be  for  the
 9    benefit  of  persons  injured  or suffering financial loss by
10    reason of failure of performance.  The bond shall be  written
11    by a corporate surety licensed to do business in the State of
12    Illinois.   The  decedent's  representative shall also comply
13    with all  public  liability  and  property  damage  insurance
14    requirements  imposed  by this Act upon a licensed electrical
15    contractor.  The decedent's heirs shall have option of hiring
16    a replacement master electrician and obtaining a contractor's
17    license.
18        Section 65.  Reciprocity.  To the extent that  any  other
19    state   that  provides  for  the  licensing  of  electricians
20    provides for similar  action,  the  Department  may  grant  a
21    license,  without examination, of the same grade and class to
22    an electrician who has been licensed by any other  state  for
23    at  least  one  year,  upon  payment  by the applicant of the
24    required fee and upon the  Department  being  furnished  with
25    proof  that  the qualifications of the applicant are equal to
26    the  qualifications  of  holders  of  similar   licenses   in
27    Illinois.
28        Section 70.  Exemptions for licensing.
29        (a)  Employees  of  any  manufacturing corporation having
30    2000 or more employees or of a municipal or  railway  utility
31    shall  not  be  required  to  hold a license under any of the
32    following conditions:
                            -15-             LRB9005074DPcwam
 1             While performing work on  installations,  materials,
 2        or  equipment  that  are  owned  or leased, operated, and
 3        maintained by the manufacturing corporation  having  2000
 4        or  more  employees, in the exercise of its manufacturing
 5        function, and that  (i)  are  used  exclusively  for  the
 6        generation,  transformation,  distribution, transmission,
 7        or metering of electric  current,  or  the  operation  of
 8        railway  signals, or the transmission of intelligence and
 9        do not have as a principal function  the  consumption  or
10        use  of  electric  current  by  or for the benefit of any
11        person other than the  manufacturing  corporation  having
12        2000  or more employees and (ii) are generally accessible
13        only to employees of the manufacturing corporation having
14        2000 or more employees.
15        (b)  An owner shall not be required to hold or  obtain  a
16    license   under  this  Act.   Nevertheless,  electrical  work
17    performed by an owner shall comply with the minimum standards
18    contained in  the  National  Electrical  Code  and  shall  be
19    subject  to inspection by the Department.  An owner shall not
20    employ anyone other than an electrician licensed  under  this
21    Act to assist him or her.
22        (c)  Any  city,  village,  or  incorporated town having a
23    population of 500,000 or more may, by an ordinance containing
24    provisions substantially the same as those in  this  Act  and
25    specifying  educational or experience requirements equivalent
26    to those prescribed in  the  Act,  provide  for  a  board  of
27    electrical  examiners  to  conduct  examinations  for, and to
28    issue, suspend, or revoke, electricians' licenses within  the
29    city  village  or  incorporated  town.  Upon the enactment of
30    such an ordinance, the provisions of this Act shall not apply
31    within that municipality except as otherwise provided in this
32    Act.  Any person licensed as an  electrician  under  a  local
33    ordinance,  or licensed by the Department under this Act, may
34    engage in electrical wiring  installation  anywhere  in  this
                            -16-             LRB9005074DPcwam
 1    State.
 2        (d)  Nothing  in  this  Act shall be construed to prevent
 3    the practice of  architecture  as  defined  in  the  Illinois
 4    Architecture   Practice  Act  of  1989  or  the  practice  of
 5    professional  engineering  as  defined  in  the  Professional
 6    Engineering  Practice  Act  of  1989  or  the   practice   of
 7    structural   engineering   as   defined   in  the  Structural
 8    Engineering Licensing Act of 1989.
 9        (e)  Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent an
10    owner or operator of a farm from installing, making additions
11    to, altering, maintaining, or repairing wiring, apparatus, or
12    equipment for electric light, heat, or power on the farm that
13    he or she owns or operates.  For purposes of this subsection,
14    "farm" means land or a building appurtenant to land  that  is
15    used  for  an agricultural purpose or for a purpose accessory
16    to an agricultural purpose.
17        Section   75.  Governmental    units.     No    municipal
18    corporation   or   political   subdivision  shall  engage  in
19    electrical work unless the electrical work  is  performed  by
20    one  or more licensed electricians or apprentice electricians
21    under  the   supervision   of   licensed   electricians.    A
22    governmental  unit may, however, contract for electrical work
23    with any person authorized to engage in  electrical  work  in
24    this State.
25        Section  80.  Display  of license.  Persons who advertise
26    electrical wiring services shall, at their place of business,
27    display the master electrician's  license  of  at  least  one
28    member of the firm, partnership or officer of the corporation
29    and  shall  maintain a register listing the names and license
30    numbers of  all  licensed  electricians  and  all  registered
31    apprentices  currently  employed  by  them.  When advertising
32    electrical  wiring  services  the  license  number  shall  be
                            -17-             LRB9005074DPcwam
 1    included in all forms of written or printed  advertising  and
 2    included   with   the  electrical  wiring  identification  of
 3    vehicles.  The Department may, by rule or regulation, require
 4    additional information concerning licensed  electricians  and
 5    registered apprentices maintained in the register.
 6        Section  85.  Safety  standards.   All electrical wiring,
 7    apparatus and equipment for electric light,  heat  and  power
 8    shall comply with the rules and regulations of the Department
 9    of   Public   Health  as  applicable,  and  be  installed  in
10    conformity with accepted standards of construction for safety
11    to life and property.  For the  purposes  of  this  Act,  the
12    regulations  and safety standards stated at the time the work
13    is done in the then most recently published  edition  of  the
14    National  Electrical  Code  as  adopted  by the National Fire
15    Protection Association, Inc. and  approved  by  the  American
16    National  Standards  Institute,  and  the National Electrical
17    Safety Code as published by the Institute of  Electrical  and
18    Electronics  Engineers,  Inc.  and  approved  by the American
19    National Standards Institute, shall be prima  facie  evidence
20    of  accepted standards of construction for safety to life and
21    property.  In  the  event  an  Illinois  building   code   is
22    formulated   containing   approved   methods   of  electrical
23    construction for safety to life and property, compliance with
24    the methods of electrical construction  of  that  code  shall
25    also  constitute  compliance  with  this Section.  Nothing in
26    this Act shall prohibit any political subdivision from making
27    and enforcing more stringent requirements than set  forth  in
28    this Act and those requirements shall be complied with by all
29    licensed electricians working within the jurisdiction of that
30    political subdivision.
31        Section 90.  Inspections.
32        (a)  Required  inspection.   Except  where  any political
                            -18-             LRB9005074DPcwam
 1    subdivision  has  by  ordinance   provided   for   electrical
 2    inspection  similar  to  that provided in this Act, every new
 3    electrical  installation  in  any  construction,  remodeling,
 4    replacement, or repair, except minor repair work  as  defined
 5    by  the  Department by rule or regulation, shall be inspected
 6    by the Department for compliance with accepted  standards  of
 7    construction for safety to life and property.
 8        All  inspectors for the Department shall hold licenses as
 9    master or journeyman electricians under this Act.
10        (b)  Procedure.  (1) At or  before  commencement  of  any
11        installation  required to be inspected by the Department,
12        the   electrical   contractor   or   owner   making   the
13        installation shall submit to the Department a request for
14        inspection, in  a  form  prescribed  by  the  Department,
15        together with the fees required for the installation.
16             (2)  The  fees  required  are  a handling fee and an
17        inspection fee.  The handling fee shall  be  set  by  the
18        Department  in  an  amount  sufficient to pay the cost of
19        bringing and handling the form requesting an  inspection.
20        The  inspection  fee shall be set by the Department in an
21        amount  sufficient  to  pay  the  actual  costs  of   the
22        inspection  and  the  Department's costs in administering
23        the inspection.
24             (3)  If the inspector finds that the installation is
25        not in compliance with accepted standards of construction
26        for safety to life and property as required by this  Act,
27        the   inspector   shall  by  written  order  condemn  the
28        installation  or  the   noncomplying   portion   of   the
29        installation,   or  order  service  to  the  installation
30        disconnected, and shall send a copy of the order  to  the
31        Department.  If the installation or the noncomplying part
32        will  seriously  and  proximately endanger human life and
33        property, the order of the inspector,  when  approved  by
34        the   inspector's   superior,   shall  require  immediate
                            -19-             LRB9005074DPcwam
 1        condemnation or disconnection.  In all other  cases,  the
 2        order   of   the  inspector  shall  permit  a  reasonable
 3        opportunity for  the  installation  to  be  brought  into
 4        compliance  with  accepted  standards of construction for
 5        safety to life and property prior to the  effective  time
 6        established for condemnation or disconnection.
 7             (4)  Copies  of  each  condemnation or disconnection
 8        order shall be served personally  or  by  mail  upon  the
 9        property  owner, the electrical contractor or electrician
10        making  the  installation,  and  other  persons  as   the
11        Department   by   rule  or  regulation  may  direct.   An
12        aggrieved  party   may   appeal   any   condemnation   or
13        disconnection  order  by  filing  with  the  Department a
14        notice of appeal within 10 days after  (i)  service  upon
15        the  aggrieved party of the condemnation or disconnection
16        order, if this service is required or (ii) filing of  the
17        order  with  the  Department,  whichever  is  later.  The
18        Department shall adopt rules providing procedures for the
19        conduct  of appeals, including provisions for the stay of
20        enforcement of the order  of  the  inspector  pending  an
21        appeal when justified by the circumstances.
22             (5)  The inspectors of the Department shall have the
23        authority  to  enter  any  building  or  premises  at any
24        reasonable hour in the discharge  of  their  duties,  and
25        they  shall  have  the authority when necessary, to order
26        the removal of any existing obstructions such  as  laths,
27        plastering,  boarding,  or  partitions that may prevent a
28        proper inspection of the electrical installation.
29        (c)  Duty   of   electrical   utility.    No   electrical
30    installation subject to inspection by the Department shall be
31    newly connected or reconnected for use until there is  filed,
32    with the electrical utility supplying power, a certificate of
33    the property owner or licensed electrician directing the work
34    that inspection has been requested and that the conditions of
                            -20-             LRB9005074DPcwam
 1    the  installation  are  safe  for energization.  In all cases
 2    where an order of  condemnation  or  disconnection  has  been
 3    issued   against   the   installation  or  any  part  of  the
 4    installation, prior  to  connection  or  reconnection,  there
 5    shall  also  first  be  filed  with  the  electrical  utility
 6    supplying  the  power  a copy of an order of the inspector or
 7    the Department dismissing the prior order of condemnation  or
 8    disconnection  or  approving  the  installation  as  being in
 9    compliance with accepted standards of construction for safety
10    to life and property.  With respect  to  transient  projects,
11    this  certificate shall also contain a certification that the
12    request for inspection has been or will  be  filed  with  the
13    Department  so  as to be received by it at least 5 days prior
14    to the date and time energization of the installation by  the
15    utility  is  to  occur,  and  that the request for inspection
16    states the date and time.  It shall be the responsibility  of
17    the  Department  to  have inspection of the transient project
18    occur prior to the date and time at which the request  states
19    energization is to occur.
20        (d)  Powers  of  political  subdivisions.   Any political
21    subdivision may make provision for inspection  of  electrical
22    installations within its jurisdiction, in which case it shall
23    keep  on  file  with  the  Department  copies  of its current
24    inspection ordinances and codes.  Any  political  subdivision
25    may require any individual, partnership, corporation or other
26    business association holding a license from the Department to
27    pay  any  license,  registration fee, or permit fees provided
28    however,  that  any  political  subdivision  may  provide  by
29    ordinance a requirement that  each  individual,  partnership,
30    corporation  or  other  business association doing electrical
31    work within the jurisdiction  of  the  political  subdivision
32    have  on  file  with  the political subdivision a copy of the
33    current license issued by the Department or other evidence of
34    the license as may  be  provided  by  the  Department.   Each
                            -21-             LRB9005074DPcwam
 1    electrical  inspector of any political subdivision shall be a
 2    licensed master or journeyman electrician under this Act.
 3        (e)  Exemptions   from    inspections.     Installations,
 4    materials, or equipment shall not be subject to inspection in
 5    any of the following situations:
 6             (1)  When  owned or leased, operated, and maintained
 7        by any manufacturing  corporation  having  2000  or  more
 8        employees  or  a  railway  utility in the exercise of its
 9        utility or manufacturing function and that:
10                  (A)  are used exclusively for  the  generation,
11             transformation,   distribution,   transmission,   or
12             metering  of  electric  current,  the  operation  of
13             railway    signals,    or    the   transmission   of
14             intelligence,  and  do  not  have  as  a   principal
15             function  the consumption or use of electric current
16             by or for the benefit of any person other  than  the
17             manufacturing   corporation   having  2000  or  more
18             employees;
19                  (B)  are generally accessible only to employees
20             of the manufacturing corporation having 2000 or more
21             employees or persons acting  under  its  control  or
22             direction; and
23                  (C)  are not on the load side of the meter.
24             (2)  When  used in the street lighting operations of
25        an electric utility.
26             (3)  When used as outdoor area lights that are owned
27        and  operated  by  an  electric  utility  and  which  are
28        connected directly to its distribution system and located
29        upon the utility's  distribution  poles,  and  which  are
30        generally accessible only to employees of such utility or
31        persons acting under its control or direction.
32        Section   95.  Order   of   suspension.    An   order  of
33    suspension, revocation, or reinstatement of a license, or  of
                            -22-             LRB9005074DPcwam
 1    dismissal  of a complaint or petition, or a certified copy of
 2    an order, over the seal of the Department and  purporting  to
 3    be signed by the Director shall be prima facie proof that:
 4        (a)  The   signature   is  a  genuine  signature  of  the
 5    Director.
 6        (b)  The Director is duly appointed and qualified.
 7        (c)  The Board and the Members are qualified to act.
 8        Section  100.  Manufacturing  of  electrical   apparatus;
 9    exemption.  Electrical  components,  apparatus, or appliances
10    being manufactured within the  limits  of  property  that  is
11    owned  or  leased  by  a  manufacturer and the manufacturer's
12    production employees  shall  not  be  covered  by  this  Act.
13    Installation  or repair of electrical appliance units, except
14    (i) electrical wiring to the unit, or (ii) original wiring in
15    or on the unit installed outside the limits of property which
16    is owned or leased by a manufacturer shall not be covered  by
17    this Act.
18        Section 105.  Violations.
19        (a)  Any  person  violating  any provision of this Act or
20    its rules or  regulations  shall  be  guilty  of  a  Class  B
21    misdemeanor  and  fined  a  minimum  of  $100  for  the first
22    offense.  A second or subsequent violation of this Act  shall
23    be  a  Class  A misdemeanor with a minimum fine of $200. Each
24    day a violation continues constitutes a separate offense. The
25    State's  Attorney  of  the  County  in  which  the  violation
26    occurred  or  the  Attorney  General  shall  prosecute  these
27    actions in the name of the People of the State  of  Illinois.
28    The  court  may  enjoin  the  use of electricity installed in
29    violation of this Act or its rules or  regulations  until  it
30    has  been  corrected  to  comply with the National Electrical
31    Code.
32        (b)  If it is established that the defendant, contrary to
                            -23-             LRB9005074DPcwam
 1    this Act, has been engaging, is  engaging,  or  is  about  to
 2    engage  in  electrical  work  without  having  been  issued a
 3    license, or has been  engaging  or  is  about  to  engage  in
 4    electrical  work  after his or her license has been suspended
 5    or revoked or after his or her license has not been  renewed,
 6    the  Court  may  enter  a  decree  perpetually  enjoining the
 7    defendant from further engaging in electrical  work  contrary
 8    to  this Act. In case of a violation of any injunction issued
 9    under this Section, the Court may summarily  try  and  punish
10    the  offender  for contempt of court.  Injunction proceedings
11    shall be in addition to, and not in lieu  of,  all  penalties
12    and other remedies in this Act.
13        Section 110.  Uniform Electrical Violation Citation.
14        (a)  Citation  authorized.  The  Department  may  issue a
15    citation for violations  of  this  Act  and  its  rules,  and
16    ordinances of political subdivisions. The citation must be in
17    a form as provided in this Section.
18        (b)  Form of citation. The Department shall prescribe the
19    detailed  form  of an electrical violation citation and shall
20    revise the citation as it considers necessary and  proper  to
21    keep the citation in conformity with the Department's rules.
22        (3)  Political  subdivision  may  alter form of ticket. A
23    political subdivision that has made provision for  inspection
24    of  electrical  installations within its jurisdiction may use
25    or alter by deletion or  addition  the  electrical  violation
26    citation adopted by the Department under this Section.
27        Section  115.  Electricians  practicing  before this Act.
28    Electrical contractors who are in the business on January  1,
29    1998  and  who file a license application with the Department
30    within one year after the effective date of this Act shall be
31    granted a license which shall be valid for one year from  the
32    date  of  issuance. These licenses shall be subject to annual
                            -24-             LRB9005074DPcwam
 1    renewal as provided in this  Act.   All  master,  journeymen,
 2    residential  journeymen,  and apprentices in the contractor's
 3    employ shall also be granted their respective licenses.
 4        Persons who are engaged in performing electrical work  as
 5    defined in this Act on January 1, 1998 and who file a license
 6    application  with  the  Department  within one year after the
 7    effective date of this Act shall be granted a  license  which
 8    shall  be valid for one year from the date of issuance. These
 9    licenses shall be subject to annual renewal  as  provided  in
10    this  Act.   Nothing  in  this Act shall forbid an electrical
11    contractor from employing more than one master electrician.
12        Section 120.  Administrative Procedure Act;  application.
13    The  provisions  of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
14    are expressly adopted and shall apply to  all  administrative
15    rules and procedures of the Department of Public Health under
16    this   Act,   except   that   Section   5   of  the  Illinois
17    Administrative  Procedure  Act  relating  to  procedures  for
18    rulemaking does  not  apply  to  the  adoption  of  any  rule
19    required   by  federal  law  in  connection  with  which  the
20    Department  is  precluded  by   law   from   exercising   any
21    discretion.
22        Section 125.  Review under Administrative Review Law. All
23    final administrative decisions of the Director under this Act
24    shall  be subject to judicial review under the Administrative
25    Review Law and its rules.
26        Section 130.  Home rule. Except as provided in Section 70
27    of this Act, a home rule unit may not regulate the  licensing
28    of  electricians  and  electrical  contractors  in  a  manner
29    inconsistent with the regulation by the State of electricians
30    and  electrical  contractors.    This Section is a limitation
31    under subsection (i) of Section  6  of  Article  VII  of  the
                            -25-             LRB9005074DPcwam
 1    Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule
 2    units of powers and functions exercised by the State.
 3        Section  135.  Severability.   The provisions of this Act
 4    are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
 5        Section 175.  The Regulatory Agency Sunset Act is amended
 6    by adding Section 4.18 as follows:
 7        (5 ILCS 80/4.18 new)
 8        Sec. 4.18. Act repealed on January 1, 2008. The following
 9    Act is repealed on January 1, 2008:
10        The Electrician Licensing Act.
11        (65 ILCS 5/11-33-1 rep.)
12        Section 195. The Illinois Municipal Code  is  amended  by
13    repealing Section 11-33-1.
14        Section  999.  Effective date. This Act takes effect July
15    1, 1998.".

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