Public Act 1137 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB4245 Enrolled LRB102 21906 SPS 31027 b

Public Act 102-1137

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Plumbing License Law is amended by changing Sections 2.5 and 29.5 as follows:

(225 ILCS 320/2.5)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2024)

Sec. 2.5. Irrigation contractors; lawn sprinkler systems.

(a) Every irrigation contractor doing business in this State shall annually register with the Department. Every irrigation contractor shall provide to the Department his or her business name and address, telephone number, name of principal, FEIN number, and an original certificate of insurance documenting that the irrigation contractor carries general liability insurance with a minimum of $100,000 per occurrence, bodily injury insurance with a minimum of $300,000 per occurrence, property damage insurance with a minimum of $50,000, and worker's compensation insurance with a minimum of $500,000. No registration may be issued in the absence of the certificate of insurance. The certificate must be in force at all times for registration to remain valid.

On a form provided by the Department, every irrigation contractor must provide to the Department an indemnification bond in the amount of $20,000 or an irrevocable letter of credit from a financial institution guaranteeing that funds shall be available only to the Department and shall be released upon written notification by the Department in the same amount for any work on lawn sprinkler systems performed by the registered irrigation contractor. The letter of credit shall be printed on the letterhead of the issuing financial institution, be signed by an officer of the same financial institution, name the Department as the sole beneficiary, and expire on February 28 of each year.

Every irrigation contractor doing business in this State shall also register with the Department each and every employee who installs or supervises the installation of lawn sprinkler systems. The registration shall include the employee's name, home address, and telephone number. The Department may provide by rule for the administration of registrations under this subsection. The annual registration fee shall be set by the Department pursuant to Section 30 of this Act. Each registered irrigation contractor must provide proof that he or she employs at least one irrigation employee who has completed and passed an approved class in the design and installation of lawn sprinkler systems.

(b) A licensed plumber or licensed apprentice plumber may install a lawn sprinkler system connected to any water source without registration under this Section.

(c) A licensed plumber shall inspect every sprinkler system installed by an irrigation contractor to ensure the provisions of this Section have been met and that the system works mechanically. The inspecting A licensed plumber shall make the physical connection between a lawn sprinkler system and the backflow prevention device. The inspecting licensed plumber shall inspect every aspect of the sprinkler system, including all piping, fittings, and heads, to ensure the provisions of this Section have been met.

Upon the installation of every lawn sprinkler system in this State from the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly forward, a licensed plumber shall affix to the backflow prevention device a tag certifying that the installation of that system has been completed in compliance with the minimum code of plumbing standards promulgated under this Act. The Department shall provide by rule for the registration of every lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly, including the means by which the Department shall be able to identify by registration number the identity of the responsible irrigation contractor and by license number the identity of the responsible licensed plumber. No lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly may be operated without the certification tag required under this Section.

The registered irrigation contractor and the licensed plumber whose identifying information is contained on the certification tag shall both be subject to the penalty provisions of this Act for violations for improper installation of a lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly.

(d) An irrigation contractor who has registered with the Department 7 or fewer persons who are authorized to install or supervise the installation of lawn sprinkler systems shall either employ or contract with at least one licensed plumber who shall install or be responsible for the installation of every lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. The licensed plumber shall inspect the risers and sprinkler heads before backfilling.

An irrigation contractor who has registered with the Department 8 to 12 persons who are authorized to install or supervise the installation of lawn sprinkler systems shall either employ or contract with at least 2 licensed plumbers who shall install or be responsible for the installation of every lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. A licensed plumber shall inspect the risers and sprinkler heads before backfilling.

An irrigation contractor who has registered with the Department 13 to 20 persons who are authorized to install or supervise the installation of lawn sprinkler systems shall either employ or contract with at least 3 licensed plumbers who shall install or be responsible for the installation of every lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. A licensed plumber shall inspect the risers and sprinkler heads before backfilling.

An irrigation contractor who has registered with the Department 21 to 28 persons who are authorized to install or supervise the installation of lawn sprinkler systems shall either employ or contract with at least 4 licensed plumbers who shall install or be responsible for the installation of every lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. A licensed plumber shall inspect the risers and sprinkler heads before backfilling.

An irrigation contractor who has registered with the Department 29 to 35 persons who are authorized to install or supervise the installation of lawn sprinkler systems shall either employ or contract with at least 5 licensed plumbers who shall install or be responsible for the installation of every lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. A licensed plumber shall inspect the risers and sprinkler heads before backfilling.

An irrigation contractor who has registered with the Department 36 or more persons who are authorized to install or supervise the installation of lawn sprinkler systems shall either employ or contract with at least 6 licensed plumbers who shall install or be responsible for the installation of every lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. A licensed plumber shall inspect the risers and sprinkler heads before backfilling.

The Department may provide by rule for the temporary waiver process for registered irrigation contractors who are unable to comply with the requirements of this subsection. When a temporary waiver is granted, it shall not be for a duration of more than 3 consecutive months. Upon the expiration of a temporary waiver issued by the Department, the registered irrigation contractor shall demonstrate that justifiable reasons exist why he or she is still unable to comply with the requirements of this subsection, despite good faith efforts to comply with the requirements. In no case shall a temporary waiver be granted for an irrigation contractor for more than a total of 6 months in a 2-year two-year period. In no case shall an irrigation contractor be relieved of the requirement that a licensed plumber shall inspect every sprinkler system installed by an irrigation contractor to ensure the provisions of this Section have been met and that the system works mechanically and make the physical connection between a sprinkler system and the backflow prevention device.

(e) No person shall attach to a lawn sprinkler system any fixture intended to supply water for human consumption.

No person shall attach to a lawn sprinkler system any fixture other than the backflow prevention device, sprinkler heads, valves, and other parts integral to the operation of the system, unless the fixture is clearly marked as being for non-potable uses only.

(f) A college, university, trade school, vocational school, or association that has established a program providing a course of instruction in lawn sprinkler design and installation may submit a letter to the Department requesting approval of its program or course of instruction.

The request for approval shall include information on the curriculum offered by the program and the qualifications of the organization. The course shall consist of a minimum of 2 days of classroom education and an exam and shall include a provision for continuing education.

The Department shall evaluate the curriculum and organization before making a determination to approve or deny a request for approval.

In addition to providing to the Department the names of licensed plumbers who are employed by or contract with an irrigation contractor, an irrigation contractor must also provide to the Department the names of employees who have successfully completed an approved course on the installation of lawn sprinkler systems and proof that the course was successfully completed and that continuing education is also being completed.

(g) All automatically operated lawn sprinkler systems shall have furnished and installed technology that inhibits or interrupts operation of the landscape irrigation system during periods of sufficient moisture or rainfall. The technology must be adjustable either by the end user or the irrigation contractor.

This subsection (g) does not apply to systems operating on golf courses or agricultural lands.

The requirements of this subsection (g) apply to all landscape irrigation systems installed after January 1, 2009.

(Source: P.A. 94-101, eff. 1-1-08; 95-421, eff. 1-1-09.)

(225 ILCS 320/29.5)

Sec. 29.5. Unlicensed and unregistered practice; violation; civil penalties.

(a) A person who practices, offers to practice, attempts to practice, or holds himself or herself out to practice as a plumber or plumbing contractor without being licensed or registered 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 $5,000 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 or registrant.

(b) The Department has the authority and power to investigate any person who practices, offers to practice, attempts to practice, or holds himself or herself out to practice as a plumber or plumbing contractor without being licensed or registered under this Act, or as an irrigation contractor without being registered under this Act.

(c) 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 on the judgment in the same manner as a judgment from a court of record. All fines and penalties collected by the Department under this Section of the Act and accrued interest shall be deposited into the Plumbing Licensure and Program Fund for use by the Department in performing activities relating to the administration and enforcement of this Act.

(d) A person who practices, offers to practice, or holds himself or herself out to practice as an irrigation contractor without being registered under this Act shall be subject to the following:

(1) For a first offense:

(A) Where no violations of the Illinois Plumbing Code are found, the person shall pay a civil penalty of $1,000 and may be referred to the State's Attorney or the Attorney General for prosecution under Section 29 of this Act.

(B) Where violations of the Illinois Plumbing Code are found, the person shall pay a civil penalty of $3,000 (the amount of $3,000 may be reduced to $1,000 upon the condition that the unregistered person pays for a licensed plumber who is acceptable to the other party to the original contract or agreement to correct the violations of the Illinois Plumbing Code) and may be referred to the State's Attorney or the Attorney General for prosecution under Section 29 of this Act.

(2) For a second offense:

(A) Where no violations of the Illinois Plumbing Code are found, the person shall pay a civil penalty of $3,000 and may be referred to the State's Attorney or the Attorney General for prosecution under Section 29 of this Act.

(B) Where violations of the Illinois Plumbing Code are found, the person shall pay a civil penalty of $5,000 (the amount of $5,000 may be reduced to $3,000 upon the condition that the unregistered person pays for a licensed plumber who is acceptable to the other party to the original contract or agreement to correct the violations of the Illinois Plumbing Code) and may be referred to the State's Attorney or the Attorney General for prosecution under Section 29 of this Act.

(3) For a third or subsequent offense, the person shall pay a civil penalty of $5,000 and be referred to the State's Attorney or the Attorney General for prosecution under Section 29 of this Act.

(e) A registered irrigation contractor, firm, corporation, partnership, or association that directs, authorizes, or allows a person to practice, offer to practice, attempt to practice, or hold himself or herself out to practice as an irrigation employee without being registered under the provisions of this Act, shall be subject to the following:

(1) For a first offense, the registrant:

(A) shall pay a civil penalty of $10,000 $5,000;

(B) shall be required to pay for a licensed plumber who is acceptable to the other party to the original contract or agreement to correct any violations of the Illinois Plumbing Code;

(C) shall have his, her, or its plumbing license suspended; and

(D) may be referred to the State's Attorney or the Attorney General for prosecution under Section 29 of this Act.

(2) For a second offense, the registrant:

(A) shall pay a civil penalty of $10,000 $5,000;

(B) shall be required to pay for a licensed plumber who is acceptable to the other party to the original contract or agreement to correct any violations of the Illinois Plumbing Code;

(C) shall have his, her, or its registration revoked; and

(D) shall be referred to the State's Attorney or the Attorney General for prosecution under Section 29 of this Act.

(f) If the inspecting licensed plumber does not inspect every sprinkler system installed by an irrigation contractor to ensure the provisions of this Act have been met and that the system works mechanically or signs off on the installation without making the physical connection between a lawn sprinkler system and the backflow prevention device, the licensed plumber:

(1) shall pay a civil penalty of $10,000;

(2) shall be required to pay for a licensed plumber who is acceptable to the other party to the original contract or agreement to correct any violations of the Act;

(3) shall have his, her, or its plumbing license suspended; and

(4) may be referred to the State's Attorney or the Attorney General for prosecution under Section 29 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 94-101, eff. 1-1-08.)

Effective Date: 1/1/2024