SB2303 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 10248 AAS 20322 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2303

Introduced 2/7/2025, by Sen. Michael E. Hastings

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

225 ILCS 317/62

Amends the Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act. Provides that any person, entity, or business that offers fire sprinkler contractor services under the Act without being licensed or exempt under the Act shall pay a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $50,000 (rather than $10,000) for each offense. Provides that, if any person, entity, or business commits a second offense within 24 months, the civil penalty shall be no less than $10,000 which shall be deposited into the Fire Prevention Fund. Provides that, if any person, entity, or business commits more than 2 offenses within 24 months, the civil penalty shall be no less than $25,000 which shall be deposited into the Fire Prevention Fund. Provides that any person who practices, offers to practice, attempts to practice, or holds himself or herself out to practice as a fire sprinkler inspector without being licensed or exempt under the Act shall pay a civil penalty not to exceed $50,000 (rather than $10,000) for each offense. Provides that, if any person commits a second offense within 24 months, the civil penalty shall be no less than $10,000 which shall be deposited into the Fire Prevention Fund. Provides that, if any person commits more than 2 offenses within 24 months, the civil penalty shall be no less than $25,000 which shall be deposited into the Fire Prevention Fund. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 5. The Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act is amended by changing Section 62 as follows:

(225 ILCS 317/62)

Sec. 62. Unlicensed practice; violation; civil penalty.

(a) Any person, entity, or business that offers fire sprinkler contractor services under this Act without being licensed or exempt under this Act shall, in addition to any other penalty provided by law, pay a civil penalty, which shall be deposited into the Fire Prevention Fund, in an amount not to exceed $50,000 $10,000 for each offense, as determined by the Office. If any person, entity, or business commits a second offense within 24 months, the civil penalty shall be no less than $10,000 which shall be deposited into the Fire Prevention Fund. If any person, entity, or business commits more than 2 offenses within 24 months, the civil penalty shall be no less than $25,000 which shall be deposited into the Fire Prevention Fund. The civil penalty shall be assessed by the Office after a hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of this Act regarding the provision of a hearing for the discipline of a licensee.

(b) Use of the title "fire sprinkler inspector" is limited to those individuals licensed under this Act. Any person who practices, offers to practice, attempts to practice, or holds himself or herself out to practice as a fire sprinkler inspector without being licensed or exempt under this Act shall, in addition to any other penalty provided by law, pay a civil penalty, which shall be deposited into the Fire Prevention Fund, in an amount not to exceed $50,000 $10,000 for each offense, as determined by the Office. If any person commits a second offense within 24 months, the civil penalty shall be no less than $10,000 which shall be deposited into the Fire Prevention Fund. If any person commits more than 2 offenses within 24 months, the civil penalty shall be no less than $25,000 which shall be deposited into the Fire Prevention Fund. The civil penalty shall be assessed by the Office after a hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of this Act regarding the provision of a hearing for the discipline of a licensee.

(c) The Office may investigate any actual, alleged, or suspected unlicensed activity.

(d) 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 final judgment and may be filed and execution had thereon in the same manner as any judgment from any court of record.

(Source: P.A. 102-612, eff. 8-27-21.)

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