(225 ILCS 225/10.5)

Sec. 10.5. Advisory Commission.

(a) There is hereby created the Advisory Commission on Private Sewage Disposal, which shall consist of 17 members to be appointed from time to time by the Director. Of the initial appointments, 5 members shall be appointed to serve a one-year term, 5 members to serve a 2-year term, and 7 members to serve a 3-year term. The Advisory Commission shall be comprised of at least one representative of each of the following: the Illinois Public Health Association, the Home Builders Association of Illinois, the Illinois Association of Realtors, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Illinois Environmental Health Association, the Onsite Wastewater Professionals of Illinois, Inc., the Illinois Association of Local Environmental Health Administrators, the Illinois Precast Concrete Association, the Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association, the Illinois Soil Classifier Association, and the Illinois Onsite Wastewater Association. The Director shall appoint one member to serve as chairperson.

(b) The Advisory Commission shall advise and aid the Director in:

(1) reviewing and suggesting changes to the State code developed under Section 7, including but not limited to proposing performance-based standards for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of private sewage disposal systems;

(2) propose methods for funding private sewage disposal services and for reimbursement of units of local government for expenses incurred in administering this Act as agents of the State;

(3) examining the need for more stringent licensing requirements under this Act, including but not limited to an apprenticeship program as a condition of original licensure and the issuance of advanced skill licenses;

(4) developing continuing education requirements for persons licensed under this Act;

(5) considering the need for continuing testing programs for private sewage disposal systems;

(6) developing a research and development program to examine private sewage disposal issues that affect public health and examining funding options for the program;

(7) developing a training center to educate all persons interested in learning more about on-site sewage disposal and to work with universities to provide that education;

(8) developing an experimental use permit program to set criteria for testing and reviewing new systems or innovative systems or devices and to consider oversight of this program by the Advisory Commission;

(9) examining the need for a uniform State license to install, construct, maintain, or operate systems or to pump, haul, or dispose of septage without the need for a license from a unit of local government; and

(10) performing other duties from time to time on the request of the Director.

(c) The Advisory Commission shall submit an annual report to the Director regarding its findings and recommendations under subsection (b).

(d) Members of the Advisory Commission may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties under this Act.

(e) Members of the Advisory Commission shall be immune from suit in any action based on an act performed in good faith as a member of the Advisory Commission.

(f) The Advisory Commission shall meet at least semi-annually.

(g) A State officer, department, board, agency, division, or commission or a unit of local government may provide a service to the Advisory Commission that is (1) requested by the Advisory Commission and (2) within the scope of the person's or entity's governmental functions as established by law.

(Source: P.A. 90-151, eff. 7-23-97.)