(410 ILCS 45/9) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1309)

Sec. 9. Procedures upon determination of lead hazard.

(1) If the inspection report identifies a lead hazard, the Department or delegate agency shall serve a mitigation notice on the property owner that the owner is required to mitigate the lead hazard, and shall indicate the time period specified in this Section in which the owner must complete the mitigation. The notice shall include information describing mitigation activities which meet the requirements of this Act.

(2) If the inspection report identifies a lead hazard, the owner shall mitigate the lead hazard in a manner prescribed by the Department and within the time limit prescribed by this Section. The Department shall adopt rules regarding acceptable methods of mitigating a lead hazard. If the source of the lead hazard identified in the inspection report is lead paint or any other lead-bearing surface coating, the lead hazard shall be deemed to have been mitigated if:

(A) the surface identified as the source of the lead hazard is no longer in a condition that produces a hazardous level of lead chips, flakes, dust or any other form of lead-bearing substance, that can be ingested or inhaled by humans;

(B) the surface identified as the source of the lead hazard is no longer accessible to children and could not reasonably be chewed on by children; or

(C) the surface coating identified as the source of the lead hazard is either removed or covered, or child access to the lead-bearing surface is otherwise prevented as prescribed by the Department.

(3) Mitigation activities which involve the destruction or disturbance of any lead-bearing surface shall be conducted by a licensed lead abatement contractor using licensed lead abatement supervisors or lead abatement workers. The Department may prescribe by rule mitigation activities that may be performed without a licensed lead abatement contractor, lead abatement supervisor, or lead abatement worker. The Department may, on a case by case basis, grant a waiver of the requirement to use licensed lead abatement contractors, lead abatement supervisors, and lead abatement workers, provided the waiver does not endanger the health or safety of humans.

(4) The Department shall establish procedures whereby an owner, after receiving a mitigation notice under this Section, may submit a mitigation plan to the Department or delegate agency for review and approval.

(5) When a mitigation notice is issued for a dwelling unit inspected as a result of an elevated blood lead level in a pregnant person or a child, or if the dwelling unit is occupied by a child 6 years of age or younger or a pregnant person, the owner shall mitigate the hazard within 30 days of receiving the notice; when no such child or pregnant person occupies the dwelling unit, the owner shall complete the mitigation within 90 days.

(6) An owner may apply to the Department or its delegate agency for an extension of the deadline for mitigation. If the Department or its delegate agency determines that the owner is making substantial progress toward mitigation, or that the failure to meet the deadline is the result of a shortage of licensed lead abatement contractors, lead abatement supervisors, or lead abatement workers, or that the failure to meet the deadline is because the owner is awaiting the review and approval of a mitigation plan, the Department or delegate agency may grant an extension of the deadline.

(7) The Department or its delegate agency shall, after the deadline set for completion of mitigation, conduct a follow-up inspection of any dwelling unit for which a mitigation notice was issued for the purpose of determining whether the mitigation actions required have been completed and whether the activities have sufficiently mitigated the lead hazard as provided under this Section. The Department or its delegate agency may conduct a follow-up inspection upon the request of an owner or resident. If, upon completing the follow-up inspection, the Department or its delegate agency finds that the lead hazard for which the mitigation notice was issued is not mitigated, the Department or its delegate agency shall serve the owner with notice of the deficiency and a mitigation order. The order shall indicate the specific actions the owner must take to comply with the mitigation requirements of this Act, which may include lead abatement if lead abatement is the sole means by which the lead hazard can be mitigated. The order shall also include the date by which the mitigation shall be completed. If, upon completing the follow-up inspection, the Department or delegate agency finds that the mitigation requirements of this Act have been satisfied, the Department or delegate agency shall provide the owner with a certificate of compliance stating that the required mitigation has been accomplished.

(Source: P.A. 102-771, eff. 1-1-23.)