SB1339eng 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1339 Engrossed LRB096 10741 ASK 20927 b

AN ACT concerning professional regulation.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act is amended by changing Sections 3.5 and 4.5 as follows:

(225 ILCS 335/3.5)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2016)

Sec. 3.5. Examination.

(a) The Department shall authorize examinations for applicants for initial licenses at the time and place it may designate. The examinations shall be of a character to fairly test the competence and qualifications of applicants to act as roofing contractors. Each applicant for limited licenses shall designate a qualifying party who shall take an examination, the technical portion of which shall cover residential roofing practices. Each applicant for an unlimited license shall designate a qualifying party who shall take an examination, the technical portion of which shall cover residential, commercial, and industrial roofing practices.

(b) An applicant for a limited license or an unlimited license or a qualifying party designated by an applicant for a limited license or unlimited license shall pay, either to the Department or the designated testing service, a fee established by the Department to cover the cost of providing the examination. Failure of the individual scheduled to appear for the examination on the scheduled date at the time and place specified after his or her application for examination has been received and acknowledged by the Department or the designated testing service shall result in forfeiture of the examination fee.

(c) A person who has a license as described in subsection (1.5) of Section 3 is exempt from the examination requirement of this Section, so long as (1) the license continues to be valid and is renewed before expiration and (2) the person is not newly designated as a qualifying party after July 1, 2003. The qualifying party for an applicant for a new license must have passed an examination authorized by the Department before the Department may issue a license.

(d) The application for a license as a corporation, business trust, or other legal entity submitted by a sole proprietor who is currently licensed under this Act and exempt from the examination requirement of this Section shall not be considered an application for initial licensure for the purposes of this subsection (d) if the sole proprietor is named in the application as the qualifying party and is the sole owner of the legal entity. Upon issuance of a license to the new legal entity, the sole proprietorship license is terminated.

The application for initial licensure as a partnership, corporation, business trust, or other legal entity submitted by a currently licensed partnership, corporation, business trust, or other legal entity shall not be considered an application for initial licensure for the purposes of this subsection (d) if the entity's current qualifying party is exempt from the examination requirement of this Section, that qualifying party is named as the new legal entity's qualifying party, and the majority of ownership in the new legal entity remains the same as the currently licensed entity. Upon issuance of a license to the new legal entity under this subsection (d), the former license issued to the applicant is terminated.

(e) An applicant has 3 years after the date of his or her application to complete the application process. If the process has not been completed within 3 years, the application shall be denied, the fee shall be forfeited, and the applicant must reapply and meet the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.

(Source: P.A. 95-303, eff. 1-1-08.)

(225 ILCS 335/4.5)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2016)

Sec. 4.5. Duties of qualifying party; replacement; grounds for discipline.

(a) While engaged as or named as a qualifying party for a licensee, no person may be the named qualifying party for any other licensee. However, the person may act in the capacity of the qualifying party for one additional licensee of the same type of licensure if one of the following conditions exists:

(1) There is a common ownership of at least 25% of each licensed entity for which the person acts as a qualifying party.

(2) The same person acts as a qualifying party for one licensed entity and its licensed subsidiary.

"Subsidiary" as used in this Section means a corporation of which at least 25% is owned by another licensee.

(b) In the event that a qualifying party is terminated or terminating his or her status as qualifying party of a licensee, the qualifying party and the licensee shall notify the Department of that fact in writing. Thereafter, the licensee shall notify the Department of the name and address of the newly designated qualifying party. The newly designated qualifying party must take the examination prescribed in Section 3.5 of this Act. These requirements shall be met in a timely manner as established by rule of the Department.

(c) A qualifying party that is accepted by the Department shall have the authority to act for the licensed entity in all matters connected with its roofing contracting business and to supervise roofing installation operations. This authority shall not be deemed to be a license for purposes of this Act.

(d) Designation of a qualifying party by an applicant under Section 3 is subject to acceptance by the Department. The Department may refuse to accept a qualifying party (i) for failure to qualify as required under this Act and the rules adopted under this Act or (ii) after making a determination that the designated party has a history of acting illegally, fraudulently, incompetently, or with gross negligence in the roofing or construction business.

(e) The Department may, at any time after giving appropriate notice and the opportunity for a hearing, suspend or revoke its acceptance of a qualifying party designated by a licensee for any act or failure to act that gives rise to any ground for disciplinary action against that licensee under Section 9.1 or 9.6 of this Act. If the Department suspends or revokes its acceptance of a qualifying party, the license of the licensee shall be deemed to be suspended until a new qualifying party has been designated by the licensee and accepted by the Department.

If acceptance of a qualifying party is suspended or revoked for action or inaction that constitutes a violation of this Act or the rules adopted under this Act, the Department may in addition take such other disciplinary or non-disciplinary action as it may deem proper, including imposing a fine on the qualifying party, not to exceed $10,000 for each violation.

All administrative decisions of the Department under this subsection (e) are subject to judicial review pursuant to Section 9.7 of this Act. An order taking action against a qualifying party shall be deemed a final administrative decision of the Department for purposes of Section 9.7 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 91-950, eff. 2-9-01.)

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