225 ILCS 729/ Petroleum Equipment Contractors Licensing Act.

(225 ILCS 729/1)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Petroleum Equipment Contractors Licensing Act.

(Source: P.A. 92-618, eff. 7-11-02.)

(225 ILCS 729/5)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 5. Definitions. For the purposes of this Act:

"Employee" means a person who is currently employed by a contractor licensed under this Act whose full or part-time duties include any activity specified in Section 35 of this Act.

"Licensee" means a person or business organization licensed in accordance with this Act.

"Person" means a natural person or any company, corporation, or other business entity.

"Petroleum equipment contractor" or "contractor" means a person, company, or corporation that installs, repairs, or removes underground storage tanks.

(Source: P.A. 97-428, eff. 8-16-11.)

(225 ILCS 729/10)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 10. Licensure requirement; injunction. Beginning 6 months after the effective date of this Act, no person, firm, association, or corporation shall act as a petroleum equipment contractor or employee, advertise or assume to act as a petroleum equipment contractor or employee, or use any title implying that the person, firm, association, or corporation is engaged in such practice or occupation, unless licensed by the State Fire Marshal.

The State Fire Marshal, in the name of the People, through the Attorney General, the State's Attorney of any county, any resident of the State, or any legal entity within the State may apply for injunctive relief in any court to enjoin a person who has not been issued a license or whose license has been suspended, revoked, or not renewed, from practicing as a petroleum equipment contractor, and, upon the filing of a verified petition, the court, if satisfied by affidavit or otherwise that the person is or has been practicing in violation of this Act, may enter a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction, without bond, enjoining the defendant from further activity. A copy of the verified complaint shall be served upon the defendant and the proceedings shall be conducted as in other civil cases. If it is established that the defendant has been, or is practicing in violation of this Act, the court may enter a judgment perpetually enjoining the defendant from any further unlicensed activity. In the case of violation of any injunctive order or judgment entered under the provisions of this Section, the court may summarily try and punish the offender for contempt of court. Such injunctive proceeding shall be in addition to all penalties and other remedies in this Act.

(Source: P.A. 92-618, eff. 7-11-02.)

(225 ILCS 729/15)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 15. Deposit of fees. All fees collected pursuant to this Act shall be deposited into the Fire Prevention Fund.

(Source: P.A. 92-618, eff. 7-11-02.)

(225 ILCS 729/25)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 25. Rules; report. The State Fire Marshal shall promulgate rules consistent with the provisions of this Act for the administration and enforcement of this Act and may prescribe forms that shall be issued in connection with the rules promulgated under this Act. The rules shall include standards and criteria for licensure, professional conduct, and discipline.

(Source: P.A. 97-428, eff. 8-16-11.)

(225 ILCS 729/30)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 30. Investigators. The State Fire Marshal may employ, in conformity with the Personnel Code, the professional, technical, investigative, or clerical help that may be necessary for the enforcement of this Act.

An investigator may not hold an active license issued pursuant to this Act or have any fiduciary interest in any business licensed under this Act. This prohibition does not prohibit the investigator from holding stock in a publicly traded business licensed or regulated under this Act, provided that the investigator does not hold more than 5% of a publicly traded corporation.

(Source: P.A. 97-428, eff. 8-16-11.)

(225 ILCS 729/35)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 35. Licensure qualifications and fees.

(a) Applicants for a license must submit to the Office all of the following:

(1) fees as established by the Office;

(2) evidence of current registration as an Illinois corporation or other business entity and, when applicable, evidence of compliance with the Assumed Business Name Act; if the corporation or business entity does not have evidence of current registration, such as a Secretary of State issued Certificate of Good Standing, the Office has the authority to deny or revoke the license of such a corporation or business entity;

(3) evidence of financial responsibility in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 through liability insurance, self-insurance, group insurance, group self-insurance, or risk retention groups that must include completed operations and environmental impairment; and

(4) evidence of compliance with the qualifications and standards established by the Office.

(b) The contractor must possess a license from the Office to perform the following types of activity:

(1) installation of underground storage tanks;

(2) repair of USTs, which shall include retrofitting and installation of cathodic protection systems;

(3) decommissioning of USTs including abandonment in place;

(4) relining of USTs;

(5) tank and piping tightness testing;

(6) testing of cathodic protection systems; and

(7) any other category established by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

(c) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 102-20, eff. 1-1-22.)

(225 ILCS 729/40)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 40. Application. Each application for a license to practice under this Act shall be electronically submitted or in writing and signed by the applicant on forms provided by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

(Source: P.A. 97-428, eff. 8-16-11.)

(225 ILCS 729/45)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 45. Issuance of license; renewal.

(a) The State Fire Marshal shall, upon the applicant's satisfactory completion of the requirements authorized under this Act, and upon receipt of the requisite fees, issue the appropriate license showing the name and business location of the licensee and the dates of issuance and expiration.

(b) Each licensee may apply for renewal of his or her license upon payment of the requisite fee. The expiration date and renewal period for each license issued under this Act shall be set by rule. Failure to renew by the expiration date shall cause the license to lapse. A lapsed license may not be reinstated until an application is filed, the renewal fee is paid, and a $50 reinstatement fee is paid. The renewal and reinstatement fees shall be waived for persons who did not renew while on active duty in the military and who file for renewal or restoration within one year after discharge from the active duty service.

(c) All fees paid pursuant to this Act are non-refundable. This shall not preclude the State Fire Marshal from refunding accidental overpayment of fees.

(Source: P.A. 102-20, eff. 1-1-22.)

(225 ILCS 729/50)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 50. Returned checks. Any person who on 2 occasions issues or delivers a check or other order to the State Fire Marshal that is not honored by the financial institution upon which it is drawn because of insufficient funds in his or her account, shall pay to the State Fire Marshal, in addition to the amount owing upon the check or other order, a fee of $50. If the check or other order was issued or delivered in payment of a renewal fee and the licensee whose license has lapsed continues to practice without paying the renewal fee and the $50 fee required under this Section, an additional fee of $100 shall be imposed for practicing without a current license. The State Fire Marshal shall notify the licensee whose license has lapsed within 30 days after the discovery by the State Fire Marshal that the licensee is practicing without a current license, that the person is acting as a petroleum equipment contractor or employee, as the case may be, without a license, and the amount due to the State Fire Marshal, which shall include the lapsed renewal fee and all other fees required by this Section. If after the expiration of 30 days from the date of such notification, the licensee whose license has lapsed seeks a current license, he or she shall apply to the State Fire Marshal for reinstatement of the license and pay all fees due to the State Fire Marshal. The State Fire Marshal may establish a fee for the processing of an application for reinstatement of a license that allows the State Fire Marshal to pay all costs and expenses incident to the processing of this application. The State Fire Marshal may waive the fees due under this Section in individual cases where he or she finds that the fees would be unreasonable or unnecessarily burdensome.

(Source: P.A. 92-618, eff. 7-11-02.)

(225 ILCS 729/60)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 60. License renewal; display of license; inspection.

(a) As a condition of renewal of a license, the State Fire Marshal may require the licensee to report information pertaining to his or her practice that the State Fire Marshal determines to be in the interest of public safety.

(b) A licensee shall report a change in home or office address within 10 days.

(c) Each licensee shall prominently display his or her license to practice at each place from which the practice is being performed. If more than one location is used, branch office certificates shall be issued upon payment of the fees to be established by the State Fire Marshal.

(d) If a licensee wishes to change his or her name, the State Fire Marshal shall issue a license in the new name upon payment of the required fee and upon receipt of satisfactory proof that the change was done in accordance with law.

(e) Each licensee shall permit his or her facilities to be inspected by representatives of the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

(Source: P.A. 102-20, eff. 1-1-22.)

(225 ILCS 729/65)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 65. Disciplinary actions. Licensees shall be subject to disciplinary action for any of the following:

(1) obtaining or renewing a license by the use of fraud or material deception;

(2) being professionally incompetent as manifested by poor standards of service;

(3) engaging in dishonorable, unethical, or unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public in the course of professional services or activities;

(4) being convicted of a crime that has a substantial relationship to his or her practice or an essential element of which is misstatement, fraud, or dishonesty, being convicted in this or another state of any crime that is a felony under the laws of Illinois or of that state, or being convicted of a felony in a federal court, unless the licensee demonstrates that he or she has been sufficiently rehabilitated to warrant the public trust;

(5) performing any service in a grossly negligent manner or permitting any licensed employee to perform services in a grossly negligent manner, regardless of whether actual damage or damage to the public is established;

(6) (blank);

(7) willfully receiving compensation, directly or indirectly, for any professional service not actually rendered;

(8) having disciplinary action taken against his or her license in another State;

(9) contracting or assisting unlicensed persons to perform services for which a license is required under this Act;

(10) permitting the use of his or her license to enable an unlicensed person or agency to operate as a licensee;

(11) performing and charging for services without having authorization to do so from the member of the public being served; or

(12) failing to comply with any provision of this Act or the rules adopted under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 102-20, eff. 1-1-22.)

(225 ILCS 729/70)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 70. Complaints. All complaints concerning violations regarding licensees or unlicensed activity shall be received and logged by the State Fire Marshal.

(Source: P.A. 92-618, eff. 7-11-02.)

(225 ILCS 729/73)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 73. Citations.

(a) The Office of the State Fire Marshal may adopt rules to permit the issuance of citations for certain violations of this Act or the rules adopted under this Act. The citation shall be issued to the licensee and shall contain the licensee's name and address, the licensee's license number, a brief factual statement, the Sections of the law or rules allegedly violated, and the penalty imposed. The citation must clearly state that the licensee may choose, in lieu of accepting the citation, to request a hearing to appeal the citation. If the licensee does not file a written appeal of the citation with the Office of the State Fire Marshal within 15 days after the citation is served, then the citation shall become a final order imposing a monetary penalty. The penalty shall be a monetary civil fine. In the event of a timely written appeal, the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall conduct an administrative hearing governed by the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and enter an order to sustain, modify, or revoke such citation. Any appeal from such hearing order shall be to the circuit court of the county in which the violation took place and shall be governed by the Administrative Review Law.

(b) The Office of the State Fire Marshal shall adopt rules designating violations for which a citation may be issued, which may specify separate hearing procedures for appeals of such citations so long as the hearing procedures are not inconsistent with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

(c) Service of a citation may be made by personal service or certified mail to the licensee at the licensee's last known address as listed with the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

(Source: P.A. 102-20, eff. 1-1-22.)

(225 ILCS 729/75)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 75. Formal charges; hearings.

(a) Following the investigative process, the State Fire Marshal may file formal charges against the licensee. The formal charges shall, at a minimum, inform the licensee of the facts that comprise the basis of the charge and that are specific enough to enable the licensee to defend himself or herself.

(b) Each licensee whose conduct is the subject of a formal charge that seeks to impose disciplinary action against the licensee shall be served notice of the formal charge at least 30 days before the date of the hearing, which shall be presided over by a hearing officer authorized by the State Fire Marshal. Service shall be considered to have been given if the notice was personally received by the licensee or if the notice was sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the licensee at the licensee's last known address as listed with the State Fire Marshal.

(c) The notice of formal charges shall inform the licensee (i) of the time, date, and place of the hearing; (ii) that the licensee shall appear personally at the hearing and may be represented by counsel; (iii) that the licensee shall have the right to produce witnesses and evidence in his or her behalf and shall have the right to cross-examine witnesses and examine evidence produced against him or her; (iv) that the hearing could result in disciplinary action being taken against his or her license; (v) that rules for the conduct of these hearings exist and it may be in the licensee's best interest to obtain a copy; (vi) that a hearing officer authorized by the State Fire Marshal shall preside at the hearing and following the conclusion of the hearing shall make findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations to the State Fire Marshal as to what disciplinary action, if any, should be imposed on the licensee; and (vii) that the State Fire Marshal may continue the hearing.

(d) The hearing officer authorized by the State Fire Marshal shall hear the evidence produced in support of the formal charges and any contrary evidence produced by the licensee. At the conclusion of the hearing, the hearing officer shall make findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations and submit them to the State Fire Marshal and to all parties to the proceeding. Submission to the licensee shall be considered as having been made if done in a similar fashion as service of the notice of formal charges. Within 20 days after such service, any party to the proceeding may present to the State Fire Marshal a motion, in writing, for a rehearing that specifies the grounds for rehearing.

(e) The State Fire Marshal, following the time allowed for filing a motion for rehearing, shall review the hearing officer's findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations and any motions filed subsequent to the findings, conclusions, and recommendations. After reviewing this information, the State Fire Marshal may hear oral arguments, prior to issuing an order. The report of findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations of the hearing officer shall be the basis for the State Fire Marshal's order.

If the State Fire Marshal finds that substantial justice was not done, he or she may issue an order in contravention to the findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations of the hearing officer. The finding is not admissible in evidence against the person in a criminal prosecution brought for the violation of this Act.

(f) All proceedings pursuant to this Section are matters of public record and shall be preserved.

(Source: P.A. 92-618, eff. 7-11-02.)

(225 ILCS 729/80)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 80. Sanctions.

(a) The State Fire Marshal shall impose any of the following sanctions, singly or in combination, when he or she finds that a licensee is guilty of any offense described in Section 65:

(1) revocation;

(2) suspension for any period of time;

(3) reprimand or censure;

(4) placement on probationary status and requirement that the licensee submit any of the following:

(A) report regularly to the State Fire Marshal upon matters that are the basis of the probation;

(B) continue or renew professional education until a satisfactory degree of skill has been attained in those areas that are the basis of the probation; or

(C) any other reasonable requirements or restrictions as are proper;

(5) refusal to issue, renew, or restore; or

(6) revocation of probation that has been granted and imposition of any other discipline in this subsection (a) when the requirements of probation have not been fulfilled or have been violated.

(b) The State Fire Marshal may summarily suspend a license under this Act, without a hearing, simultaneously with the filing of a formal complaint and notice for a hearing, if the State Fire Marshal finds that the continued operations of the individual would constitute an immediate danger to the public. In the event the State Fire Marshal suspends a license under this subsection, a hearing by the hearing officer designated by the State Fire Marshal shall be held within 20 days after the suspension begins, unless continued at the request of the licensee.

(c) Disposition may be made of any formal complaint by consent order between the State Fire Marshal and the licensee.

(d) The State Fire Marshal shall reinstate a license to good standing under this Act, upon recommendation to the State Fire Marshal, after a hearing before the hearing officer authorized by the State Fire Marshal. The State Fire Marshal shall be satisfied that the applicant's renewed practice is not contrary to the public interest.

(e) The State Fire Marshal may conduct hearings and issue cease and desist orders to persons who engage in activities prohibited by this Act without having a valid license, certificate, or registration. Any person in violation of a cease and desist order entered by the State Fire Marshal shall be subject to all of the remedies provided by law and, in addition, shall be subject to a civil penalty payable to the party injured by the violation.

(f) The State Fire Marshal shall seek to achieve consistency in the application of the foregoing sanctions and consent orders and significant departure from prior decisions involving similar conduct shall be explained in the State Fire Marshal's orders.

(g) Upon the suspension or revocation of a license issued under this Act, a licensee shall surrender the license to the State Fire Marshal and, upon failure to do so, the State Fire Marshal shall seize the same.

(g-5) Any person, business, or corporation whose license has been revoked under the provisions of this Act is prohibited, for a period of 2 years from the date of revocation, from owning more than 7 1/2% of a business or corporation licensed under this Act.

(h) The State Fire Marshal may refuse to issue or may suspend the license of any person who fails to file a return, to pay the tax, penalty, or interest shown in a filed return, or to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty, or interest, as required by any tax Act administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue, until the time that the requirements of any such tax Act are satisfied.

(Source: P.A. 92-618, eff. 7-11-02.)

(225 ILCS 729/85)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 85. Depositions; witnesses; judicial review.

(a) The State Fire Marshal has the power to subpoena and bring before him or her any person in this State and to take testimony either orally or by deposition, or both, with the same fees and mileage and in the same manner as is prescribed by law for judicial proceedings in civil cases. The State Fire Marshal and the hearing officer approved by the State Fire Marshal have the power to administer oaths at any hearing that the State Fire Marshal is authorized to conduct.

(b) A circuit court, upon the application of the licensee or the State Fire Marshal, may order the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant books and papers in any hearing conducted pursuant to this Act. The court may compel obedience to its order by proceedings for contempt.

(c) The State Fire Marshal, at the Office's expense, shall provide a stenographer or a mechanical recording device to record the testimony and preserve a record of all proceedings at the hearing of any case wherein a license may be revoked, suspended, placed on probationary status, or other disciplinary action taken with regard to the license. The notice of hearing, the complaint, and all other documents in the nature of pleadings and written motions filed in the proceedings, the transcript of testimony, the report of the hearing officer, and the orders of the State Fire Marshal constitute the record of the proceedings. The State Fire Marshal shall furnish a transcript of the record to any interested person upon payment of the costs of copying and transmitting the record.

(d) All final administrative decisions of the State Fire Marshal are subject to judicial review pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Review Law and the rules adopted pursuant thereto. Proceedings for judicial review shall be commenced in the Circuit Court of the county in which the party applying for review resides. If the party applying for review is not a resident of Illinois, the venue shall be in Sangamon County. The State Fire Marshal shall not be required to certify any record to the court, file any answer in court, or otherwise appear in any court in a judicial review proceeding, unless there is filed in the court with the complaint a receipt from the State Fire Marshal acknowledging payment of the costs of furnishing and certifying the record, which costs shall be computed at the cost of preparing such record. Exhibits shall be certified without cost. Failure on the part of the licensee to file the receipt in court shall be grounds for dismissal of the action.

During all judicial proceedings incident to disciplinary action, the sanctions imposed upon the accused by the State Fire Marshal shall remain in effect, unless the court feels justice requires a stay of the order.

(Source: P.A. 92-618, eff. 7-11-02.)

(225 ILCS 729/90)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 90. Order; prima facie proof. An order or a certified copy of an order, bearing the seal of the State Fire Marshal and purporting to be signed by the State Fire Marshal, is prima facie proof that:

(1) the signature is that of the State Fire Marshal;

(2) the State Fire Marshal is qualified to act; and

(3) the hearing officer is qualified to act on behalf of the State Fire Marshal.

Such proof may be rebutted.

(Source: P.A. 92-618, eff. 7-11-02.)

(225 ILCS 729/95)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 95. Publication of records. The State Fire Marshal shall, upon request, publish a list of the names and addresses of all licensees under the provisions of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 92-618, eff. 7-11-02.)

(225 ILCS 729/100)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 100. Criminal penalties. A person who violates any of the provisions of this Act shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense.

(Source: P.A. 92-618, eff. 7-11-02.)

(225 ILCS 729/105)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 105. Home rule. The regulation and licensing of petroleum equipment contractors are exclusive powers and functions of the State. A home rule unit may not regulate or license petroleum equipment contractors. This Section is a denial and limitation of home rule powers and functions under subsection (h) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution. However, nothing in this Act shall limit the authority of the Office of the State Fire Marshal and a municipality with a population over 500,000 to enter into contracts pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of Section 2 of the Gasoline Storage Act.

(Source: P.A. 92-618, eff. 7-11-02.)

(225 ILCS 729/900)

Sec. 900. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).

(Source: P.A. 92-618, eff. 7-11-02; text omitted.)

(225 ILCS 729/905)

Sec. 905. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).

(Source: P.A. 92-618, eff. 7-11-02; text omitted.)

(225 ILCS 729/999)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.

(Source: P.A. 92-618, eff. 7-11-02.)