Public Act 095-0421
 
SB0730 Enrolled LRB095 08388 RAS 28561 b

    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Illinois Plumbing License Law is amended by
changing Section 2.5 as follows:
 
    (225 ILCS 320/2.5)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2013)
    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 94-101)
    Sec. 2.5. Irrigation contractors; lawn sprinkler systems.
    (a) Every irrigation contractor doing business in this
State shall annually register with the Department. Every
irrigation contractor shall provide to the Department his or
her business name and address, telephone number, name of
principal, and FEIN number. Every irrigation contractor doing
business in this State shall also register with the Department
each and every employee who installs or supervises the
installation of lawn sprinkler systems. The registration shall
include the employee's name, home address, and telephone
number. The Department may provide by rule for the
administration of registrations under this subsection. The
annual registration fee shall be set by the Department pursuant
to Section 30 of this Act.
    (b) A licensed plumber or licensed apprentice plumber may
install a lawn sprinkler system connected to any water source
without registration under this Section.
    (c) A licensed plumber shall inspect every sprinkler system
installed by an irrigation contractor to ensure the provisions
of this Section have been met and that the system works
mechanically. A licensed plumber shall make the physical
connection between a lawn sprinkler system and the backflow
prevention device.
    Upon the installation of every lawn sprinkler system in
this State from the effective date of this amendatory Act of
the 91st General Assembly forward, a licensed plumber shall
affix to the backflow prevention device a tag certifying that
the installation of that system has been completed in
compliance with the minimum code of plumbing standards
promulgated under this Act. The Department shall provide by
rule for the registration of every lawn sprinkler system
installed after the effective date of this amendatory Act of
the 91st General Assembly, including the means by which the
Department shall be able to identify by registration number the
identity of the responsible irrigation contractor and by
license number the identity of the responsible licensed
plumber. No lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective
date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly may be
operated without the certification tag required under this
Section.
    The registered irrigation contractor and the licensed
plumber whose identifying information is contained on the
certification tag shall both be subject to the penalty
provisions of this Act for violations for improper installation
of a lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date
of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly.
    (d) An irrigation contractor that has registered with the
Department 7 or fewer persons who are authorized to install or
supervise the installation of lawn sprinkler systems shall
either employ or contract with at least one licensed plumber
who shall install or be responsible for the installation of
every lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date
of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. The
licensed plumber shall inspect the risers and sprinkler heads
before backfilling.
    An irrigation contractor that has registered with the
Department 8 to 12 persons who are authorized to install or
supervise the installation of lawn sprinkler systems shall
either employ or contract with at least 2 licensed plumbers who
shall install or be responsible for the installation of every
lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. A licensed
plumber shall inspect the risers and sprinkler heads before
backfilling.
    An irrigation contractor that has registered with the
Department 13 to 20 persons who are authorized to install or
supervise the installation of lawn sprinkler systems shall
either employ or contract with at least 3 licensed plumbers who
shall install or be responsible for the installation of every
lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. A licensed
plumber shall inspect the risers and sprinkler heads before
backfilling.
    An irrigation contractor that has registered with the
Department 21 to 28 persons who are authorized to install or
supervise the installation of lawn sprinkler systems shall
either employ or contract with at least 4 licensed plumbers who
shall install or be responsible for the installation of every
lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. A licensed
plumber shall inspect the risers and sprinkler heads before
backfilling.
    An irrigation contractor that has registered with the
Department 29 to 35 persons who are authorized to install or
supervise the installation of lawn sprinkler systems shall
either employ or contract with at least 5 licensed plumbers who
shall install or be responsible for the installation of every
lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. A licensed
plumber shall inspect the risers and sprinkler heads before
backfilling.
    An irrigation contractor that has registered with the
Department 36 or more persons who are authorized to install or
supervise the installation of lawn sprinkler systems shall
either employ or contract with at least 6 licensed plumbers who
shall install or be responsible for the installation of every
lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. A licensed
plumber shall inspect the risers and sprinkler heads before
backfilling.
    The Department may provide by rule for the temporary waiver
process for registered irrigation contractors who are unable to
comply with the requirements of this subsection. When a
temporary waiver is granted, it shall not be for a duration of
more than 3 consecutive months. Upon the expiration of a
temporary waiver issued by the Department, the registered
irrigation contractor shall demonstrate that justifiable
reasons exist why he or she is still unable to comply with the
requirements of this subsection, despite good faith efforts to
comply with the requirements. In no case shall a temporary
waiver be granted for an irrigation contractor for more than a
total of 6 months in a two-year period. In no case shall an
irrigation contractor be relieved of the requirement that a
licensed plumber shall inspect every sprinkler system
installed by an irrigation contractor to ensure the provisions
of this Section have been met and that the system works
mechanically and make the physical connection between a
sprinkler system and the backflow prevention device.
    (e) No person shall attach to a lawn sprinkler system any
fixture intended to supply water for human consumption.
    No person shall attach to a lawn sprinkler system any
fixture other than the backflow prevention device, sprinkler
heads, valves, and other parts integral to the operation of the
system, unless the fixture is clearly marked as being for
non-potable uses only.
(Source: P.A. 91-678, eff. 1-26-00; 92-778, eff. 8-6-02.)
 
    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 94-101)
    Sec. 2.5. Irrigation contractors; lawn sprinkler systems.
    (a) Every irrigation contractor doing business in this
State shall annually register with the Department. Every
irrigation contractor shall provide to the Department his or
her business name and address, telephone number, name of
principal, FEIN number, and an original certificate of
insurance documenting that the irrigation contractor carries
general liability insurance with a minimum of $100,000 per
occurrence, bodily injury insurance with a minimum of $300,000
per occurrence, property damage insurance with a minimum of
$50,000, and worker's compensation insurance with a minimum of
$500,000. No registration may be issued in the absence of the
certificate of insurance. The certificate must be in force at
all times for registration to remain valid.
    On a form provided by the Department, every irrigation
contractor must provide to the Department an indemnification
bond in the amount of $20,000 or an irrevocable letter of
credit from a financial institution guaranteeing that funds
shall be available only to the Department and shall be released
upon written notification by the Department in the same amount
for any work on lawn sprinkler systems performed by the
registered irrigation contractor. The letter of credit shall be
printed on the letterhead of the issuing financial institution,
be signed by an officer of the same financial institution, name
the Department as the sole beneficiary, and expire on February
28 of each year.
    Every irrigation contractor doing business in this State
shall also register with the Department each and every employee
who installs or supervises the installation of lawn sprinkler
systems. The registration shall include the employee's name,
home address, and telephone number. The Department may provide
by rule for the administration of registrations under this
subsection. The annual registration fee shall be set by the
Department pursuant to Section 30 of this Act. Each registered
irrigation contractor must provide proof that he or she employs
at least one irrigation employee who has completed and passed
an approved class in the design and installation of lawn
sprinkler systems.
    (b) A licensed plumber or licensed apprentice plumber may
install a lawn sprinkler system connected to any water source
without registration under this Section.
    (c) A licensed plumber shall inspect every sprinkler system
installed by an irrigation contractor to ensure the provisions
of this Section have been met and that the system works
mechanically. A licensed plumber shall make the physical
connection between a lawn sprinkler system and the backflow
prevention device.
    Upon the installation of every lawn sprinkler system in
this State from the effective date of this amendatory Act of
the 91st General Assembly forward, a licensed plumber shall
affix to the backflow prevention device a tag certifying that
the installation of that system has been completed in
compliance with the minimum code of plumbing standards
promulgated under this Act. The Department shall provide by
rule for the registration of every lawn sprinkler system
installed after the effective date of this amendatory Act of
the 91st General Assembly, including the means by which the
Department shall be able to identify by registration number the
identity of the responsible irrigation contractor and by
license number the identity of the responsible licensed
plumber. No lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective
date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly may be
operated without the certification tag required under this
Section.
    The registered irrigation contractor and the licensed
plumber whose identifying information is contained on the
certification tag shall both be subject to the penalty
provisions of this Act for violations for improper installation
of a lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date
of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly.
    (d) An irrigation contractor who has registered with the
Department 7 or fewer persons who are authorized to install or
supervise the installation of lawn sprinkler systems shall
either employ or contract with at least one licensed plumber
who shall install or be responsible for the installation of
every lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date
of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. The
licensed plumber shall inspect the risers and sprinkler heads
before backfilling.
    An irrigation contractor who has registered with the
Department 8 to 12 persons who are authorized to install or
supervise the installation of lawn sprinkler systems shall
either employ or contract with at least 2 licensed plumbers who
shall install or be responsible for the installation of every
lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. A licensed
plumber shall inspect the risers and sprinkler heads before
backfilling.
    An irrigation contractor who has registered with the
Department 13 to 20 persons who are authorized to install or
supervise the installation of lawn sprinkler systems shall
either employ or contract with at least 3 licensed plumbers who
shall install or be responsible for the installation of every
lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. A licensed
plumber shall inspect the risers and sprinkler heads before
backfilling.
    An irrigation contractor who has registered with the
Department 21 to 28 persons who are authorized to install or
supervise the installation of lawn sprinkler systems shall
either employ or contract with at least 4 licensed plumbers who
shall install or be responsible for the installation of every
lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. A licensed
plumber shall inspect the risers and sprinkler heads before
backfilling.
    An irrigation contractor who has registered with the
Department 29 to 35 persons who are authorized to install or
supervise the installation of lawn sprinkler systems shall
either employ or contract with at least 5 licensed plumbers who
shall install or be responsible for the installation of every
lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. A licensed
plumber shall inspect the risers and sprinkler heads before
backfilling.
    An irrigation contractor who has registered with the
Department 36 or more persons who are authorized to install or
supervise the installation of lawn sprinkler systems shall
either employ or contract with at least 6 licensed plumbers who
shall install or be responsible for the installation of every
lawn sprinkler system installed after the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly. A licensed
plumber shall inspect the risers and sprinkler heads before
backfilling.
    The Department may provide by rule for the temporary waiver
process for registered irrigation contractors who are unable to
comply with the requirements of this subsection. When a
temporary waiver is granted, it shall not be for a duration of
more than 3 consecutive months. Upon the expiration of a
temporary waiver issued by the Department, the registered
irrigation contractor shall demonstrate that justifiable
reasons exist why he or she is still unable to comply with the
requirements of this subsection, despite good faith efforts to
comply with the requirements. In no case shall a temporary
waiver be granted for an irrigation contractor for more than a
total of 6 months in a two-year period. In no case shall an
irrigation contractor be relieved of the requirement that a
licensed plumber shall inspect every sprinkler system
installed by an irrigation contractor to ensure the provisions
of this Section have been met and that the system works
mechanically and make the physical connection between a
sprinkler system and the backflow prevention device.
    (e) No person shall attach to a lawn sprinkler system any
fixture intended to supply water for human consumption.
    No person shall attach to a lawn sprinkler system any
fixture other than the backflow prevention device, sprinkler
heads, valves, and other parts integral to the operation of the
system, unless the fixture is clearly marked as being for
non-potable uses only.
    (f) A college, university, trade school, vocational
school, or association that has established a program providing
a course of instruction in lawn sprinkler design and
installation may submit a letter to the Department requesting
approval of its program or course of instruction.
    The request for approval shall include information on the
curriculum offered by the program and the qualifications of the
organization. The course shall consist of a minimum of 2 days
of classroom education and an exam and shall include a
provision for continuing education.
    The Department shall evaluate the curriculum and
organization before making a determination to approve or deny a
request for approval.
    In addition to providing to the Department the names of
licensed plumbers who are employed by or contract with an
irrigation contractor, an irrigation contractor must also
provide to the Department the names of employees who have
successfully completed an approved course on the installation
of lawn sprinkler systems and proof that the course was
successfully completed and that continuing education is also
being completed.
    (g) All automatically operated lawn sprinkler systems
shall have furnished and installed technology that inhibits or
interrupts operation of the landscape irrigation system during
periods of sufficient moisture or rainfall. The technology must
be adjustable either by the end user or the irrigation
contractor.
    This subsection (g) does not apply to systems operating on
golf courses or agricultural lands.
    The requirements of this subsection (g) apply to all
landscape irrigation systems installed after January 1, 2009.
(Source: P.A. 94-101, eff. 1-1-08.)
 
    Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes
changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text
that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section
represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does
not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes
made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other
Public Act.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
1, 2009.

Effective Date: 1/1/2009