SB3393: OSFM-CONTINUING EDUCATION

SB3393 Engrossed LRB104 17748 TRT 31179 b 1 AN ACT concerning regulation. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act is 5 amended by changing Section 35 as follows: 6 (225 ILCS 317/35) 7 Sec. 35. Fees, renewals, continuing education, and 8 required insurance. 9 (a) The fees for an initial license and each renewal and 10 for duplicate copies of licenses shall be determined by the 11 Office by rule. 12 (b) Each license shall be renewed every 2 years. Each 13 licensee shall complete at least 16 hours of continuing 14 education in the 2-year period following the licensee's 15 renewal or initial licensure, with at least 8 hours of 16 continuing education completed during each year of the current 17 license. 18 To satisfy the continuing education requirement for fire 19 sprinkler contractors, continuing education shall be completed 20 by the designated certified person or responsible managing 21 employee on behalf of the fire sprinkler contractor licensee. 22 Current licensure as a professional engineer or proof of 23 current NICET Level III or IV certification in water-based SB3393 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 17748 TRT 31179 b 1 fire protection systems layout shall satisfy the continuing 2 education requirement for designated certified persons. 3 Continuing education offered through nationally recognized 4 building and fire code organizations and their affiliates; 5 nationally recognized fire sprinkler organizations and their 6 affiliates; institutions of higher education; educational 7 bodies specializing in automatic fire suppression system 8 technology; as well as other entities approved by the Office 9 shall be also acceptable. All continuing education entities 10 seeking to be approved providers of continuing education shall 11 make application to the Office and offer programs that: 12 (1) contribute to the advancement, extension, or 13 enhancement of the professional skills or technical 14 knowledge of the licensee in the practice of fire 15 sprinkler contracting; and 16 (2) are developed and presented by persons with 17 education or experience in the subject manner of the 18 program. 19 (c) Any person who fails to file a renewal application by 20 the date of expiration of a license shall be assessed a late 21 filing fee, which shall be determined by the Office by rule. 22 (d) Any fee required by this Act is not refundable in the 23 event that the initial application or application for renewal 24 is denied. 25 (e) Every application for an initial license or renewal of 26 a fire sprinkler contractor license shall be accompanied by a SB3393 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 17748 TRT 31179 b 1 certificate of insurance issued by an insurance company 2 authorized to do business in the State of Illinois or by a risk 3 retention or purchasing group formed pursuant to the federal 4 Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986, which provides primary, 5 first dollar public liability coverage of the applicant or 6 licensee for personal injuries for not less than $500,000 per 7 person or $1,000,000 per occurrence, and, in addition, for not 8 less than $1,000,000 per occurrence for property damage. The 9 insurance policy shall be in effect at all times during the 10 license year and a new certificate of insurance shall be filed 11 with the Office within 30 days after the renewal of the 12 insurance policy. 13 (f) The Office shall prepare a report evaluating the 14 effectiveness and industry impacts of the continuing education 15 requirements established under this Section. The report 16 required under this subsection shall include recommendations 17 for statutory or rule changes and shall be delivered to the 18 General Assembly by December 31, 2026. 19 (Source: P.A. 102-612, eff. 8-27-21.) 20 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 21 becoming law.