Friday, August 14, 2009

HB 4223 Becomes Law

HB 4223 became law as Public Bill 96-0417 on August 13, 2009. The act provides that it is recommended that every occupied school building of a school district be tested every 5 years for radon. Provides that it is recommended that new schools of a school district be built using radon resistant new construction techniques. Allows a school district to maintain, make available for review, and notify parents and faculty of test results. Requires the district to report radon test results to the State Board of Education. Requires the State Board to prepare a report every 2 years of the results from all schools that have performed tests, to be submitted to the General Assembly and the Governor. Provides that if IEMA exempts an individual from being required to be a licensed radon professional, the individual does not need to be a licensed radon professional in order to perform screening tests. Provides that if the results of a radon screening test are found to be 4.0 pCi/L or above, the school district may hire a licensed radon professional to perform measurements before any mitigation decisions are made. Provides that if radon levels of 4.0 pCi/L or above are found, it is recommended that affected areas be mitigated by a licensed radon mitigation professional with respect to both design and installation. Provides that a screening test may be done with a test kit found in a hardware store, department store, or home improvement store or with a kit ordered through the mail or over the Internet. Requires the kit to be provided by a laboratory licensed in accordance with the Radon Industry Licensing Act.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

HB 2439 Becomes Law

HB 2439 became Illinois Public Act 96-0278 on August 11, 2009. The Act amends the Illinois Radon Awareness Act. Changes a provision on the Disclosure of Information on Radon Hazards form. Requires sellers of certain property to disclose, among other things, either (i) that they have no knowledge of elevated radon concentrations or (ii) that prior elevated radon concentrations have been mitigated or remediated (now, only (i) must be disclosed). Provides that the Act's provisions do not apply to the transfer of any residential dwelling unit located on the third story or higher above ground level of any structure or building. Effective immediately.

HB 1088 Becomes Law

HB 1088 was signed into law August 10, 2009 as Public Act 96-0195. The act Amends the Radon Industry Licensing Act. It prohibits any person from selling a device in Illinois to detect the presence of radon or radon progeny in the indoor atmosphere without prior approval of the device from the Agency. Requires all electronic radon detection devices sold in this State to be calibrated to ensure the accuracy and precision of their measurements of radon and radon progeny. Effective immediately.

The act also further amends the Radon Industry Licensing Act. Creates the Radon-Resistant Building Codes Task Force to make recommendations concerning the adoption of rules for building codes.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

House Bills 2439 and 4223 passed by Senate

Both of the above referenced bills unanimously passed the Senate on May 19, 2009.

House Bill 2439 amends the Illinois Radon Awareness Act. Changes a provision on the Disclosure of Information on Radon Hazards form. Requires sellers of certain property to disclose, among other things, either (i) that they have no knowledge of elevated radon concentrations or (ii) that prior elevated radon concentrations have been mitigated or remediated (now, only (i) must be disclosed). Provides that the Act's provisions do not apply to the transfer of any residential dwelling unit located on the third story or higher above ground level of any structure or building.

House Bill 4223 provides that it is recommended that every occupied school building of a school district be tested every 5 years for radon. Provides that it is recommended that new schools of a school district be built using radon resistant new construction techniques. Allows a school district to maintain, make available for review, and notify parents and faculty of test results. Requires the district to report radon test results to the State Board of Education. Requires the State Board to prepare a report every 2 years of the results from all schools that have performed tests, to be submitted to the General Assembly and the Governor. Provides that if IEMA exempts an individual from being required to be a licensed radon professional, the individual does not need to be a licensed radon professional in order to perform screening tests. Provides that if the results of a radon screening test are found to be 4.0 pCi/L or above, the school district may hire a licensed radon professional to perform measurements before any mitigation decisions are made. Provides that if radon levels of 4.0 pCi/L or above are found, it is recommended that affected areas be mitigated by a licensed radon mitigation professional with respect to both design and installation. Provides that a screening test may be done with a test kit found in a hardware store, department store, or home improvement store or with a kit ordered through the mail or over the Internet. Requires the kit to be provided by a laboratory licensed in accordance with the Radon Industry Licensing Act.

Friday, May 15, 2009

HB 1088 Passed By Senate

HB1088 unanimously passed the Senate on 5-13-09. The bill amends the Radon Industry Licensing Act. Prohibits any person from selling a device in this State to detect the presence of radon or radon progeny in the indoor atmosphere without prior approval of the device from the Agency. Requires all electronic radon detection devices sold in this State to be calibrated to ensure the accuracy and precision of their measurements of radon and radon progeny. It also amends the Radon Industry Licensing Act. Creates the Radon-Resistant Building Codes Task Force to make recommendations concerning the adoption of rules for building codes.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

HB1088 Passed by House April 1, 2009

House Bill 1088 was passed by the House by a vote of 116-000-000.

The bill amends the Radon Industry Licensing Act. Prohibits any person from selling a device in this State to detect the presence of radon or radon progeny in the indoor atmosphere without prior approval of the device from the Agency. Requires all electronic radon detection devices sold in this State to be calibrated to ensure the accuracy and precision of their measurements of radon and radon progeny.

The amendment to the bill amends the Radon Industry Licensing Act. Creates the Radon-Resistant Building Codes Task Force to make recommendations concerning the adoption of rules for building codes.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

HB4223 Passed by Illinois House March 24, 2009

HB4223 was passed by the house today by a vote of 112-002-000. We will continue to monitor the bill as it makes its way through the Senate.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

March 18, 2009 Update

There has been some activity with the radon bills which warrents updating.

HB1088 has been amended to create the Task Force on Radon-Resistant Building Codes. The amendment has been referred to the Rules Committee.

HB2287 has been re-referred to the Rules Committee as it was not acted on by the Revenue and Finance Committee. Nothing will probably happen with the effort to create a tax credit for radon testing and mitigation. However, the seed has been planted. Maybe the economy will be better next year and we can try again.

HB3830 has been voted out of the Environment and Energy Committee and is on the calendar for second reading.

HB4223 is currently scheduled for third reading in the house.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

2009 Radon Legislation

There are several radon bills that have been introduced in Illinois this year. Some are housekeeping items but there are two bills that I want to make readers aware of.

HB 2287 was introduced by Rep. Dan Reitz February 18, 2009. The bill amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Authorizes a credit to taxpayers in an amount equal to the expenditures by the taxpayer for radon testing and mitigation during the taxable year. Provides that the credit may not exceed $250 per building per year.
The bill has been assigned to the Revenue and Finance Committee.

HB4223 was introduced by Rep. Karen May on February 27, 2009. The bill was amended today to read as follows.Adds a preamble. Replaces the amendatory provisions with provisions amending the School Code. Provides that it is recommended that every occupied school building of a school district be tested every 5 years for radon. Provides that it is recommended that new schools of a school district be built using radon resistant new construction techniques. Allows a school district to maintain, make available for review, and notify parents and faculty of test results. Requires the district to report radon test results to the State Board of Education. Requires the State Board to prepare a report every 2 years of the results from all schools that have performed tests, to be submitted to the General Assembly and the Governor. Provides that if IEMA exempts an individual from being required to be a licensed radon professional, the individual does not need to be a licensed radon professional in order to perform screening tests. Provides that if the results of a radon screening test are found to be 4.0 pCi/L or above, the school district may hire a licensed radon professional to perform measurements before any mitigation decisions are made. Provides that if radon levels of 4.0 pCi/L or above are found, it is recommended that affected areas be mitigated by a licensed radon mitigation professional with respect to both design and installation. Provides that a screening test may be done with a test kit found in a hardware store, department store, or home improvement store or with a kit ordered through the mail or over the Internet. Requires the kit to be provided by a laboratory licensed in accordance with the Radon Industry Licensing Act.

The bill is now on the House Calendar for second reading.