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92_SB0683
LRB9208035JSpc
1 AN ACT concerning public utilities.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by adding
5 Sections 8-501.5, 8-505.5, and 9-245 as follows:
6 (220 ILCS 5/8-501.5 new)
7 Sec. 8-501.5. Employees and independent contractors;
8 background checks.
9 (a) Before hiring an employee or independent contractor
10 to perform work involving facilities used for the
11 distribution of natural gas to customers, a public utility
12 must conduct, in accordance with Commission rules, a
13 background check of the proposed employee or independent
14 contractor to determine the proposed employee's or
15 contractor's history of violations of pertinent safety or
16 environmental laws.
17 (b) The Commission shall promulgate rules establishing
18 the requirements for background checks for employees and
19 independent contractors who perform work involving facilities
20 used for the distribution of natural gas.
21 (220 ILCS 5/8-505.5 new)
22 Sec. 8-505.5. Work on natural gas regulator, manometer,
23 or other device. The Commission shall require, under such
24 rules as it may prescribe, a public utility that is
25 performing work on a natural gas regulator, manometer, or any
26 other device containing mercury that is used to provide
27 natural gas service to test the immediate area around the
28 device for mercury before and after work is performed using
29 testing instruments of the type approved by the Commission.
30 Copies of the test results, if requested, shall be provided
-2- LRB9208035JSpc
1 to the occupant or owner of the property upon which the
2 device is located at the time the work is performed. The
3 test results shall be available for inspection by the
4 Commission.
5 (220 ILCS 5/9-245 new)
6 Sec. 9-245. Rates; environmental fines and remediation.
7 In determining the rates for a public utility engaged in
8 providing natural gas service, the Commission may not include
9 any expenditure for fines or remediation and related
10 activities incurred as a result of mercury spills associated
11 with gas pressure regulators, manometers, or any other
12 devices containing mercury in the utility's system. Any
13 related insurance or third party recoveries must also be
14 excluded for ratemaking purposes.
15 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
16 becoming law.
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