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92_SB1622gms
State of Illinois
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Springfield, Illinois 62706
George H. Ryan
GOVERNOR
August 15, 2002
To the Honorable Members of
The Illinois Senate
92nd General Assembly
Pursuant to the authority vested in the Governor by
Article IV, Section 9(e) of the Illinois Constitution of
1970, and re-affirmed by the People of the State of Illinois
by popular referendum in 1974, and conforming to the standard
articulated by the Illinois Supreme Court in People ex Rel.
Klinger v. Howlett, 50 Ill.2d 242 (1972), Continental
Illinois National Bank and Trust Co. v. Zagel, 78 Ill.2d 387
(1979), People ex Rel. City of Canton v. Crouch. 79 Ill.2d
356 (1980), and County of Kane v. Carlson, 116 Ill.2d 186
(1987), that gubernatorial action be consistent with the
fundamental purposes and the intent of the bill, I hereby
return Senate Bill 1622, entitled "AN ACT creating the Fire
Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act," with my specific
recommendation for change.
A licensure law for fire sprinkler installation
contractors working in Illinois is long overdue. Fire
sprinklers save lives, buildings, and money in the event of a
fire. However, this can only be true when fire sprinklers
are properly installed. Consumers deserve trained,
experienced personnel installing these types of systems that
help to save so much in times of disaster. Thus, this
legislation will ensure once more that Illinois and its
communities are safe by providing for statewide licensure of
fire sprinkler installation contractors.
However, the sponsors of this legislation brought a
concern to my attention that should be addressed. The City
of Chicago presently governs fire sprinkler installation by
local ordinance. Instead of backflow prevention devices
within the sprinkler, the City requires double detector check
assemblies. This recommended change will allow Chicago to
maintain its present means of regulation and will allow the
legislation to continue to ensure that the rest of the state
is also protected.
For this reason, I return Senate Bill 1622 with the
following recommendation for change:
On page 6, by replacing lines 27 through 32 with the
following:
"(d) All fire sprinkler systems shall have a backflow
prevention device or, in a municipality with a population
over 500,000, a double detector check assembly installed by a
licensed plumber before the fire sprinkler system connection
to the water service. Connection to the backflow prevention
device or, in a municipality with a population over 500,000 a
double detector assembly shall be done in a manner consistent
with the Department of Public Health's Plumbing Code.".
With this specific recommendation for change, Senate Bill
1622 will have my approval. I respectfully request your
concurrence.
Sincerely,
George H. Ryan
GOVERNOR
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