HB5936 Summary: Asbestos Occupations Licensure Act

• Creates the Asbestos Occupations Licensure Act to centralize training and licensing of asbestos professionals (inspectors, abatement contractors, workers, supervisors, project managers, air sampling professionals) under the Department of Public Health.

• Transfers non-licensing functions related to asbestos abatement from the Department of Public Health to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Pollution Control Board, effective July 1, 2014.

• Establishes the Asbestos Occupations Licensure Fund to collect fees and penalties for administering the licensure program, which is protected from state budget sweeps and transfers.

• Requires asbestos abatement contractors to maintain liability insurance or bonds of at least $500,000 for school abatement work and $1,000,000 for commercial/public building work.

• Creates an Asbestos Advisory Committee composed of representatives from business, labor, professional, and educational organizations to review and recommend changes to asbestos-related laws and regulations.