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HB 4829

EPA-REPEAL ENVIR LAB CERT COMM

104th Regular Session Introduced by Mary Edly-Allen and 2 co-sponsors

The bill repeals the Environmental Laboratory Certification Committee and shifts control of certification assessments and funding schedules to the Agency.

Sent to the Governor
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Bill Summary · HB 4829

Overview

HB 4829 proposes changes to Illinois’ Environmental Protection Act regarding environmental laboratory certification. The bill repeals provisions creating the Environmental Laboratory Certification Committee and eliminates references to that Committee. It shifts the framework for setting and collecting laboratory certification assessments and relocates related governance and funding mechanisms.

Main purpose and intent

  • Streamline or restructure the regulatory framework for environmental laboratory certification by removing the Environmental Laboratory Certification Committee.
  • Retain a structured approach to annual assessments and funding for laboratories seeking or renewing certification, but with potential changes to how schedules are established and who participates in oversight.

Key provisions and changes

  • Repeal of the Environmental Laboratory Certification Committee: The bill eliminates references to the Committee within Section 17.8 of the Environmental Protection Act.
  • Continued assessment framework (existing schedules): The bill preserves current assessment schedules for certain certifications as a transitional measure until new schedules are established. These include:
    • Public water supply analyses: $1,000 per year for inorganic parameters; $1,000 per year for organic parameters.
    • Water pollution analyses: $1,000 per year for inorganic parameters; $1,000 per year for organic parameters.
    • Analyses of solid or liquid samples for hazardous or other waste parameters: $1,000 per year for inorganic parameters; $1,000 per year for organic parameters.
    • An administrative assessment of $2,400 per year, or $3,900 if the laboratory was not certified in the six months prior to the application.
  • Payment timing and non-refundability: Assessments are due at the time of application or renewal and are non-refundable under the current structure.
  • Agency procedures and funding: The Agency may establish procedures for certification, analyses, alternative assessment schedules, dispute resolution, and collection of assessments. Moneys collected are deposited into the Environmental Laboratory Certification Fund, a special fund in the State Treasury, to cover certification administration costs.
  • D-5 provision on establishing schedules: The Agency, with concurrence from the Environmental Laboratory Certification Committee, determines assessment schedules based on actual and anticipated costs (state and federal) and related program costs; schedules take effect only if the Committee concurs.
  • Environmental Laboratory Certification Committee (restructuring): The bill originally outlines a detailed composition and appointment process for a new Environmental Laboratory Certification Committee, including representatives from various lab stakeholders and terms. Given the repeal of the Committee, this section would be affected; the text indicates prior provisions for the committee’s composition, duties, meetings, and financial review responsibilities (e.g., evaluating alternative schedules, reviewing audits, proposing long-term funding, technical review, and advisory functions).

Note: The bill text presents the pre-repeal Committee framework and related duties, but the key thrust is removal of the Committee’s formal existence, with transitional mechanisms for assessment schedules and funding to be determined by the Agency (potentially with new guidance).

Who is affected

  • Environmental laboratories seeking or renewing certification (public water supply, water pollution analyses, hazardous waste analyses, and related inorganic/organic parameter analyses).
  • State agencies involved in environmental laboratory certification administration (the Illinois EPA) responsible for setting schedules, collecting assessments, and managing the Environmental Laboratory Certification Fund.
  • Municipal, county, or state government entities that previously paid or were exempt from some assessments (the act currently exempts government departments from certain assessments).
  • Accredited environmental laboratories and stakeholders who formerly interacted with the Environmental Laboratory Certification Committee (the committee’s role would be removed or redirected).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Transitional schedules: Existing assessment schedules stay in effect until the Agency establishes new schedules with Committee concurrence.
  • Funding and deposits: All assessments fund the Environmental Laboratory Certification Fund; usage is subject to appropriation.
  • Committee timelines: The bill mentions terms and duties for the Environmental Laboratory Certification Committee, including staggered terms and potential six-year terms, but the core repeal implies this governance layer would be removed or replaced.
  • Administrative discretion: The Agency can establish procedures for certification and assessment-related processes, with cost-based scheduling to be evaluated and potentially adjusted over time.

Summary of potential impact

  • The bill aims to streamline laboratory certification governance by repealing the Environmental Laboratory Certification Committee, shifting more control to the Agency for setting and adjusting assessment schedules.
  • Financially, laboratories would continue paying annual assessments, with a transitional allowance for established rates, and a consolidated fund to support administrative costs.
  • The ultimate effect depends on how the Agency implements new assessment schedules and whether alternative governance structures are adopted to replace the Committee.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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