The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation proposed an emergency amendment which will impact massage therapy programs and those enrolled in the programs on or after 1/1/14:
The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation proposed amendments to the Part titled “Massage Licensing Act” (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1284; 37 Ill. Reg. 4413), implementing a provision of Public Act 97-514 increasing the number of supervised classroom and hands-on instruction clock hours for applicants from 500 hours to 600 hours effective 1/1/14. Additionally, the Division can require an applicant to complete additional coursework if he or she does not meet the required number of hours. Finally, the rulemaking clarifies that out-of-state massage therapy programs must have similar criteria to Illinois for an applicant’s credentials to be accepted in Illinois.
Bottom Line: The Department is initiating these amendments in order to implement PA 97-514, which was the sunset reauthorization of the Massage Licensing Act, effective August 23, 2011. Section 1284.20 will be amended to stipulate that an applicant’s massage therapy training must now include 600 clock hours of supervised classroom and supervised hands-on instruction, instead of 500. This requirement will become effective January 1, 2014. For questions or to submit comments contact Craig Cellini at Craig.Cellini@illinois.gov, or call (217) 785-0813. Click here to submit comments.
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The Department of Public Health proposed amendments which will impact health care providers and workers, food handlers, and employees of schools and day care facilities:
The Department of Public Health also proposed amendments to “Control of Communicable Diseases Code” (77 Ill. Adm. Code 690; 37 Ill. Reg. 4479) updating its list of communicable diseases that must be reported, measures to prevent the spread of disease, and persons or entities required to report communicable disease cases. Diseases that must be reported to a local health department, and by the local department to DPH, within 3 hours of a case being identified or susp3ected now include polio, diphtheria, and any disease attributable to an “infectious agent of urgent public health significance”. Diseases that must be reported within 24 hours include influenza cases where the patient has been admitted to an intensive care unit and animal rabies cases. Illnesses due to extensively drug resistant organisms of public health importance (e.g., MRSA) must be reported within 7 days. Funeral directors, morticians, and researchers are added to the list of persons who must report communicable disease cases to DPH. Also, communicable disease cases occurring aboard aircraft, ships, trains or buses must be reported by the pilot, captain or other person in charge of the vehicle or vessel. Other provisions of this rulemaking concern precautions to be taken by food handlers, health care workers, and others against the spread of disease; testing and collection of specimens; electronic reporting; protection of confidential healthcare information; and collection of data by DPH regarding unusual disease or symptom occurrences (syndromic data).
Bottom Line: This Part being changed to update reporting activities of mandatory reporters to improve communicable disease reporting in Illinois. The Control of Communicable Diseases Code provides a list of the reportable diseases and conditions, the timeframes in which these diseases or conditions shall be reported, the reporting entities and the procedures for reporting.
The Part also provides detailed procedures for the control of communicable diseases for each reportable disease, as well as general procedures for the control of communicable diseases. The document also provides definitions of terms and references to incorporated materials. The proposed amendments update the existing rules based on the most current disease and procedure information to improve the control of communicable disease in Illinois. Information on diseases and conditions, appropriate measures to control communicable diseases and technology in pace to report diseases have changed since the last revision of the rules.
To improve communicable disease reporting, the number of reporting entities has been increased and additional reporting entities have been added. To monitor the severity and burden of disease secondary to influenza in Illinois, the Part has been updated to add the reporting of hospitalized residents who received a diagnosis of influenza into intensive care units.
To help prevent the spread of contagious disease or a dangerously contagious or infectious disease, the part has been updated to reflect improved data sharing between the Department, local boards of health and local public health authorities.
The economic impact of this amendment is unknown. Therefore the Department requests any information that would assist in calculating the effect.
For questions or to submit comments, contact Susan Meister, Division of Legal Services at dph.rules@Illinois.gov, or call (217) 782-2043. Click here to submit comments.
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The Department of Public Health proposed amendments which will impact plumbers and building contractors:
The Department of Public Health proposed amendments to “Illinois Plumbing Code” (77 Ill. Adm. Code 890; 37 Ill. Reg. 5309) recommended by the Plumbing Code Advisory Council to update the existing minimum code standards for plumbing and fixtures, materials, design and installation methods of plumbing systems. The rulemaking makes numerous technical corrections and clarifications, and adds new illustrations for clarity. A new Subpart N provides a comprehensive set of standards for the design and construction of sustainable plumbing systems. The rulemaking makes numerous additional changes that cannot be adequately addressed in this summary. For further information, contact Susan Meister (217) 782-2043, or email dph.rules@illinois.gov.
Bottom Line: Changes to this Part include amendments recommended by the Plumbing Code Advisory Council to the existing minimum code of standards for plumbing and fixtures, materials, design and installation methods of plumbing systems to reflect advances in those technologies and methods that use natural resources more effectively to protect public health. Modifications o format, style and numbering are being made to increase uniformity are between the Part and the required codification system established by the Secretary of State. Edits are introduced to clarify ambiguity and eliminate redundancy. Repealed Sections are relocated within the Part. New illustrations have been added for clarity. Repealed illustrations have been relocated or deleted because of duplication. The purpose of the new Subpart N is to provide a comprehensive set of technically sound provisions that encourage sustainable practices and work towards enhancing the design and construction of plumbing systems that result in a positive long-term environmental impact. The economic effect of this proposed rulemaking is unknown. Therefore, the Department requests any information that would assist in calculating this effect. For questions or to submit comments, contact Susan Meister, Division of Legal Services, at 9217) 782-2043 or email dph.rules@illinois.gov. Click here to submit comments.
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The Office of the State Fire Marshall proposed amendments which will impact small businesses that operate boilers:
The Office of the State Fire Marshall proposed amendments to “Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act” (41 Ill. Adm. Code 120; 34 Ill. Reg. 5279) that update numerous national standards and restructure the State boiler serial number system. The rulemaking also gives inspectors up to 90 days after a boiler inspection certificate expires to conduct an inspection; the previous inspection certificate will remain valid until reinspection is completed.
Bottom Line: This amendment describes and updates the process for the inspection of historical boilers. Implements the statutory requirement that these boilers be inspected once every 2 years, in addition to specific procedures and standards found in the National Board Inspection Code (NBIC), 2011 Edition. Allows the OSFM Boiler Division and Special Inspectors 90 days from the expiration of the current boiler inspection certificate to conduct the boiler inspection before the inspection would be deemed untimely. Updates materials incorporated by reference. Individuals and companies must maintain copies of maintenance and inspection records. For questions or to submit comments, contact Clayton Novak, at (312) 814-2381. Click here to submit comments.