Illinois § 4-104.5

§ 4-104.5.

Waiver of compliance. Upon application by a facility, the Director may grant or renew the waiver of the facility's compliance with a rule or standard for a period not to exceed the duration of the current license or, in the case of an application for license renewal, the duration of the renewal period. The waiver may be conditioned upon the facility taking action prescribed by the Director as a measure equivalent to compliance. In determining whether to grant or renew a waiver, the Director shall consider the duration and basis for any current waiver with respect to the same rule or standard and the validity and effect upon patient health and safety of extending it on the same basis, the effect upon the health and safety of consumers, the quality of consumer care, the facility's history of compliance with the rules and standards of this Act and the facility's attempts to comply with the particular rule or standard in question. Upon request by a facility, the Department must evaluate or allow for an evaluation of compliance with the Life Safety Code using the Fire Safety Evaluation System. In determining whether to grant or renew a waiver of a standard pertaining to Chapter 33 of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101 Life Safety Code, the Director shall use Fire Safety Evaluation Systems in determining whether to grant or renew the waiver. The Department may provide, by rule, for the automatic renewal of waivers concerning physical plant requirements upon the renewal of a license. The Department shall renew waivers relating to physical plant standards issued in accordance with this Section at the time of the indicated reviews, unless it can show why such waivers should not be extended for either of the following reasons: (1) the condition of the physical plant has deteriorated or its use substantially changed so that the basis upon which the waiver was issued is materially different; or (2) the facility is renovated or substantially remodeled in such a way as to permit compliance with the applicable rules and standards without a substantial increase in cost. A copy of each waiver application and each waiver granted or renewed shall be on file with the Department and available for public inspection. No penalty or fine may be assessed for a condition for which the facility has received a variance or waiver of a standard. Waivers granted to a facility by the Department under any other law shall not be considered by the Department in its determination of a facility's compliance with the requirements of this Act, including, but not limited to, compliance with the Life Safety Code. (Source: P.A. 100-365, eff. 8-25-17.)