SB2618eng 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2618 Engrossed LRB100 16352 SMS 31478 b

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Regulatory Sunset Act is amended by changing Section 4.29 and adding Section 4.39 as follows:

(5 ILCS 80/4.29)

Sec. 4.29. Acts repealed on January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019.

(a) The following Act is repealed on January 1, 2019:

The Environmental Health Practitioner Licensing Act.

(b) The following Acts are repealed on December 31, 2019:

The Medical Practice Act of 1987.

The Structural Pest Control Act.

(Source: P.A. 100-429, eff. 8-25-17.)

(5 ILCS 80/4.39 new)

Sec. 4.39. Act repealed on January 1, 2029. The following Act is repealed on January 1, 2029:

The Environmental Health Practitioner Licensing Act.

Section 10. The Environmental Health Practitioner Licensing Act is amended by changing Sections 10, 18, 19, 31, 35, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 115, 125, and 130 and by adding Sections 11 and 123 as follows:

(225 ILCS 37/10)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Address of record" means the designated address recorded by the Department in the applicant's application file or the licensee's license file maintained by the Department's licensure maintenance unit.

"Board" means the Board of Environmental Health Practitioners as created in this Act.

"Department" means the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

"Director" means the Director of Professional Regulation.

"Email address of record" means the designated email address recorded by the Department in the applicant's application file or the licensee's license file maintained by the Department's licensure maintenance unit.

"Environmental health inspector" means an individual who, in support of and under the general supervision of a licensed environmental health practitioner or licensed professional engineer, practices environmental health and meets the educational qualifications of an environmental health inspector.

"Environmental health practice" is the practice of environmental health by licensed environmental health practitioners within the meaning of this Act and includes, but is not limited to, the following areas of professional activities: milk and food sanitation; protection and regulation of private water supplies; private waste water management; domestic solid waste disposal practices; institutional health and safety; and consultation and education in these fields.

"Environmental health practitioner in training" means a person licensed under this Act who meets the educational qualifications of a licensed environmental health practitioner and practices environmental health in support of and under the general supervision of a licensed environmental health practitioner or licensed professional engineer, but has not passed the licensed environmental health practitioner examination administered by the Department.

"License" means the authorization issued by the Department permitting the person named on the authorization to practice environmental health as defined in this Act.

"Licensed environmental health practitioner" is a person who, by virtue of education and experience in the physical, chemical, biological, and environmental health sciences, is especially trained to organize, implement, and manage environmental health programs, trained to carry out education and enforcement activities for the promotion and protection of the public health and environment, and is licensed as an environmental health practitioner under this Act.

"Secretary" means the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation.

(Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

(225 ILCS 37/11 new)

Sec. 11. Address of record; email address of record. All applicants and licensees shall:

(1) provide a valid address and email address to the Department, which shall serve as the address of record and email address of record, respectively, at the time of application for licensure or renewal of a license; and

(2) inform the Department of any change of address of record or email address of record within 14 days after such change either through the Department's website or by contacting the Department's licensure maintenance unit.

(225 ILCS 37/18)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 18. Board of Environmental Health Practitioners. The Board of Environmental Health Practitioners is created and shall exercise its duties as provided in this Act. The Board shall consist of 5 members appointed by the Secretary Director. Of the 5 members, 3 shall be environmental health practitioners, one a Public Health Administrator who meets the minimum qualifications for public health personnel employed by full time local health departments as prescribed by the Illinois Department of Public Health and is actively engaged in the administration of a local health department within this State, and one member of the general public. In making the appointments to the Board, the Secretary Director shall consider the recommendations of related professional and trade associations including the Illinois Environmental Health Association and the Illinois Public Health Association and of the Director of Public Health. Each of the environmental health practitioners shall have at least 5 years of full time employment in the field of environmental health practice before the date of appointment. Each appointee filling the seat of an environmental health practitioner appointed to the Board must be licensed under this Act.

The membership of the Board shall reasonably reflect representation from the various geographic areas of the State.

A vacancy in the membership of the Board shall not impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the Board.

The members of the Board are entitled to receive reimbursement for as compensation a reasonable sum as determined by the Director for each day actually engaged in the duties of the office and all legitimate and necessary expenses incurred in attending the meetings of the Board.

A member Members of the Board shall have no liability be immune from suit in any action based upon any disciplinary proceedings or other activity activities performed in good faith as a member members of the Board.

The Secretary Director may remove any member of the Board for any cause that, in the opinion of the Secretary Director, reasonably justifies termination.

(Source: P.A. 91-724, eff. 6-2-00; 91-798, eff. 7-9-00; 92-837, eff. 8-22-02.)

(225 ILCS 37/19)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 19. Requirements of approval by Board of Environmental Health Practitioners. The Secretary Director may consider the recommendations of the Board in establishing guidelines for professional conduct, for the conduct of formal disciplinary proceedings brought under this Act, and for establishing guidelines for qualifications and examinations of applicants. Notice of proposed rulemaking shall be transmitted to the Board. The Department shall review the response of the Board and its recommendations. The Department, at any time, may seek the expert advice and knowledge of the Board on any matter relating to the administration or enforcement of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 89-61, eff. 6-30-95.)

(225 ILCS 37/31)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 31. Checks or orders dishonored. A person who issues or delivers a check or other order to the Department that is returned to the Department unpaid by the financial institution upon which it is drawn shall pay to the Department, in addition to the amount already owed to the Department, a fine of $50. The fines imposed by this Section are in addition to any other discipline provided under this Act prohibiting unlicensed practice or practice on a nonrenewed license. The Department shall notify the person that payment of fees and fines shall be paid to the Department by certified check or money order within 30 calendar days after notification. If, after the expiration of 30 days from the date of the notification, the person fails to submit the necessary remittance, the Department shall automatically terminate the license or certification or deny the application, without hearing. If, after termination or denial, the person seeks a license or certificate, he or she shall apply to the Department for restoration or issuance of a license or certificate and pay all fees and fines due to the Department. The Department may establish a fee for the processing of an application for restoration of a license to pay all costs and expenses of processing of this application. The Secretary Director may waive the fines due under this Section in individual cases where the Secretary Director finds that the fines would be unnecessarily burdensome.

(Source: P.A. 92-146, eff. 1-1-02.)

(225 ILCS 37/35)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 35. Grounds for discipline.

(a) The Department may refuse to issue or renew, or may revoke, suspend, place on probation, reprimand, or take other disciplinary action with regard to any license issued under this Act as the Department may consider proper, including the imposition of fines not to exceed $5,000 for each violation, for any one or combination of the following causes:

(1) Material misstatement in furnishing information to the Department.

(2) Violations of this Act or its rules.

(3) Conviction by plea of guilty or nolo contendere, finding of guilt, jury verdict, or entry of judgment or sentencing, including, but not limited to, convictions, preceding sentences of supervision, conditional discharge, or first offender probation, under the laws of any jurisdiction of the United States that is (i) a felony or (ii) a misdemeanor, an essential element of which is dishonesty, or that is directly related to the practice of the profession. Conviction of any felony under the laws of any U.S. jurisdiction, any misdemeanor an essential element of which is dishonesty, or any crime that is directly related to the practice of the profession.

(4) Making any misrepresentation for the purpose of obtaining a certificate of registration.

(5) Professional incompetence.

(6) Aiding or assisting another person in violating any provision of this Act or its rules.

(7) Failing to provide information within 60 days in response to a written request made by the Department.

(8) Engaging in dishonorable, unethical, or unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public as defined by rules of the Department.

(9) Habitual or excessive use or addiction to alcohol, narcotics, stimulants, or any other chemical agent or drug that results in an environmental health practitioner's inability to practice with reasonable judgment, skill, or safety.

(10) Discipline by another U.S. jurisdiction or foreign nation, if at least one of the grounds for a discipline is the same or substantially equivalent to those set forth in this Act.

(11) A finding by the Department that the registrant, after having his or her license placed on probationary status, has violated the terms of probation.

(12) Willfully making or filing false records or reports in his or her practice, including, but not limited to, false records filed with State agencies or departments.

(13) Physical illness, including, but not limited to, deterioration through the aging process or loss of motor skills that result in the inability to practice the profession with reasonable judgment, skill, or safety.

(14) Failure to comply with rules promulgated by the Illinois Department of Public Health or other State agencies related to the practice of environmental health.

(15) The Department shall deny any application for a license or renewal of a license under this Act, without hearing, to a person who has defaulted on an educational loan guaranteed by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission; however, the Department may issue a license or renewal of a license if the person in default has established a satisfactory repayment record as determined by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

(16) Solicitation of professional services by using false or misleading advertising.

(17) A finding that the license has been applied for or obtained by fraudulent means.

(18) Practicing or attempting to practice under a name other than the full name as shown on the license or any other legally authorized name.

(19) Gross overcharging for professional services including filing statements for collection of fees or moneys for which services are not rendered.

(b) The Department may refuse to issue or may suspend the license of any person who fails to (i) file a return, (ii) pay the tax, penalty, or interest shown in a filed return; or (iii) pay any final assessment of the tax, penalty, or interest as required by any tax Act administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue until the requirements of the tax Act are satisfied.

(c) The determination by a circuit court that a licensee is subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission to a mental health facility as provided in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code operates as an automatic suspension. The suspension may end only upon a finding by a court that the licensee is no longer subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission, the issuance of an order so finding and discharging the patient, and the recommendation of the Board to the Secretary Director that the licensee be allowed to resume practice.

(d) In enforcing this Section, the Department, upon a showing of a possible violation, may compel any person licensed to practice under this Act or who has applied for licensure or certification pursuant to this Act to submit to a mental or physical examination, or both, as required by and at the expense of the Department. The examining physicians shall be those specifically designated by the Department. The Department may order the examining physician to present testimony concerning this mental or physical examination of the licensee or applicant. No information shall be excluded by reason of any common law or statutory privilege relating to communications between the licensee or applicant and the examining physician. The person to be examined may have, at his or her own expense, another physician of his or her choice present during all aspects of the examination. Failure of any person to submit to a mental or physical examination, when directed, shall be grounds for suspension of a license until the person submits to the examination if the Department finds, after notice and hearing, that the refusal to submit to the examination was without reasonable cause.

If the Department finds an individual unable to practice because of the reasons set forth in this Section, the Department may require that individual to submit to care, counseling, or treatment by physicians approved or designated by the Department, as a condition, term, or restriction for continued, restored reinstated, or renewed licensure to practice or, in lieu of care, counseling, or treatment, the Department may file a complaint to immediately suspend, revoke, or otherwise discipline the license of the individual.

Any person whose license was granted, continued, restored reinstated, renewed, disciplined, or supervised subject to such terms, conditions, or restrictions and who fails to comply with such terms, conditions, or restrictions shall be referred to the Secretary Director for a determination as to whether the person shall have his or her license suspended immediately, pending a hearing by the Department.

In instances in which the Secretary Director immediately suspends a person's license under this Section, a hearing on that person's license must be convened by the Department within 15 days after the suspension and completed without appreciable delay. The Department shall have the authority to review the subject person's record of treatment and counseling regarding the impairment, to the extent permitted by applicable federal statutes and regulations safeguarding the confidentiality of medical records.

A person licensed under this Act and affected under this Section shall be afforded an opportunity to demonstrate to the Department that he or she can resume practice in compliance with acceptable and prevailing standards under the provisions of his or her license.

(Source: P.A. 92-837, eff. 8-22-02.)

(225 ILCS 37/60)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 60. Violations; injunctions; cease and desist order.

(a) If a person violates a provision of this Act, the Secretary Director may, in the name of the People of the State of Illinois, through the Attorney General of the State of Illinois, petition for an order enjoining the violation or for any order enforcing compliance with this Act. Upon the filing of a verified petition in court, the court may issue a temporary restraining order, without notice or bond, and may preliminarily and permanently enjoin the violation. If it is established that the person has violated or is violating the injunction, the Court may punish the offender for contempt of court. Proceedings under this Section are in addition to, and not in lieu of, all other remedies and penalties provided by this Act.

(b) (Blank). If a person practices as an environmental health practitioner or holds himself or herself out as such without having a valid license under this Act, then a licensee, an interested party, or a person injured thereby may, in addition to the Director, petition for relief as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.

(c) Whenever in the opinion of the Department a person violates a provision of this Act, the Department may issue a rule to show cause why an order to cease and desist should not be entered against him or her. The rule shall clearly set forth the grounds relied upon by the Department and shall provide a period of 7 days from the date of the rule to file an answer to the satisfaction of the Department. Failure to answer to the satisfaction of the Department shall cause an order to cease and desist to be issued immediately.

(Source: P.A. 89-61, eff. 6-30-95.)

(225 ILCS 37/65)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 65. Investigation; notice; hearing. The Department may investigate the actions of an applicant or a person or persons holding or claiming to hold a license. Before refusing to issue, refusing to renew, or taking any disciplinary action regarding a license, the Department shall, at least 30 days before the date set for the hearing, notify in writing the applicant for, or holder of, a license of the nature of any charges and that a hearing will be held on a date designated. The Department shall direct the applicant or licensee to file a written answer with the Board under oath within 20 days after the service of the notice and inform the applicant or licensee that failure to file an answer shall result in default being taken against the applicant or licensee and that the license may be suspended, revoked, or placed on probationary status, or that other disciplinary action may be taken, including limiting the scope, nature, or extent of practice, as the Secretary Director may consider proper. Written notice may be served by personal delivery, or certified or registered mail, or email to the applicant or licensee respondent at the address of his or her address of record or email address of record last notification to the Department. If the person fails to file an answer after receiving notice, his or her license or certificate may, in the discretion of the Department, be suspended, revoked, or placed on probationary status or the Department may take any disciplinary action considered proper, including limiting the scope, nature, or extent of the person's practice or the imposition of a fine, without a hearing, if the act or acts charged constitute sufficient grounds for such action under this Act. At the time and place fixed in the notice, the Board shall proceed to hear the charges and the parties or their counsel shall be accorded ample opportunity to present statements, testimony, evidence, and arguments as may be pertinent to the charges or to their defense. The Board may continue a hearing from time to time.

(Source: P.A. 89-61, eff. 6-30-95.)

(225 ILCS 37/70)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 70. Records of proceeding. The Department, at its expense, shall preserve a record of all proceedings at the formal hearing of any case. The notice of hearing, complaint, and all other documents in the nature of pleadings, written motions filed in the proceedings, transcripts of testimony, reports of the Board and orders of the Department shall be in the record of the proceedings. The Department shall furnish a transcript of the record to any person interested in the hearing upon payment of the fee required under Section 2105-115 of the Department of Professional Regulation Law (20 ILCS 2105/2105-115).

(Source: P.A. 91-239, eff. 1-1-00.)

(225 ILCS 37/75)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 75. Subpoenas; oaths; attendance of witnesses. The Department has the power to subpoena and to bring before it any person and to take testimony either orally or by deposition, or both, with the same fees and mileage and in the same manner as prescribed in civil cases in the courts of this State.

The Secretary Director, the designated hearing officer, and every member of the Board has the power to administer oaths to witnesses at any hearing that the Department is authorized to conduct and any other oaths authorized in any Act administered by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 89-61, eff. 6-30-95.)

(225 ILCS 37/80)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 80. Recommendations for disciplinary action. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Board shall present to the Secretary Director a written report of its findings and recommendations. The report shall contain a finding whether or not the licensee violated this Act or failed to comply with the conditions required in this Act. The Board shall specify the nature of the violation or failure to comply and shall make its recommendations to the Secretary Director.

The report of findings, conclusions of law, and recommendations of the Board shall be the basis for the Department's order for refusal to issue or for the granting of a license or for any disciplinary action. If the Secretary Director disagrees with the recommendation of the Board, the Secretary Director may issue an order in contravention of the Board's report. The finding is not admissible in evidence against the person in a criminal prosecution brought for violation of this Act, but the hearing and findings are not a bar to criminal prosecution brought for violation of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 89-61, eff. 6-30-95.)

(225 ILCS 37/85)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 85. Rehearing. In any hearing involving disciplinary action against an applicant or licensee, a copy of the Board's report shall be served upon the applicant or licensee by the Department, either personally or as provided in this Act for the service of the notice of hearing. Within 20 calendar days after service, the applicant or licensee may present to the Department a motion in writing for a rehearing that shall specify the particular grounds for rehearing. If no motion for rehearing is filed, then upon the expiration of the time specified for filing a motion, or if a motion for rehearing is denied, then upon denial, the Secretary Director may enter an order in accordance with recommendations of the Board, except as provided in this Act. If the applicant or licensee orders from the reporting service, and pays for a transcript of the record within the time for filing a motion for rehearing, the 20 calendar day period within which a motion may be filed shall commence upon the delivery of the transcript to the respondent.

(Source: P.A. 88-670, eff. 12-2-94; 89-61, eff. 6-30-95.)

(225 ILCS 37/90)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 90. Rehearing Hearing by other examiner. Whenever the Secretary Director is not satisfied that substantial justice has been done in the revocation, suspension, or refusal to issue or renew a license, the Secretary Director may order a rehearing by the same or other examiners.

(Source: P.A. 88-683, eff. 1-24-95; 89-61, eff. 6-30-95; 89-626, eff. 8-9-96.)

(225 ILCS 37/95)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 95. Appointment of hearing officer. The Secretary Director has the authority to appoint any attorney duly licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois to serve as the hearing officer in any action for Departmental refusal to issue a license, renew a license, or to discipline a licensee. The hearing officer has full authority to conduct the hearing. At least one member of the Board shall attend each hearing. The hearing officer shall report the findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations to the Board and the Secretary Director. The Board has 60 calendar days from receipt of the report to review the report of the hearing officer and present its findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations to the Secretary Director. If the Board fails to present its report within the 60 calendar day period, the Secretary Director may issue an order based on the report of the hearing officer. If the Secretary Director disagrees with the recommendation of the Board or the hearing officer, the Secretary Director may issue an order in contravention of the recommendation.

(Source: P.A. 89-61, eff. 6-30-95.)

(225 ILCS 37/100)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 100. Order or certified copy. An order or a certified copy thereof, over the seal of the Department and purporting to be signed by the Secretary Director, shall be prima facie proof that:

(1) the signature is the genuine signature of the Secretary Director;

(2) the Secretary Director is duly appointed and qualified; and

(3) the Board and its members are qualified to act.

(Source: P.A. 89-61, eff. 6-30-95.)

(225 ILCS 37/105)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 105. Restoration of suspended or revoked license. At any time after the suspension or revocation of any license, the Department may restore the license to the accused person upon the written recommendation of the Board, unless after an investigation and a hearing the Board determines that restoration is not in the public interest. No person whose license has been revoked as authorized in this Act may apply for restoration of that license until such time as provided for in the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

A license that has been suspended or revoked shall be considered nonrenewed for purposes of restoration and a person restoring his or her license from suspension or revocation must comply with the requirements for restoration of a nonrenewed license as set forth in Section 15 of this Act and any related rules adopted.

(Source: P.A. 89-61, eff. 6-30-95.)

(225 ILCS 37/115)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 115. Temporary suspension. The Secretary Director may summarily suspend the license of an environmental health practitioner without a hearing, simultaneously with the initiation of proceedings for a hearing provided for in this Act, if the Secretary Director finds that evidence in his or her possession indicates that an environmental health practitioner's continuation in practice would constitute an imminent danger to the public. In the event that the Secretary Director summarily suspends the license of an environmental health practitioner without a hearing, a hearing by the Board must be commenced held within 30 calendar days after the suspension has occurred.

(Source: P.A. 89-61, eff. 6-30-95.)

(225 ILCS 37/123 new)

Sec. 123. Confidentiality. All information collected by the Department in the course of an examination or investigation of a licensee, registrant, or applicant, including, but not limited to, any complaint against a licensee or registrant filed with the Department and information collected to investigate any such complaint, shall be maintained for the confidential use of the Department and shall not be disclosed. The Department may not disclose the information to anyone other than law enforcement officials, other regulatory agencies that have an appropriate regulatory interest as determined by the Secretary, or a party presenting a lawful subpoena to the Department. Information and documents disclosed to a federal, State, county, or local law enforcement agency shall not be disclosed by the agency for any purpose to any other agency or person. A formal complaint filed against a licensee, registrant, or applicant by the Department or any order issued by the Department against a licensee, registrant, or applicant shall be a public record, except as otherwise prohibited by law.

(225 ILCS 37/125)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 125. Certification of record; costs records. The Department shall not be required to certify a record to the court or file an answer in court or otherwise appear in a court in a judicial review proceeding, unless and until the Department has received from the plaintiff payment of the costs of furnishing and certifying the record, which costs shall be determined by the Department. Exhibits shall be certified without cost. Failure on the part of the plaintiff to file a receipt in court shall be grounds for dismissal of the action. The Department shall not be required to certify any record to the court, to file any answer in court, or otherwise appear in any court in a judicial review proceeding, unless there is filed in the court, with the complaint, a receipt from the Department acknowledging payment of the costs of furnishing and certifying the record. Failure on the part of the plaintiff to file the receipt in court shall be grounds for dismissal of the action.

(Source: P.A. 89-61, eff. 6-30-95.)

(225 ILCS 37/130)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 130. Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act is expressly adopted and incorporated in this Act as if all of the provisions of that Act were included in this Act, except that the provision of paragraph (c) of Section 10-65 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, which provides that at hearings the certificate holder has the right to show compliance with all lawful requirements for retention, continuation, or renewal of the certificate, is specifically excluded. For the purpose of this Act, the notice required under Section 10-25 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act is deemed sufficient when mailed or emailed to the applicant or licensee at his or her last known address of record or email address of record last known address of a party.

(Source: P.A. 99-642, eff. 7-28-16.)

(225 ILCS 37/45 rep.)

Section 15. The Environmental Health Practitioner Licensing Act is amended by repealing Section 45.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.