(410 ILCS 70/8) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 87-8)

Sec. 8. Penalties.

(a) Any hospital or approved pediatric health care facility violating any provisions of this Act other than Section 7.5 shall be guilty of a petty offense for each violation, and any fine imposed shall be paid into the general corporate funds of the city, incorporated town or village in which the hospital or approved pediatric health care facility is located, or of the county, in case such hospital is outside the limits of any incorporated municipality.

(b) The Attorney General may seek the assessment of one or more of the following civil monetary penalties in any action filed under this Act where the hospital, approved pediatric health care facility, health care professional, ambulance provider, laboratory, or pharmacy knowingly violates Section 7.5 of the Act:

(1) For willful violations of paragraphs (1), (2), (4), or (5) of subsection (a) of Section 7.5 or subsection (c) of Section 7.5, the civil monetary penalty shall not exceed $500 per violation.

(2) For violations of paragraphs (1), (2), (4), or (5) of subsection (a) of Section 7.5 or subsection (c) of Section 7.5 involving a pattern or practice, the civil monetary penalty shall not exceed $500 per violation.

(3) For violations of paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Section 7.5, the civil monetary penalty shall not exceed $500 for each day the bill is with a collection agency.

(4) For violations involving the failure to submit billing protocols within the time period required under subsection (d) of Section 7.5, the civil monetary penalty shall not exceed $100 per day until the health care professional or approved pediatric health care facility complies with subsection (d) of Section 7.5.

All civil monetary penalties shall be deposited into the Violent Crime Victims Assistance Fund.

(c) This Section is effective on and after January 1, 2024.

(Source: P.A. 101-634, eff. 6-5-20; 102-22, eff. 6-25-21; 102-674, eff. 11-30-21.)