101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB5848

 

Introduced 11/10/2020, by Rep. Mary E. Flowers

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
210 ILCS 50/3.50

    Creates the Medical Direction By Law Enforcement Act. Provides that a law enforcement officer shall not direct or suggest to a medical professional how to medically treat an individual that is in the care of the medical professional. Provides that the Section shall apply even if the medical professional was requested by a law enforcement officer to assist the individual. Provides that nothing in the Section shall be interpreted to mean that a law enforcement officer should not provide the medical professional with all information in his or her knowledge or possession that may be of assistance to the medical professional in treating the individual. Provides that a violation is a Class 4 felony. Defines "law enforcement officer" and "medical professional". Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Requires an applicant seeking an EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, or Paramedic license to submit a signed EMT Oath before licensing. Contains a preamble. Effective immediately.


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CORRECTIONAL BUDGET AND IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning local government.
 
2    WHEREAS, There have been increased reports of law
3enforcement officers directing medical personnel how to treat
4individuals in custody of the law enforcement officers, such as
5the use of ketamine to subdue individuals; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Individuals have been hurt and killed as a result
7of law enforcement officers directing medical personnel to
8treat individuals in certain ways; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Most law enforcement officers have limited
10medical knowledge and are not trained, certified, or licensed
11in any area of medicine; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Practice of medicine in Illinois without a license
13is unlawful and law enforcement officers are essentially
14practicing medicine without a license when directing medical
15personnel how to treat individuals; therefore
 
16    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
17represented in the General Assembly:
 
18    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
19Medical Direction By Law Enforcement Act.
 

 

 

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1    Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
2    "Law enforcement officer" has the meaning given to that
3term in Section 10-10 of the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body
4Camera Act.
5    "Medical professional" has meaning given to that term in
6Section 1003 of the Illinois Insurance Code.
 
7    Section 10. Interaction with medical professionals.
8    (a) A law enforcement officer shall not direct or suggest
9to a medical professional how to medically treat an individual
10that is in the care of the medical professional. This Section
11shall apply even if the medical professional was requested by a
12law enforcement officer to assist the individual.
13    (b) A law enforcement officer who violates subsection
14(a)commits a Class 4 felony.
15    (c) Nothing in this Section shall be interpreted to mean
16that a law enforcement officer should not provide the medical
17professional with all information in his or her knowledge or
18possession that may be of assistance to the medical
19professional in treating the individual.
 
20    Section 100. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems
21Act is amended by changing Section 3.50 as follows:
 
22    (210 ILCS 50/3.50)
23    Sec. 3.50. Emergency Medical Services personnel licensure

 

 

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1levels.
2    (a) "Emergency Medical Technician" or "EMT" means a person
3who has successfully completed a course in basic life support
4as approved by the Department, is currently licensed by the
5Department in accordance with standards prescribed by this Act
6and rules adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, and
7practices within an EMS System. A valid Emergency Medical
8Technician-Basic (EMT-B) license issued under this Act shall
9continue to be valid and shall be recognized as an Emergency
10Medical Technician (EMT) license until the Emergency Medical
11Technician-Basic (EMT-B) license expires.
12    (b) "Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate" or "EMT-I"
13means a person who has successfully completed a course in
14intermediate life support as approved by the Department, is
15currently licensed by the Department in accordance with
16standards prescribed by this Act and rules adopted by the
17Department pursuant to this Act, and practices within an
18Intermediate or Advanced Life Support EMS System.
19    (b-5) "Advanced Emergency Medical Technician" or "A-EMT"
20means a person who has successfully completed a course in basic
21and limited advanced emergency medical care as approved by the
22Department, is currently licensed by the Department in
23accordance with standards prescribed by this Act and rules
24adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, and practices
25within an Intermediate or Advanced Life Support EMS System.
26    (c) "Paramedic (EMT-P)" means a person who has successfully

 

 

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1completed a course in advanced life support care as approved by
2the Department, is licensed by the Department in accordance
3with standards prescribed by this Act and rules adopted by the
4Department pursuant to this Act, and practices within an
5Advanced Life Support EMS System. A valid Emergency Medical
6Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) license issued under this Act
7shall continue to be valid and shall be recognized as a
8Paramedic license until the Emergency Medical
9Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) license expires.
10    (c-5) "Emergency Medical Responder" or "EMR (First
11Responder)" means a person who has successfully completed a
12course in emergency medical response as approved by the
13Department and provides emergency medical response services
14prior to the arrival of an ambulance or specialized emergency
15medical services vehicle, in accordance with the level of care
16established by the National EMS Educational Standards
17Emergency Medical Responder course as modified by the
18Department. An Emergency Medical Responder who provides
19services as part of an EMS System response plan shall comply
20with the applicable sections of the Program Plan, as approved
21by the Department, of that EMS System. The Department shall
22have the authority to adopt rules governing the curriculum,
23practice, and necessary equipment applicable to Emergency
24Medical Responders.
25    On August 15, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act
2698-973), a person who is licensed by the Department as a First

 

 

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1Responder and has completed a Department-approved course in
2first responder defibrillator training based on, or equivalent
3to, the National EMS Educational Standards or other standards
4previously recognized by the Department shall be eligible for
5licensure as an Emergency Medical Responder upon meeting the
6licensure requirements and submitting an application to the
7Department. A valid First Responder license issued under this
8Act shall continue to be valid and shall be recognized as an
9Emergency Medical Responder license until the First Responder
10license expires.
11    (c-10) All EMS Systems and licensees shall be fully
12compliant with the National EMS Education Standards, as
13modified by the Department in administrative rules, within 24
14months after the adoption of the administrative rules.
15    (d) The Department shall have the authority and
16responsibility to:
17        (1) Prescribe education and training requirements,
18    which includes training in the use of epinephrine, for all
19    levels of EMS personnel except for EMRs, based on the
20    National EMS Educational Standards and any modifications
21    to those curricula specified by the Department through
22    rules adopted pursuant to this Act.
23        (2) Prescribe licensure testing requirements for all
24    levels of EMS personnel, which shall include a requirement
25    that all phases of instruction, training, and field
26    experience be completed before taking the appropriate

 

 

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1    licensure examination. Candidates may elect to take the
2    appropriate National Registry examination in lieu of the
3    Department's examination, but are responsible for making
4    their own arrangements for taking the National Registry
5    examination. In prescribing licensure testing requirements
6    for honorably discharged members of the armed forces of the
7    United States under this paragraph (2), the Department
8    shall ensure that a candidate's military emergency medical
9    training, emergency medical curriculum completed, and
10    clinical experience, as described in paragraph (2.5), are
11    recognized.
12        (2.5) Review applications for EMS personnel licensure
13    from honorably discharged members of the armed forces of
14    the United States with military emergency medical
15    training. Applications shall be filed with the Department
16    within one year after military discharge and shall contain:
17    (i) proof of successful completion of military emergency
18    medical training; (ii) a detailed description of the
19    emergency medical curriculum completed; and (iii) a
20    detailed description of the applicant's clinical
21    experience. The Department may request additional and
22    clarifying information. The Department shall evaluate the
23    application, including the applicant's training and
24    experience, consistent with the standards set forth under
25    subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of Section 3.10. If the
26    application clearly demonstrates that the training and

 

 

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1    experience meet such standards, the Department shall offer
2    the applicant the opportunity to successfully complete a
3    Department-approved EMS personnel examination for the
4    level of license for which the applicant is qualified. Upon
5    passage of an examination, the Department shall issue a
6    license, which shall be subject to all provisions of this
7    Act that are otherwise applicable to the level of EMS
8    personnel license issued.
9        (3) License individuals as an EMR, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT,
10    or Paramedic who have met the Department's education,
11    training and examination requirements.
12        (4) Prescribe annual continuing education and
13    relicensure requirements for all EMS personnel licensure
14    levels.
15        (5) Relicense individuals as an EMD, EMR, EMT, EMT-I,
16    A-EMT, PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or Paramedic every 4 years,
17    based on their compliance with continuing education and
18    relicensure requirements as required by the Department
19    pursuant to this Act. Every 4 years, a Paramedic shall have
20    100 hours of approved continuing education, an EMT-I and an
21    advanced EMT shall have 80 hours of approved continuing
22    education, and an EMT shall have 60 hours of approved
23    continuing education. An Illinois licensed EMR, EMD, EMT,
24    EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN, PHPA, PHAPRN, or PHRN whose
25    license has been expired for less than 36 months may apply
26    for reinstatement by the Department. Reinstatement shall

 

 

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1    require that the applicant (i) submit satisfactory proof of
2    completion of continuing medical education and clinical
3    requirements to be prescribed by the Department in an
4    administrative rule; (ii) submit a positive recommendation
5    from an Illinois EMS Medical Director attesting to the
6    applicant's qualifications for retesting; and (iii) pass a
7    Department approved test for the level of EMS personnel
8    license sought to be reinstated.
9        (6) Grant inactive status to any EMR, EMD, EMT, EMT-I,
10    A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or PHRN who
11    qualifies, based on standards and procedures established
12    by the Department in rules adopted pursuant to this Act.
13        (7) Charge a fee for EMS personnel examination,
14    licensure, and license renewal.
15        (8) Suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew the
16    license of any licensee, after an opportunity for an
17    impartial hearing before a neutral administrative law
18    judge appointed by the Director, where the preponderance of
19    the evidence shows one or more of the following:
20            (A) The licensee has not met continuing education
21        or relicensure requirements as prescribed by the
22        Department;
23            (B) The licensee has failed to maintain
24        proficiency in the level of skills for which he or she
25        is licensed;
26            (C) The licensee, during the provision of medical

 

 

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1        services, engaged in dishonorable, unethical, or
2        unprofessional conduct of a character likely to
3        deceive, defraud, or harm the public;
4            (D) The licensee has failed to maintain or has
5        violated standards of performance and conduct as
6        prescribed by the Department in rules adopted pursuant
7        to this Act or his or her EMS System's Program Plan;
8            (E) The licensee is physically impaired to the
9        extent that he or she cannot physically perform the
10        skills and functions for which he or she is licensed,
11        as verified by a physician, unless the person is on
12        inactive status pursuant to Department regulations;
13            (F) The licensee is mentally impaired to the extent
14        that he or she cannot exercise the appropriate
15        judgment, skill and safety for performing the
16        functions for which he or she is licensed, as verified
17        by a physician, unless the person is on inactive status
18        pursuant to Department regulations;
19            (G) The licensee has violated this Act or any rule
20        adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act; or
21            (H) The licensee has been convicted (or entered a
22        plea of guilty or nolo contendere nolo-contendere) by a
23        court of competent jurisdiction of a Class X, Class 1,
24        or Class 2 felony in this State or an out-of-state
25        equivalent offense.
26        (9) Prescribe education and training requirements in

 

 

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1    the administration and use of opioid antagonists for all
2    levels of EMS personnel based on the National EMS
3    Educational Standards and any modifications to those
4    curricula specified by the Department through rules
5    adopted pursuant to this Act.
6        (10) Require an applicant for an EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, or
7    Paramedic license to submit to the Department a signed EMT
8    Oath in a form and manner prescribed by the Department.
9    (d-5) An EMR, EMD, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN,
10PHAPRN, PHPA, or PHRN who is a member of the Illinois National
11Guard or an Illinois State Trooper or who exclusively serves as
12a volunteer for units of local government with a population
13base of less than 5,000 or as a volunteer for a not-for-profit
14organization that serves a service area with a population base
15of less than 5,000 may submit an application to the Department
16for a waiver of the fees described under paragraph (7) of
17subsection (d) of this Section on a form prescribed by the
18Department.
19    The education requirements prescribed by the Department
20under this Section must allow for the suspension of those
21requirements in the case of a member of the armed services or
22reserve forces of the United States or a member of the Illinois
23National Guard who is on active duty pursuant to an executive
24order of the President of the United States, an act of the
25Congress of the United States, or an order of the Governor at
26the time that the member would otherwise be required to fulfill

 

 

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1a particular education requirement. Such a person must fulfill
2the education requirement within 6 months after his or her
3release from active duty.
4    (e) In the event that any rule of the Department or an EMS
5Medical Director that requires testing for drug use as a
6condition of the applicable EMS personnel license conflicts
7with or duplicates a provision of a collective bargaining
8agreement that requires testing for drug use, that rule shall
9not apply to any person covered by the collective bargaining
10agreement.
11    (f) At the time of applying for or renewing his or her
12license, an applicant for a license or license renewal may
13submit an email address to the Department. The Department shall
14keep the email address on file as a form of contact for the
15individual. The Department shall send license renewal notices
16electronically and by mail to a licensee all licensees who
17provides provide the Department with his or her email address.
18The notices shall be sent at least 60 days prior to the
19expiration date of the license.
20(Source: P.A. 100-1082, eff. 8-24-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19;
21101-153, eff. 1-1-20; revised 12-3-19.)
 
22    Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
23becoming law.