| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
1 | AN ACT concerning regulation. | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | represented in the General Assembly: | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Section 5. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems | |||||||||||||||||||
5 | Act is amended by changing Section 3.50 as follows: | |||||||||||||||||||
6 | (210 ILCS 50/3.50) | |||||||||||||||||||
7 | Sec. 3.50. Emergency Medical Services personnel licensure | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | levels. | |||||||||||||||||||
9 | (a) "Emergency Medical Technician" or "EMT" means a person | |||||||||||||||||||
10 | who has successfully completed a course in basic life support | |||||||||||||||||||
11 | as approved by the Department, is currently licensed by the | |||||||||||||||||||
12 | Department in accordance with standards prescribed by this Act | |||||||||||||||||||
13 | and rules adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, and | |||||||||||||||||||
14 | practices within an EMS System. A valid Emergency Medical | |||||||||||||||||||
15 | Technician-Basic (EMT-B) license issued under this Act shall | |||||||||||||||||||
16 | continue to be valid and shall be recognized as an Emergency | |||||||||||||||||||
17 | Medical Technician (EMT) license until the Emergency Medical | |||||||||||||||||||
18 | Technician-Basic (EMT-B) license expires. | |||||||||||||||||||
19 | (b) "Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate" or "EMT-I" | |||||||||||||||||||
20 | means a person who has successfully completed a course in | |||||||||||||||||||
21 | intermediate life support as approved by the Department, is | |||||||||||||||||||
22 | currently licensed by the Department in accordance with | |||||||||||||||||||
23 | standards prescribed by this Act and rules adopted by the |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | Department pursuant to this Act, and practices within an | ||||||
2 | Intermediate or Advanced Life Support EMS System. | ||||||
3 | (b-5) "Advanced Emergency Medical Technician" or "A-EMT" | ||||||
4 | means a person who has successfully completed a course in | ||||||
5 | basic and limited advanced emergency medical care as approved | ||||||
6 | by the Department, is currently licensed by the Department in | ||||||
7 | accordance with standards prescribed by this Act and rules | ||||||
8 | adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, and practices | ||||||
9 | within an Intermediate or Advanced Life Support EMS System. | ||||||
10 | (c) "Paramedic (EMT-P)" means a person who has | ||||||
11 | successfully completed a course in advanced life support care | ||||||
12 | as approved by the Department, is licensed by the Department | ||||||
13 | in accordance with standards prescribed by this Act and rules | ||||||
14 | adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, and practices | ||||||
15 | within an Advanced Life Support EMS System. A valid Emergency | ||||||
16 | Medical Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) license issued under this | ||||||
17 | Act shall continue to be valid and shall be recognized as a | ||||||
18 | Paramedic license until the Emergency Medical | ||||||
19 | Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) license expires. | ||||||
20 | (c-5) "Emergency Medical Responder" or "EMR (First | ||||||
21 | Responder)" means a person who has successfully completed a | ||||||
22 | course in emergency medical response as approved by the | ||||||
23 | Department and provides emergency medical response services in | ||||||
24 | accordance with the level of care established by the National | ||||||
25 | EMS Educational Standards Emergency Medical Responder course | ||||||
26 | as modified by the Department, or who provides services as |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | part of an EMS System response plan, as approved by the | ||||||
2 | Department, of that EMS System. The Department shall have the | ||||||
3 | authority to adopt rules governing the curriculum, practice, | ||||||
4 | and necessary equipment applicable to Emergency Medical | ||||||
5 | Responders. | ||||||
6 | On August 15, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act | ||||||
7 | 98-973), a person who is licensed by the Department as a First | ||||||
8 | Responder and has completed a Department-approved course in | ||||||
9 | first responder defibrillator training based on, or equivalent | ||||||
10 | to, the National EMS Educational Standards or other standards | ||||||
11 | previously recognized by the Department shall be eligible for | ||||||
12 | licensure as an Emergency Medical Responder upon meeting the | ||||||
13 | licensure requirements and submitting an application to the | ||||||
14 | Department. A valid First Responder license issued under this | ||||||
15 | Act shall continue to be valid and shall be recognized as an | ||||||
16 | Emergency Medical Responder license until the First Responder | ||||||
17 | license expires. | ||||||
18 | (c-10) All EMS Systems and licensees shall be fully | ||||||
19 | compliant with the National EMS Education Standards, as | ||||||
20 | modified by the Department in administrative rules, within 24 | ||||||
21 | months after the adoption of the administrative rules. | ||||||
22 | (d) The Department shall have the authority and | ||||||
23 | responsibility to: | ||||||
24 | (1) Prescribe education and training requirements, | ||||||
25 | which includes training in the use of epinephrine, for all | ||||||
26 | levels of EMS personnel except for EMRs, based on the |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | National EMS Educational Standards and any modifications | ||||||
2 | to those curricula specified by the Department through | ||||||
3 | rules adopted pursuant to this Act. | ||||||
4 | (2) Prescribe licensure testing requirements for all | ||||||
5 | levels of EMS personnel, which shall include a requirement | ||||||
6 | that all phases of instruction, training, and field | ||||||
7 | experience be completed before taking the appropriate | ||||||
8 | licensure examination. Candidates may elect to take the | ||||||
9 | appropriate National Registry examination in lieu of the | ||||||
10 | Department's examination, but are responsible for making | ||||||
11 | their own arrangements for taking the National Registry | ||||||
12 | examination. In prescribing licensure testing requirements | ||||||
13 | for honorably discharged members of the armed forces of | ||||||
14 | the United States under this paragraph (2), the Department | ||||||
15 | shall ensure that a candidate's military emergency medical | ||||||
16 | training, emergency medical curriculum completed, and | ||||||
17 | clinical experience, as described in paragraph (2.5), are | ||||||
18 | recognized. | ||||||
19 | (2.5) Review applications for EMS personnel licensure | ||||||
20 | from honorably discharged members of the armed forces of | ||||||
21 | the United States with military emergency medical | ||||||
22 | training. Applications shall be filed with the Department | ||||||
23 | within one year after military discharge and shall | ||||||
24 | contain: (i) proof of successful completion of military | ||||||
25 | emergency medical training; (ii) a detailed description of | ||||||
26 | the emergency medical curriculum completed; and (iii) a |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | detailed description of the applicant's clinical | ||||||
2 | experience. The Department may request additional and | ||||||
3 | clarifying information. The Department shall evaluate the | ||||||
4 | application, including the applicant's training and | ||||||
5 | experience, consistent with the standards set forth under | ||||||
6 | subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of Section 3.10. If the | ||||||
7 | application clearly demonstrates that the training and | ||||||
8 | experience meet such standards, the Department shall offer | ||||||
9 | the applicant the opportunity to successfully complete a | ||||||
10 | Department-approved EMS personnel examination for the | ||||||
11 | level of license for which the applicant is qualified. | ||||||
12 | Upon passage of an examination, the Department shall issue | ||||||
13 | a license, which shall be subject to all provisions of | ||||||
14 | this Act that are otherwise applicable to the level of EMS | ||||||
15 | personnel license issued. | ||||||
16 | (3) License individuals as an EMR, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, | ||||||
17 | or Paramedic who have met the Department's education, | ||||||
18 | training and examination requirements. | ||||||
19 | As soon as practicable after the effective date of | ||||||
20 | this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, the | ||||||
21 | Department shall adopt rules or amendments to its existing | ||||||
22 | emergency medical responder licensing rules to authorize | ||||||
23 | the electronic submission of licensure application | ||||||
24 | documents to the Department for an EMR candidate who: | ||||||
25 | (i) is at least 18 years of age; | ||||||
26 | (ii) has completed and passed all components of |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | the EMR education program required under this Act and | ||||||
2 | the Department's rules; | ||||||
3 | (iii) has passed the National Registry Emergency | ||||||
4 | Medical Technician EMR examination; and | ||||||
5 | (iv) has paid the appropriate initial licensure | ||||||
6 | fee, unless the fee has not been waived under 77 Ill. | ||||||
7 | Adm. Code 515.260(b). | ||||||
8 | (4) Prescribe annual continuing education and | ||||||
9 | relicensure requirements for all EMS personnel licensure | ||||||
10 | levels. | ||||||
11 | (5) Relicense individuals as an EMD, EMR, EMT, EMT-I, | ||||||
12 | A-EMT, PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or Paramedic every 4 years, | ||||||
13 | based on their compliance with continuing education and | ||||||
14 | relicensure requirements as required by the Department | ||||||
15 | pursuant to this Act. Every 4 years, a Paramedic shall | ||||||
16 | have 100 hours of approved continuing education, an EMT-I | ||||||
17 | and an advanced EMT shall have 80 hours of approved | ||||||
18 | continuing education, and an EMT shall have 60 hours of | ||||||
19 | approved continuing education. An Illinois licensed EMR, | ||||||
20 | EMD, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN, PHPA, PHAPRN, or | ||||||
21 | PHRN whose license has been expired for less than 36 | ||||||
22 | months may apply for reinstatement by the Department. | ||||||
23 | Reinstatement shall require that the applicant (i) submit | ||||||
24 | satisfactory proof of completion of continuing medical | ||||||
25 | education and clinical requirements to be prescribed by | ||||||
26 | the Department in an administrative rule; (ii) submit a |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | positive recommendation from an Illinois EMS Medical | ||||||
2 | Director attesting to the applicant's qualifications for | ||||||
3 | retesting; and (iii) pass a Department approved test for | ||||||
4 | the level of EMS personnel license sought to be | ||||||
5 | reinstated. | ||||||
6 | (6) Grant inactive status to any EMR, EMD, EMT, EMT-I, | ||||||
7 | A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or PHRN who | ||||||
8 | qualifies, based on standards and procedures established | ||||||
9 | by the Department in rules adopted pursuant to this Act. | ||||||
10 | (7) Charge a fee for EMS personnel examination, | ||||||
11 | licensure, and license renewal. | ||||||
12 | (8) Suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew the | ||||||
13 | license of any licensee, after an opportunity for an | ||||||
14 | impartial hearing before a neutral administrative law | ||||||
15 | judge appointed by the Director, where the preponderance | ||||||
16 | of the evidence shows one or more of the following: | ||||||
17 | (A) The licensee has not met continuing education | ||||||
18 | or relicensure requirements as prescribed by the | ||||||
19 | Department; | ||||||
20 | (B) The licensee has failed to maintain | ||||||
21 | proficiency in the level of skills for which he or she | ||||||
22 | is licensed; | ||||||
23 | (C) The licensee, during the provision of medical | ||||||
24 | services, engaged in dishonorable, unethical, or | ||||||
25 | unprofessional conduct of a character likely to | ||||||
26 | deceive, defraud, or harm the public; |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | (D) The licensee has failed to maintain or has | ||||||
2 | violated standards of performance and conduct as | ||||||
3 | prescribed by the Department in rules adopted pursuant | ||||||
4 | to this Act or his or her EMS System's Program Plan; | ||||||
5 | (E) The licensee is physically impaired to the | ||||||
6 | extent that he or she cannot physically perform the | ||||||
7 | skills and functions for which he or she is licensed, | ||||||
8 | as verified by a physician, unless the person is on | ||||||
9 | inactive status pursuant to Department regulations; | ||||||
10 | (F) The licensee is mentally impaired to the | ||||||
11 | extent that he or she cannot exercise the appropriate | ||||||
12 | judgment, skill and safety for performing the | ||||||
13 | functions for which he or she is licensed, as verified | ||||||
14 | by a physician, unless the person is on inactive | ||||||
15 | status pursuant to Department regulations; | ||||||
16 | (G) The licensee has violated this Act or any rule | ||||||
17 | adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act; or | ||||||
18 | (H) The licensee has been convicted (or entered a | ||||||
19 | plea of guilty or nolo contendere) by a court of | ||||||
20 | competent jurisdiction of a Class X, Class 1, or Class | ||||||
21 | 2 felony in this State or an out-of-state equivalent | ||||||
22 | offense. | ||||||
23 | (9) Prescribe education and training requirements in | ||||||
24 | the administration and use of opioid antagonists for all | ||||||
25 | levels of EMS personnel based on the National EMS | ||||||
26 | Educational Standards and any modifications to those |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | curricula specified by the Department through rules | ||||||
2 | adopted pursuant to this Act. | ||||||
3 | (d-5) An EMR, EMD, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN, | ||||||
4 | PHAPRN, PHPA, or PHRN who is a member of the Illinois National | ||||||
5 | Guard or an Illinois State Trooper or who exclusively serves | ||||||
6 | as a volunteer for units of local government with a population | ||||||
7 | base of less than 5,000 or as a volunteer for a not-for-profit | ||||||
8 | organization that serves a service area with a population base | ||||||
9 | of less than 5,000 may submit an application to the Department | ||||||
10 | for a waiver of the fees described under paragraph (7) of | ||||||
11 | subsection (d) of this Section on a form prescribed by the | ||||||
12 | Department. | ||||||
13 | The education requirements prescribed by the Department | ||||||
14 | under this Section must allow for the suspension of those | ||||||
15 | requirements in the case of a member of the armed services or | ||||||
16 | reserve forces of the United States or a member of the Illinois | ||||||
17 | National Guard who is on active duty pursuant to an executive | ||||||
18 | order of the President of the United States, an act of the | ||||||
19 | Congress of the United States, or an order of the Governor at | ||||||
20 | the time that the member would otherwise be required to | ||||||
21 | fulfill a particular education requirement. Such a person must | ||||||
22 | fulfill the education requirement within 6 months after his or | ||||||
23 | her release from active duty. | ||||||
24 | (e) In the event that any rule of the Department or an EMS | ||||||
25 | Medical Director that requires testing for drug use as a | ||||||
26 | condition of the applicable EMS personnel license conflicts |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | with or duplicates a provision of a collective bargaining | ||||||
2 | agreement that requires testing for drug use, that rule shall | ||||||
3 | not apply to any person covered by the collective bargaining | ||||||
4 | agreement. | ||||||
5 | (f) At the time of applying for or renewing his or her | ||||||
6 | license, an applicant for a license or license renewal may | ||||||
7 | submit an email address to the Department. The Department | ||||||
8 | shall keep the email address on file as a form of contact for | ||||||
9 | the individual. The Department shall send license renewal | ||||||
10 | notices electronically and by mail to a licensee who provides | ||||||
11 | the Department with his or her email address. The notices | ||||||
12 | shall be sent at least 60 days prior to the expiration date of | ||||||
13 | the license. | ||||||
14 | (Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-153, eff. 1-1-20; | ||||||
15 | 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-623, eff. 8-27-21.) |