HB3661 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB098 12938 MGM 47444 b

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB3661

Introduced , by Rep. Mary E. Flowers

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

225 ILCS 60/9	from Ch. 111, par. 4400-9
225 ILCS 60/21	from Ch. 111, par. 4400-21

Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Requires that physicians submit documents from the Federation Credentials Verification Service while applying for licensure or renewal of licenses under the Act. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 5. The Medical Practice Act of 1987 is amended by changing Sections 9 and 21 as follows:

(225 ILCS 60/9) (from Ch. 111, par. 4400-9)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2013)

Sec. 9. Application for license. Each applicant for a license shall:

(A) Make application on blank forms prepared and furnished by the Department.

(B) Submit evidence satisfactory to the Department that the applicant:

(1) is of good moral character. In determining moral character under this Section, the Department may take into consideration whether the applicant has engaged in conduct or activities which would constitute grounds for discipline under this Act. The Department may also request the applicant to submit, and may consider as evidence of moral character, endorsements from 2 or 3 individuals licensed under this Act;

(2) has the preliminary and professional education required by this Act;

(3) (blank); and

(4) is physically, mentally, and professionally capable of practicing medicine with reasonable judgment, skill, and safety. In determining physical, mental and professional capacity under this Section, the Licensing Board may, upon a showing of a possible incapacity or conduct or activities that would constitute grounds for discipline under this Act, compel any applicant to submit to a mental or physical examination and evaluation, or both, as provided for in Section 22 of this Act. The Licensing Board may condition or restrict any license, subject to the same terms and conditions as are provided for the Disciplinary Board under Section 22 of this Act. Any such condition of a restricted license shall provide that the Chief Medical Coordinator or Deputy Medical Coordinator shall have the authority to review the subject physician's compliance with such conditions or restrictions, including, where appropriate, the physician'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 of patients.

In determining professional capacity under this Section, an individual may be required to complete such additional testing, training, or remedial education as the Licensing Board may deem necessary in order to establish the applicant's present capacity to practice medicine with reasonable judgment, skill, and safety. The Licensing Board may consider the following criteria, as they relate to an applicant, as part of its determination of professional capacity:

(1) Medical research in an established research facility, hospital, college or university, or private corporation.

(2) Specialized training or education.

(3) Publication of original work in learned, medical, or scientific journals.

(4) Participation in federal, State, local, or international public health programs or organizations.

(5) Professional service in a federal veterans or military institution.

(6) Any other professional activities deemed to maintain and enhance the clinical capabilities of the applicant.

Any applicant applying for a license to practice medicine in all of its branches or for a license as a chiropractic physician who has not been engaged in the active practice of medicine or has not been enrolled in a medical program for 2 years prior to application must submit proof of professional capacity to the Licensing Board.

Any applicant applying for a temporary license that has not been engaged in the active practice of medicine or has not been enrolled in a medical program for longer than 5 years prior to application must submit proof of professional capacity to the Licensing Board.

(C) Designate specifically the name, location, and kind of professional school, college, or institution of which the applicant is a graduate and the category under which the applicant seeks, and will undertake, to practice.

(D) Pay to the Department at the time of application the required fees.

(E) Pursuant to Department rules, as required, pass an examination authorized by the Department to determine the applicant's fitness to receive a license.

(E-5) Pursuant to Department rules, complete credential verification through the Federation Credentials Verification Service and submit the verification to the Department.

(F) Complete the application process within 3 years from the date of application. If the process has not been completed within 3 years, the application shall expire, application fees shall be forfeited, and the applicant must reapply and meet the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.

(Source: P.A. 97-622, eff. 11-23-11.)

(225 ILCS 60/21) (from Ch. 111, par. 4400-21)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2013)

Sec. 21. License renewal; restoration; inactive status; disposition and collection of fees.

(A) Renewal. The expiration date and renewal period for each license issued under this Act shall be set by rule. The holder of a license may renew the license by paying the required fee and providing continued credential verification through the Federation Credentials Verification Service, as required by Department rule. The holder of a license may also renew the license within 90 days after its expiration by complying with the requirements for renewal and payment of an additional fee. A license renewal within 90 days after expiration shall be effective retroactively to the expiration date.

The Department shall mail to each licensee under this Act, at his or her address of record, at least 60 days in advance of the expiration date of his or her license, a renewal notice. No such license shall be deemed to have lapsed until 90 days after the expiration date and after such notice has been mailed by the Department as herein provided.

(B) Restoration. Any licensee who has permitted his or her license to lapse or who has had his or her license on inactive status may have his or her license restored by making application to the Department and filing proof acceptable to the Department of his or her fitness to have the license restored, including evidence certifying to active practice in another jurisdiction satisfactory to the Department, proof of meeting the continuing education requirements for one renewal period, and by paying the required restoration fee.

If the licensee has not maintained an active practice in another jurisdiction satisfactory to the Department, the Licensing Board shall determine, by an evaluation program established by rule, the applicant's fitness to resume active status and may require the licensee to complete a period of evaluated clinical experience and may require successful completion of a practical examination specified by the Licensing Board.

However, any registrant whose license has expired while he or she has been engaged (a) in Federal Service on active duty with the Army of the United States, the United States Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force, the Coast Guard, the Public Health Service or the State Militia called into the service or training of the United States of America, or (b) in training or education under the supervision of the United States preliminary to induction into the military service, may have his or her license reinstated or restored without paying any lapsed renewal fees, if within 2 years after honorable termination of such service, training, or education, he or she furnishes to the Department with satisfactory evidence to the effect that he or she has been so engaged and that his or her service, training, or education has been so terminated.

(C) Inactive licenses. Any licensee who notifies the Department, in writing on forms prescribed by the Department, may elect to place his or her license on an inactive status and shall, subject to rules of the Department, be excused from payment of renewal fees until he or she notifies the Department in writing of his or her desire to resume active status.

Any licensee requesting restoration from inactive status shall be required to pay the current renewal fee, provide proof of meeting the continuing education requirements for the period of time the license is inactive not to exceed one renewal period, and shall be required to restore his or her license as provided in subsection (B).

Any licensee whose license is in an inactive status shall not practice in the State of Illinois.

(D) Disposition of monies collected. All monies collected under this Act by the Department shall be deposited in the Illinois State Medical Disciplinary Fund in the State Treasury, and used only for the following purposes: (a) by the Disciplinary Board and Licensing Board in the exercise of its powers and performance of its duties, as such use is made by the Department with full consideration of all recommendations of the Disciplinary Board and Licensing Board, (b) for costs directly related to persons licensed under this Act, and (c) for direct and allocable indirect costs related to the public purposes of the Department.

Moneys in the Fund may be transferred to the Professions Indirect Cost Fund as authorized under Section 2105-300 of the Department of Professional Regulation Law (20 ILCS 2105/2105-300).

The State Comptroller shall order and the State Treasurer shall transfer an amount equal to $1,100,000 from the Illinois State Medical Disciplinary Fund to the Local Government Tax Fund on each of the following dates: July 1, 2014, October 1, 2014, January 1, 2015, July 1, 2017, October 1, 2017, and January 1, 2018. These transfers shall constitute repayment of the $6,600,000 transfer made under Section 6z-18 of the State Finance Act.

All earnings received from investment of monies in the Illinois State Medical Disciplinary Fund shall be deposited in the Illinois State Medical Disciplinary Fund and shall be used for the same purposes as fees deposited in such Fund.

(E) Fees. The following fees are nonrefundable.

(1) Applicants for any examination shall be required to pay, either to the Department or to the designated testing service, a fee covering the cost of determining the applicant's eligibility and providing the examination. Failure to appear for the examination on the scheduled date, at the time and place specified, after the applicant's application for examination has been received and acknowledged by the Department or the designated testing service, shall result in the forfeiture of the examination fee.

(2) Before July 1, 2018, the fee for a license under Section 9 of this Act is $700. Beginning on July 1, 2018, the fee for a license under Section 9 of this Act is $500.

(3) Before July 1, 2018, the fee for a license under Section 19 of this Act is $700. Beginning on July 1, 2018, the fee for a license under Section 19 of this Act is $500.

(4) Before July 1, 2018, the fee for the renewal of a license for a resident of Illinois shall be calculated at the rate of $230 per year, and beginning on July 1, 2018, the fee for the renewal of a license shall be $167, except for licensees who were issued a license within 12 months of the expiration date of the license, before July 1, 2018, the fee for the renewal shall be $230, and beginning on July 1, 2018 that fee will be $167. Before July 1, 2018, the fee for the renewal of a license for a nonresident shall be calculated at the rate of $460 per year, and beginning on July 1, 2018, the fee for the renewal of a license for a nonresident shall be $250, except for licensees who were issued a license within 12 months of the expiration date of the license, before July 1, 2018, the fee for the renewal shall be $460, and beginning on July 1, 2018 that fee will be $250.

(5) The fee for the restoration of a license other than from inactive status, is $230. In addition, payment of all lapsed renewal fees not to exceed $1,400 is required.

(6) The fee for a 3-year temporary license under Section 17 is $230.

(7) The fee for the issuance of a duplicate license, for the issuance of a replacement license for a license which has been lost or destroyed, or for the issuance of a license with a change of name or address other than during the renewal period is $20. No fee is required for name and address changes on Department records when no duplicate license is issued.

(8) The fee to be paid for a license record for any purpose is $20.

(9) The fee to be paid to have the scoring of an examination, administered by the Department, reviewed and verified, is $20 plus any fees charged by the applicable testing service.

(10) The fee to be paid by a licensee for a wall certificate showing his or her license shall be the actual cost of producing the certificate as determined by the Department.

(11) The fee for a roster of persons licensed as physicians in this State shall be the actual cost of producing such a roster as determined by the Department.

(F) Any person who delivers a check or other payment 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 for 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 of the notification. If, after the expiration of 30 days from the date of the notification, the person has failed to submit the necessary remittance, the Department shall automatically terminate the license or certificate 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 the 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 or certificate to pay all expenses of processing this application. The Secretary may waive the fines due under this Section in individual cases where the Secretary finds that the fines would be unreasonable or unnecessarily burdensome.

(Source: P.A. 97-622, eff. 11-23-11; 98-3, eff. 3-8-13.)

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