HB4970 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB099 16002 MLM 40319 b

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB4970

Introduced 2/5/2016, by Rep. Brian W. Stewart

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

225 ILCS 85/11	from Ch. 111, par. 4131
225 ILCS 85/30	from Ch. 111, par. 4150
225 ILCS 447/31-10
225 ILCS 447/31-15

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Removes provisions concerning the position of deputy pharmacy coordinator. Removes limitations on the number of pharmacy investigators that must be employed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (previously no less than 4 pharmacy investigators needed to be employed by the Department). Amends the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004. Provides that the requirement for licensure that an applicant must submit certification issued by the Department of State Police that the applicant's fingerprinting equipment and software meets all specifications required by the Department of State Police applies to fingerprint vendor agencies (rather than fingerprint vendors), and that the requirement is a continuing requirement for licensure. 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 Pharmacy Practice Act is amended by changing Sections 11 and 30 as follows:

(225 ILCS 85/11) (from Ch. 111, par. 4131)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2018)

Sec. 11. Duties of the Department. The Department shall exercise the powers and duties prescribed by the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois for the administration of Licensing Acts and shall exercise such other powers and duties necessary for effectuating the purpose of this Act. However, the following powers and duties shall be exercised only upon review of the Board of Pharmacy to take such action:

(a) Formulate such rules, not inconsistent with law and subject to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and enforce the provisions of this Act. The Director may grant variances from any such rules as provided for in this Section;

(b) The suspension, revocation, placing on probationary status, reprimand, and refusing to issue or restore any license or certificate of registration issued under the provisions of this Act for the reasons set forth in Section 30 of this Act.

(c) The issuance, renewal, restoration or reissuance of any license or certificate which has been previously refused to be issued or renewed, or has been revoked, suspended or placed on probationary status.

The granting of variances from rules promulgated pursuant to this Section in individual cases where there is a finding that:

(1) the provision from which the variance is granted is not statutorily mandated;

(2) no party will be injured by the granting of the variance; and

(3) the rule from which the variance is granted would, in the particular case, be unreasonable or unnecessarily burdensome.

The Director shall notify the State Board of Pharmacy of the granting of such variance and the reasons therefor, at the next meeting of the Board.

(d) The Secretary shall appoint a chief pharmacy coordinator who and at least 2 deputy pharmacy coordinators, all of whom shall be a registered pharmacist pharmacists in good standing in this State, shall be a graduate graduates of an accredited college of pharmacy or hold, at a minimum, a bachelor of science degree in pharmacy, and shall have at least 5 years of experience in the practice of pharmacy immediately prior to his or her appointment. The chief pharmacy coordinator shall be the executive administrator and the chief enforcement officer of this Act. The deputy pharmacy coordinators shall report to the chief pharmacy coordinator. The Secretary shall assign at least one deputy pharmacy coordinator to a region composed of Cook County and such other counties as the Secretary may deem appropriate, and such deputy pharmacy coordinator shall have his or her primary office in Chicago. The Secretary shall assign at least one deputy pharmacy coordinator to a region composed of the balance of counties in the State, and such deputy pharmacy coordinator shall have his or her primary office in Springfield.

(e) The Secretary shall, in conformity with the Personnel Code, employ not less than 4 pharmacy investigators who shall report to the pharmacy coordinator or a deputy pharmacy coordinator. Each pharmacy investigator shall be a licensed pharmacist unless employed as a pharmacy investigator on or before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly. The Department shall also employ at least one attorney to prosecute violations of this Act and its rules. The Department may, in conformity with the Personnel Code, employ such clerical and other employees as are necessary to carry out the duties of the Board and Department.

The duly authorized pharmacy investigators of the Department shall have the right to enter and inspect, during business hours, any pharmacy or any other place in this State holding itself out to be a pharmacy where medicines, drugs or drug products, or proprietary medicines are sold, offered for sale, exposed for sale, or kept for sale.

(Source: P.A. 99-473, eff. 8-27-15.)

(225 ILCS 85/30) (from Ch. 111, par. 4150)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2018)

Sec. 30. Refusal, revocation, or suspension.

(a) The Department may refuse to issue or renew, or may revoke a license or registration, or may suspend, place on probation, fine, or take any disciplinary or non-disciplinary action as the Department may deem proper, including fines not to exceed $10,000 for each violation, with regard to any licensee or registrant for any one or combination of the following causes:

1. Material misstatement in furnishing information to the Department.

2. Violations of this Act, or the rules promulgated hereunder.

3. Making any misrepresentation for the purpose of obtaining licenses.

4. A pattern of conduct which demonstrates incompetence or unfitness to practice.

5. Aiding or assisting another person in violating any provision of this Act or rules.

6. Failing, within 60 days, to respond to a written request made by the Department for information.

7. Engaging in unprofessional, dishonorable, or unethical conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public.

8. Discipline by another U.S. jurisdiction or foreign nation, if at least one of the grounds for the discipline is the same or substantially equivalent to those set forth herein.

9. Directly or indirectly giving to or receiving from any person, firm, corporation, partnership, or association any fee, commission, rebate or other form of compensation for any professional services not actually or personally rendered. Nothing in this item 9 affects any bona fide independent contractor or employment arrangements among health care professionals, health facilities, health care providers, or other entities, except as otherwise prohibited by law. Any employment arrangements may include provisions for compensation, health insurance, pension, or other employment benefits for the provision of services within the scope of the licensee's practice under this Act. Nothing in this item 9 shall be construed to require an employment arrangement to receive professional fees for services rendered.

10. A finding by the Department that the licensee, after having his license placed on probationary status has violated the terms of probation.

11. Selling or engaging in the sale of drug samples provided at no cost by drug manufacturers.

12. Physical illness, including but not limited to, deterioration through the aging process, or loss of motor skill which results in the inability to practice the profession with reasonable judgment, skill or safety.

13. A finding that licensure or registration has been applied for or obtained by fraudulent means.

14. The applicant or licensee has been convicted in state or federal court of or entered a plea of guilty, nolo contendere, or the equivalent in a state or federal court to any crime which is a felony or any misdemeanor related to the practice of pharmacy or which an essential element is dishonesty.

15. Habitual or excessive use or addiction to alcohol, narcotics, stimulants or any other chemical agent or drug which results in the inability to practice with reasonable judgment, skill or safety.

16. Willfully making or filing false records or reports in the practice of pharmacy, including, but not limited to false records to support claims against the medical assistance program of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Department of Public Aid) under the Public Aid Code.

17. Gross and willful overcharging for professional services including filing false statements for collection of fees for which services are not rendered, including, but not limited to, filing false statements for collection of monies for services not rendered from the medical assistance program of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Department of Public Aid) under the Public Aid Code.

18. Dispensing prescription drugs without receiving a written or oral prescription in violation of law.

19. Upon a finding of a substantial discrepancy in a Department audit of a prescription drug, including controlled substances, as that term is defined in this Act or in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act.

20. Physical or mental illness or any other impairment or disability, including without limitation deterioration through the aging process or loss of motor skills that results in the inability to practice with reasonable judgment, skill or safety, or mental incompetence, as declared by a court of competent jurisdiction.

21. Violation of the Health Care Worker Self-Referral Act.

22. Failing to sell or dispense any drug, medicine, or poison in good faith. "Good faith", for the purposes of this Section, has the meaning ascribed to it in subsection (u) of Section 102 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. "Good faith", as used in this item (22), shall not be limited to the sale or dispensing of controlled substances, but shall apply to all prescription drugs.

23. Interfering with the professional judgment of a pharmacist by any registrant under this Act, or his or her agents or employees.

24. Failing to report within 60 days to the Department any adverse final action taken against a pharmacist, pharmacist technician, or certified pharmacist technician by another licensing jurisdiction in any other state or any territory of the United States or any foreign jurisdiction, any governmental agency, any law enforcement agency, or any court for acts or conduct similar to acts or conduct that would constitute grounds for discipline as defined in this Section.

25. Failing to comply with a subpoena issued in accordance with Section 35.5 of this Act.

26. Disclosing protected health information in violation of any State or federal law.

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

(c) The Department shall revoke the license or certificate of registration issued under the provisions of this Act or any prior Act of this State of any person who has been convicted a second time of committing any felony under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, or who has been convicted a second time of committing a Class 1 felony under Sections 8A-3 and 8A-6 of the Illinois Public Aid Code. A person whose license or certificate of registration issued under the provisions of this Act or any prior Act of this State is revoked under this subsection (c) shall be prohibited from engaging in the practice of pharmacy in this State.

(d) Fines may be imposed in conjunction with other forms of disciplinary action, but shall not be the exclusive disposition of any disciplinary action arising out of conduct resulting in death or injury to a patient. Fines shall be paid within 60 days or as otherwise agreed to by the Department. Any funds collected from such fines shall be deposited in the Illinois State Pharmacy Disciplinary Fund.

(e) The entry of an order or judgment by any circuit court establishing that any person holding a license or certificate under this Act is a person in need of mental treatment operates as a suspension of that license. A licensee may resume his or her practice only upon the entry of an order of the Department based upon a finding by the Board that he or she has been determined to be recovered from mental illness by the court and upon the Board's recommendation that the licensee be permitted to resume his or her practice.

(f) The Department shall issue quarterly to the Board a status of all complaints related to the profession received by the Department.

(g) In enforcing this Section, the Board or the Department, upon a showing of a possible violation, may compel any licensee or applicant for licensure under this Act to submit to a mental or physical examination or both, as required by and at the expense of the Department. The examining physician, or multidisciplinary team involved in providing physical and mental examinations led by a physician consisting of one or a combination of licensed physicians, licensed clinical psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed clinical professional counselors, and other professional and administrative staff, shall be those specifically designated by the Department. The Board or the Department may order the examining physician or any member of the multidisciplinary team to present testimony concerning this mental or physical examination of the licensee or applicant. No information, report, or other documents in any way related to the examination shall be excluded by reason of any common law or statutory privilege relating to communication between the licensee or applicant and the examining physician or any member of the multidisciplinary team. The individual 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 individual to submit to a mental or physical examination when directed shall be grounds for suspension of his or her license until such time as the individual submits to the examination if the Board finds, after notice and hearing, that the refusal to submit to the examination was without reasonable cause. If the Board finds a pharmacist, certified pharmacy technician, or pharmacy technician unable to practice because of the reasons set forth in this Section, the Board shall require such pharmacist, certified pharmacy technician, or pharmacy technician to submit to care, counseling, or treatment by physicians or other appropriate health care providers approved or designated by the Board as a condition for continued, reinstated, or renewed licensure to practice. Any pharmacist, certified pharmacy technician, or pharmacy technician whose license was granted, continued, reinstated, renewed, disciplined, or supervised, subject to such terms, conditions, or restrictions, and who fails to comply with such terms, conditions, or restrictions or to complete a required program of care, counseling, or treatment, as determined by the chief pharmacy coordinator or a deputy pharmacy coordinator, shall be referred to the Secretary for a determination as to whether the licensee shall have his or her license suspended immediately, pending a hearing by the Board. In instances in which the Secretary immediately suspends a license under this subsection (g), a hearing upon such person's license must be convened by the Board within 15 days after such suspension and completed without appreciable delay. The Board shall have the authority to review the subject pharmacist's, certified pharmacy technician's, or pharmacy technician's record of treatment and counseling regarding the impairment.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 95-689, eff. 10-29-07; 96-673, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1482, eff. 11-29-10.)

Section 10. The Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004 is amended by changing Sections 31-10 and 31-15 as follows:

(225 ILCS 447/31-10)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2024)

Sec. 31-10. Qualifications for licensure as a fingerprint vendor.

(a) A person is qualified for licensure as a fingerprint vendor if he or she meets all of the following requirements:

(1) Is at least 18 years of age.

(2) Has not been convicted of any felony in any jurisdiction or at least 10 years have elapsed since the time of full discharge from a sentence imposed for a felony conviction.

(3) Is of good moral character. Good moral character is a continuing requirement of licensure. Conviction of crimes other than felonies may be used in determining moral character, but shall not constitute an absolute bar to licensure, except where the applicant is a registered sex offender.

(4) Has not been declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be incompetent by reason of mental or physical defect or disease, unless a court has subsequently declared him or her to be competent.

(5) Is not suffering from dependence on alcohol or from narcotic addiction or dependence.

(6) Has not been dishonorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States.

(7) Submits certification issued by the Department of State Police that the applicant has successfully completed a fingerprint vendor training course conducted or authorized by the Department of State Police.

(8) Submits his or her fingerprints, in accordance with subsection (b) of this Section.

(9) Has not violated any provision of this Act or any rule adopted under this Act.

(10) Provides evidence satisfactory to the Department that the applicant has obtained general liability insurance in an amount and with coverage as determined by rule. Failure to maintain general liability insurance and failure to provide the Department with written proof of the insurance, upon request, shall result in cancellation of the license without hearing. A fingerprint vendor employed by a licensed fingerprint vendor agency may provide proof that his or her actions as a fingerprint vendor are covered by the liability insurance of his or her employer.

(11) Pays the required licensure fee.

(12) (Blank). Submits certification issued by the Department of State Police that the applicant's fingerprinting equipment and software meets all specifications required by the Department of State Police. Compliance with Department of State Police fingerprinting equipment and software specifications is a continuing requirement for licensure.

(13) Submits proof that the applicant maintains a business office located in the State of Illinois.

(b) Each applicant for a fingerprint vendor license shall have his or her fingerprints submitted to the Department of State Police in an electronic format that complies with the form and manner for requesting and furnishing criminal history record information as prescribed by the Department of State Police. These fingerprints shall be checked against the Department of State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history record databases now and hereafter filed. The Department of State Police shall charge applicants a fee for conducting the criminal history records check, which shall be deposited in the State Police Services Fund and shall not exceed the actual cost of the records check. The Department of State Police shall furnish, pursuant to positive identification, records of Illinois convictions to the Department. The Department may require applicants to pay a separate fingerprinting fee, either to the Department or directly to the vendor. The Department, in its discretion, may allow an applicant who does not have reasonable access to a designated vendor to provide his or her fingerprints in an alternative manner. The Department, in its discretion, may also use other procedures in performing or obtaining criminal background checks of applicants. Instead of submitting his or her fingerprints, an individual may submit proof that is satisfactory to the Department that an equivalent security clearance has been conducted. Also, an individual who has retired as a peace officer within 12 months of application may submit verification, on forms provided by the Department and signed by his or her employer, of his or her previous full-time employment as a peace officer.

(Source: P.A. 95-613, eff. 9-11-07.)

(225 ILCS 447/31-15)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2024)

Sec. 31-15. Qualifications for licensure as a fingerprint vendor agency.

(a) Upon receipt of the required fee, compliance with subsection (e) of this Section, and proof that the applicant has a full-time Illinois licensed fingerprint vendor licensee-in-charge, which is a continuing requirement for agency licensure, the Department may issue a license as a fingerprint vendor agency to any of the following:

(1) An individual who submits an application and is a licensed fingerprint vendor under this Act.

(2) A firm that submits an application and all of the members of the firm are licensed fingerprint vendors under this Act.

(3) A corporation or limited liability company doing business in Illinois that is authorized to engage in the business of conducting a fingerprint vendor agency if at least one officer or executive employee is a licensed fingerprint vendor under this Act and all unlicensed officers and directors of the corporation or limited liability company are determined by the Department to be persons of good moral character.

(b) An individual licensed as a fingerprint vendor operating under a business name other than the licensed fingerprint vendor's own name shall not be required to obtain a fingerprint vendor agency license if that licensed fingerprint vendor does not employ any persons to provide fingerprinting services. However, in either circumstance, the individual shall comply with the requirements of subsection (e) of this Section as a requirement for licensure.

(c) No fingerprint vendor may be the licensee-in-charge for more than one fingerprint vendor agency. Upon written request by a representative of the agency, within 10 days after the loss of a licensee-in-charge of an agency because of the death of that individual or because of the termination of the employment of that individual, the Department shall issue a temporary certificate of authority allowing the continuing operation of the licensed agency. No temporary certificate of authority shall be valid for more than 90 days. An extension of an additional 90 days may be granted upon written request by the representative of the agency. Not more than 2 extensions may be granted to any agency. No temporary permit shall be issued for loss of the licensee-in-charge because of disciplinary action by the Department related to his or her conduct on behalf of the agency.

(d) Upon issuance of the temporary certificate of authority as provided for in subsection (c) of this Section and at any time thereafter while the temporary certificate of authority is in effect, the Department may request in writing additional information from the agency regarding the loss of its licensee-in-charge, the selection of a new licensee-in-charge, and the management of the agency. Failure of the agency to respond or respond to the satisfaction of the Department shall cause the Department to deny any extension of the temporary certificate of authority. While the temporary certificate of authority is in effect, the Department may disapprove the selection of a new licensee-in-charge by the agency if the person's license is not operative or the Department has good cause to believe that the person selected will not fully exercise the responsibilities of a licensee-in-charge. If the Department has disapproved the selection of a new licensee-in-charge and the temporary certificate of authority expires or is about to expire without the agency selecting another new licensee-in-charge, the Department shall grant an extension of the temporary certificate of authority for an additional 90 days, except as otherwise prohibited in subsection (c) or this subsection (d).

(e) An applicant shall submit certification issued by the Department of State Police that the applicant's fingerprinting equipment and software meets all specifications required by the Department of State Police. Compliance with Department of State Police fingerprinting equipment and software specifications is a continuing requirement for licensure.

(Source: P.A. 98-253, eff. 8-9-13.)

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