Public Act 101-0153
 
HB3554 EnrolledLRB101 09798 CPF 54899 b


  
    AN ACT concerning regulation.
  
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
    Section 5. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act 
is amended  by changing Section 3.50 as follows:
 


    (210 ILCS 50/3.50)



    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 100-1082)

    Sec. 3.50. Emergency Medical Services personnel licensure 
levels. 

    (a) "Emergency Medical Technician" or
"EMT" means a person 
who has successfully completed a course in basic life support

as approved by the
Department, is currently licensed by the 
Department in
accordance with standards prescribed by this Act 
and rules
adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, and 
practices within an EMS
System. A valid Emergency Medical 
Technician-Basic (EMT-B) license issued under this Act shall 
continue to be valid and shall be recognized as an Emergency 
Medical Technician (EMT) license until the Emergency Medical 
Technician-Basic (EMT-B) license expires. 

    (b) "Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate"
or "EMT-I" 
means a person who has successfully completed a
course in 
intermediate life support
as approved
 by the Department, is 
currently licensed by the
Department in accordance with 
standards prescribed by this
Act and rules adopted by the 
Department pursuant to this
Act, and practices within an 
Intermediate or Advanced
Life Support EMS System. 

    (b-5)   "Advanced Emergency Medical Technician" or "A-EMT" 
means a person who has successfully completed a course in basic 
and limited advanced emergency medical care as approved by the 
Department,  is currently licensed by the Department in 
accordance with standards prescribed by this Act and rules 
adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, and practices 
within an Intermediate or Advanced Life Support EMS System. 
    (c) "Paramedic (EMT-P)" means a person who
has successfully 
completed a
course in advanced life support care
as approved
 by 
the Department, is licensed by the Department
in accordance 
with standards prescribed by this Act and
rules adopted by the 
Department pursuant to this Act, and
practices within an 
Advanced Life Support EMS System. A valid Emergency Medical 
Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) license issued under this Act 
shall continue to be valid and shall be recognized as a 
Paramedic license until the Emergency Medical 
Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) license expires. 

    (c-5) "Emergency Medical Responder" or "EMR (First 
Responder)" means a person who has successfully completed a 
course in emergency medical response as approved by the 
Department and provides emergency medical response services 
prior to the arrival of an ambulance or specialized emergency 
medical services vehicle, in accordance with the level of care 
established by the National EMS Educational Standards 
Emergency Medical Responder course as modified by the 
Department. An Emergency Medical Responder who provides 
services as part of an EMS System response plan shall comply 
with the applicable sections of the Program Plan, as approved 
by the Department, of that EMS System. The Department shall 
have the authority to adopt rules governing the curriculum, 
practice, and necessary equipment applicable to Emergency 
Medical Responders.
    On August 15, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 
98-973) this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, a 
person who is licensed by the Department as a First Responder 
and has completed a Department-approved course in first 
responder defibrillator training based on, or equivalent to, 
the National EMS Educational Standards or other standards 
previously recognized by the Department shall be eligible for 
licensure as an Emergency Medical Responder upon meeting the 
licensure requirements and submitting an application to the 
Department. A valid First Responder license issued under this 
Act shall continue to be valid and shall be recognized as an 
Emergency Medical Responder license until the First Responder 
license expires.
    (c-10) All EMS Systems and licensees shall be fully 
compliant with the National EMS Education Standards, as 
modified by the Department in administrative rules, within 24 
months after the adoption of the administrative rules. 
    (d) The Department shall have the authority and

responsibility to:

        (1) Prescribe education and training requirements, 
    which
includes training in the use of epinephrine,
for all 
    levels of EMS personnel except for EMRs, based on the 
    National EMS Educational Standards
and any modifications 
    to those curricula specified by the
Department through 
    rules adopted pursuant to this Act.

        (2) Prescribe licensure testing requirements
for all 
    levels of EMS personnel, which shall include a requirement 
    that
all phases of instruction, training, and field 
    experience be
completed before taking the appropriate 
    licensure examination.
Candidates may elect to take the 
    appropriate National Registry examination in lieu of the

    Department's examination, but are responsible for making

    their own arrangements for taking the National Registry

    examination. In prescribing licensure testing requirements 
    for honorably discharged members of the armed forces of the 
    United States under this paragraph (2), the Department 
    shall ensure that a candidate's military emergency medical 
    training, emergency medical curriculum completed, and 
    clinical experience, as described in paragraph (2.5), are 
    recognized. 

        (2.5) Review applications for EMS personnel licensure 
    from
honorably discharged members of the armed forces of 
    the United States with military emergency medical 
    training. Applications shall be filed with the Department 
    within one year after military discharge and shall contain: 
    (i) proof of successful completion of military emergency 
    medical training; (ii) a detailed description of the 
    emergency medical curriculum completed; and (iii) a 
    detailed description of the applicant's clinical 
    experience. The Department may request additional and 
    clarifying information. The Department shall evaluate the 
    application, including the applicant's training and 
    experience, consistent with the standards set forth under 
    subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of Section 3.10. If the 
    application clearly demonstrates that the training and 
    experience meets such standards, the Department shall 
    offer the applicant the opportunity to successfully 
    complete a Department-approved EMS personnel examination 
    for the level of license for which the applicant is 
    qualified. Upon passage of an examination, the Department 
    shall issue a license, which shall be subject to all 
    provisions of this Act that are otherwise applicable to the 
    level of EMS personnel
license issued. 
        (3) License individuals as an EMR, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT,

    or Paramedic who have met the Department's education, 
    training and
examination requirements.

        (4) Prescribe annual continuing education and

    relicensure requirements for all EMS personnel licensure


    levels. 

        (5) Relicense individuals as an EMD, EMR, EMT, EMT-I, 
    A-EMT,
or Paramedic every 4 years, based on their 
    compliance with
continuing education and relicensure 
    requirements as required by the Department pursuant to this 
    Act. Every 4 years, a Paramedic shall have 100 hours of 
    approved continuing education, an EMT-I and an advanced EMT 
    shall have 80 hours of approved continuing education, and 
    an EMT shall have 60 hours of approved continuing 
    education. An Illinois licensed EMR, EMD, EMT, EMT-I, 
    A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN, or PHRN whose license has been 
    expired for less than 36 months may apply for reinstatement 
    by the Department. Reinstatement shall require that the 
    applicant (i) submit satisfactory proof of completion of 
    continuing medical education and clinical requirements to 
    be prescribed by the Department in an administrative rule; 
    (ii) submit a positive recommendation from an Illinois EMS 
    Medical Director attesting to the applicant's 
    qualifications for retesting; and (iii) pass a Department 
    approved test for the level of EMS personnel license sought 
    to be reinstated.

        (6) Grant inactive status to any EMR, EMD, EMT, EMT-I, 
    A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN, or PHRN who
qualifies, based on 
    standards and procedures established by
the Department in 
    rules adopted pursuant to this Act.

        (7) Charge a fee for EMS personnel examination, 
    licensure, and license renewal.

        (8) Suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew the

    license of any licensee, after an opportunity for an 
    impartial hearing before a neutral administrative law 
    judge appointed by the Director, where the preponderance of 
    the evidence shows one or more of the following:

            (A) The licensee has not met continuing
education 
        or relicensure requirements as prescribed by the 
        Department;

            (B) The licensee has failed to maintain

        proficiency in the level of skills for which he or she 
        is licensed;

            (C) The licensee, during the provision of
medical 
        services, engaged in dishonorable, unethical, or

        unprofessional conduct of a character likely to 
        deceive,
defraud, or harm the public;

            (D) The licensee has failed to maintain or
has 
        violated standards of performance and conduct as 
        prescribed
by the Department in rules adopted pursuant 
        to this Act or
his or her EMS System's Program Plan;

            (E) The licensee is physically impaired to
the 
        extent that he or she cannot physically perform the 
        skills and
functions for which he or she is licensed, 
        as verified by a
physician, unless the person is on 
        inactive status pursuant
to Department regulations;

            (F) The licensee is mentally impaired to the
extent 
        that he or she cannot exercise the appropriate 
        judgment,
skill and safety for performing the 
        functions for which he
or she is licensed, as verified 
        by a physician, unless the person
is on inactive status 
        pursuant to Department regulations;

            (G) The licensee has violated this Act or any
rule 
        adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act; or
            (H)  The licensee has been convicted (or entered a 
        plea of guilty or nolo-contendere) by a court of 
        competent jurisdiction of a Class X, Class 1, or Class 
        2 felony in this State or an out-of-state equivalent 
        offense. 
        (9) Prescribe education and training requirements in 
    the administration and use of opioid antagonists for all 
    levels of EMS personnel based on the National EMS 
    Educational Standards and any modifications to those 
    curricula specified by the Department through rules 
    adopted pursuant to this Act. 
    (d-5) An EMR, EMD, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN, or 
PHRN who is a member of the Illinois National Guard or an 
Illinois State Trooper or who exclusively serves as a volunteer 
for units of local government with a population base of less 
than 5,000 or as a volunteer
for a not-for-profit organization 
that serves a service area
with a population base of less than 
5,000 may submit an application to the Department for a waiver 
of the fees described under paragraph (7) of subsection (d) of 
this Section on a form prescribed by the Department. 
    The education requirements prescribed by the Department 
under this Section must allow for the suspension of those 
requirements in the case of a member of the armed services or 
reserve forces of the United States or a member of the Illinois 
National Guard  who is on active duty pursuant to an executive 
order of the President of the United States, an act of the 
Congress of the United States, or an order of the Governor at 
the time that the member would otherwise be required to fulfill 
a particular education requirement. Such a person must fulfill 
the education requirement within 6 months after his or her 
release from active duty.


    (e) In the event that any rule of the
Department or an EMS 
Medical Director that requires testing for drug
use as a 
condition of the applicable EMS personnel license conflicts 
with or
duplicates a provision of a collective bargaining 
agreement
that requires testing for drug use, that rule shall 
not
apply to any person covered by the collective bargaining

agreement.

    (f) At the time of applying for or renewing his or her 
license, an applicant for a license or license renewal may 
submit an email address to the Department. The Department shall 
keep the email address on file as a form of contact for the 
individual.  The Department shall send license renewal notices 
electronically and by mail to all licensees who provide the 
Department with his or her email address. The notices shall be 
sent at least 60 days prior to the expiration date of the 
license. 
(Source: P.A. 98-53, eff. 1-1-14; 98-463, eff. 8-16-13; 98-973, 
eff. 8-15-14; 99-480, eff. 9-9-15; revised 10-4-18.)

 
    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 100-1082)

    Sec. 3.50. Emergency Medical Services personnel licensure 
levels. 

    (a) "Emergency Medical Technician" or
"EMT" means a person 
who has successfully completed a course in basic life support

as approved by the
Department, is currently licensed by the 
Department in
accordance with standards prescribed by this Act 
and rules
adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, and 
practices within an EMS
System. A valid Emergency Medical 
Technician-Basic (EMT-B) license issued under this Act shall 
continue to be valid and shall be recognized as an Emergency 
Medical Technician (EMT) license until the Emergency Medical 
Technician-Basic (EMT-B) license expires. 

    (b) "Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate"
or "EMT-I" 
means a person who has successfully completed a
course in 
intermediate life support
as approved
 by the Department, is 
currently licensed by the
Department in accordance with 
standards prescribed by this
Act and rules adopted by the 
Department pursuant to this
Act, and practices within an 
Intermediate or Advanced
Life Support EMS System. 

    (b-5)   "Advanced Emergency Medical Technician" or "A-EMT" 
means a person who has successfully completed a course in basic 
and limited advanced emergency medical care as approved by the 
Department,  is currently licensed by the Department in 
accordance with standards prescribed by this Act and rules 
adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, and practices 
within an Intermediate or Advanced Life Support EMS System. 
    (c) "Paramedic (EMT-P)" means a person who
has successfully 
completed a
course in advanced life support care
as approved
 by 
the Department, is licensed by the Department
in accordance 
with standards prescribed by this Act and
rules adopted by the 
Department pursuant to this Act, and
practices within an 
Advanced Life Support EMS System. A valid Emergency Medical 
Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) license issued under this Act 
shall continue to be valid and shall be recognized as a 
Paramedic license until the Emergency Medical 
Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) license expires. 

    (c-5) "Emergency Medical Responder" or "EMR (First 
Responder)" means a person who has successfully completed a 
course in emergency medical response as approved by the 
Department and provides emergency medical response services 
prior to the arrival of an ambulance or specialized emergency 
medical services vehicle, in accordance with the level of care 
established by the National EMS Educational Standards 
Emergency Medical Responder course as modified by the 
Department. An Emergency Medical Responder who provides 
services as part of an EMS System response plan shall comply 
with the applicable sections of the Program Plan, as approved 
by the Department, of that EMS System. The Department shall 
have the authority to adopt rules governing the curriculum, 
practice, and necessary equipment applicable to Emergency 
Medical Responders.
    On August 15, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 
98-973) this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, a 
person who is licensed by the Department as a First Responder 
and has completed a Department-approved course in first 
responder defibrillator training based on, or equivalent to, 
the National EMS Educational Standards or other standards 
previously recognized by the Department shall be eligible for 
licensure as an Emergency Medical Responder upon meeting the 
licensure requirements and submitting an application to the 
Department. A valid First Responder license issued under this 
Act shall continue to be valid and shall be recognized as an 
Emergency Medical Responder license until the First Responder 
license expires.
    (c-10) All EMS Systems and licensees shall be fully 
compliant with the National EMS Education Standards, as 
modified by the Department in administrative rules, within 24 
months after the adoption of the administrative rules. 
    (d) The Department shall have the authority and

responsibility to:

        (1) Prescribe education and training requirements, 
    which
includes training in the use of epinephrine,
for all 
    levels of EMS personnel except for EMRs, based on the 
    National EMS Educational Standards
and any modifications 
    to those curricula specified by the
Department through 
    rules adopted pursuant to this Act.

        (2) Prescribe licensure testing requirements
for all 
    levels of EMS personnel, which shall include a requirement 
    that
all phases of instruction, training, and field 
    experience be
completed before taking the appropriate 
    licensure examination.
Candidates may elect to take the 
    appropriate National Registry examination in lieu of the

    Department's examination, but are responsible for making

    their own arrangements for taking the National Registry

    examination. In prescribing licensure testing requirements 
    for honorably discharged members of the armed forces of the 
    United States under this paragraph (2), the Department 
    shall ensure that a candidate's military emergency medical 
    training, emergency medical curriculum completed, and 
    clinical experience, as described in paragraph (2.5), are 
    recognized. 

        (2.5) Review applications for EMS personnel licensure 
    from
honorably discharged members of the armed forces of 
    the United States with military emergency medical 
    training. Applications shall be filed with the Department 
    within one year after military discharge and shall contain: 
    (i) proof of successful completion of military emergency 
    medical training; (ii) a detailed description of the 
    emergency medical curriculum completed; and (iii) a 
    detailed description of the applicant's clinical 
    experience. The Department may request additional and 
    clarifying information. The Department shall evaluate the 
    application, including the applicant's training and 
    experience, consistent with the standards set forth under 
    subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of Section 3.10. If the 
    application clearly demonstrates that the training and 
    experience meet meets such standards, the Department shall 
    offer the applicant the opportunity to successfully 
    complete a Department-approved EMS personnel examination 
    for the level of license for which the applicant is 
    qualified. Upon passage of an examination, the Department 
    shall issue a license, which shall be subject to all 
    provisions of this Act that are otherwise applicable to the 
    level of EMS personnel
license issued. 
        (3) License individuals as an EMR, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT,

    or Paramedic who have met the Department's education, 
    training and
examination requirements.

        (4) Prescribe annual continuing education and

    relicensure requirements for all EMS personnel licensure


    levels. 

        (5) Relicense individuals as an EMD, EMR, EMT, EMT-I, 
    A-EMT, PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA,
or Paramedic every 4 years, 
    based on their compliance with
continuing education and 
    relicensure requirements as required by the Department 
    pursuant to this Act. Every 4 years, a Paramedic shall have 
    100 hours of approved continuing education, an EMT-I and an 
    advanced EMT shall have 80 hours of approved continuing 
    education, and an EMT shall have 60 hours of approved 
    continuing education. An Illinois licensed EMR, EMD, EMT, 
    EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN, PHPA, PHAPRN, or PHRN whose 
    license has been expired for less than 36 months may apply 
    for reinstatement by the Department. Reinstatement shall 
    require that the applicant (i) submit satisfactory proof of 
    completion of continuing medical education and clinical 
    requirements to be prescribed by the Department in an 
    administrative rule; (ii) submit a positive recommendation 
    from an Illinois EMS Medical Director attesting to the 
    applicant's qualifications for retesting; and (iii) pass a 
    Department approved test for the level of EMS personnel 
    license sought to be reinstated.

        (6) Grant inactive status to any EMR, EMD, EMT, EMT-I, 
    A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or PHRN who

    qualifies, based on standards and procedures established 
    by
the Department in rules adopted pursuant to this Act.

        (7) Charge a fee for EMS personnel examination, 
    licensure, and license renewal.

        (8) Suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew the

    license of any licensee, after an opportunity for an 
    impartial hearing before a neutral administrative law 
    judge appointed by the Director, where the preponderance of 
    the evidence shows one or more of the following:

            (A) The licensee has not met continuing
education 
        or relicensure requirements as prescribed by the 
        Department;

            (B) The licensee has failed to maintain

        proficiency in the level of skills for which he or she 
        is licensed;

            (C) The licensee, during the provision of
medical 
        services, engaged in dishonorable, unethical, or

        unprofessional conduct of a character likely to 
        deceive,
defraud, or harm the public;

            (D) The licensee has failed to maintain or
has 
        violated standards of performance and conduct as 
        prescribed
by the Department in rules adopted pursuant 
        to this Act or
his or her EMS System's Program Plan;

            (E) The licensee is physically impaired to
the 
        extent that he or she cannot physically perform the 
        skills and
functions for which he or she is licensed, 
        as verified by a
physician, unless the person is on 
        inactive status pursuant
to Department regulations;

            (F) The licensee is mentally impaired to the
extent 
        that he or she cannot exercise the appropriate 
        judgment,
skill and safety for performing the 
        functions for which he
or she is licensed, as verified 
        by a physician, unless the person
is on inactive status 
        pursuant to Department regulations;

            (G) The licensee has violated this Act or any
rule 
        adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act; or
            (H)  The licensee has been convicted (or entered a 
        plea of guilty or nolo-contendere) by a court of 
        competent jurisdiction of a Class X, Class 1, or Class 
        2 felony in this State or an out-of-state equivalent 
        offense. 
        (9) Prescribe education and training requirements in 
    the administration and use of opioid antagonists for all 
    levels of EMS personnel based on the National EMS 
    Educational Standards and any modifications to those 
    curricula specified by the Department through rules 
    adopted pursuant to this Act. 
    (d-5) An EMR, EMD, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN, 
PHAPRN, PHPA, or PHRN who is a member of the Illinois National 
Guard or an Illinois State Trooper or who exclusively serves as 
a volunteer for units of local government with a population 
base of less than 5,000 or as a volunteer
for a not-for-profit 
organization that serves a service area
with a population base 
of less than 5,000 may submit an application to the Department 
for a waiver of the fees described under paragraph (7) of 
subsection (d) of this Section on a form prescribed by the 
Department. 
    The education requirements prescribed by the Department 
under this Section must allow for the suspension of those 
requirements in the case of a member of the armed services or 
reserve forces of the United States or a member of the Illinois 
National Guard  who is on active duty pursuant to an executive 
order of the President of the United States, an act of the 
Congress of the United States, or an order of the Governor at 
the time that the member would otherwise be required to fulfill 
a particular education requirement. Such a person must fulfill 
the education requirement within 6 months after his or her 
release from active duty.


    (e) In the event that any rule of the
Department or an EMS 
Medical Director that requires testing for drug
use as a 
condition of the applicable EMS personnel license conflicts 
with or
duplicates a provision of a collective bargaining 
agreement
that requires testing for drug use, that rule shall 
not
apply to any person covered by the collective bargaining

agreement.

    (f) At the time of applying for or renewing his or her 
license, an applicant for a license or license renewal may 
submit an email address to the Department. The Department shall 
keep the email address on file as a form of contact for the 
individual.  The Department shall send license renewal notices 
electronically and by mail to all licensees who provide the 
Department with his or her email address. The notices shall be 
sent at least 60 days prior to the expiration date of the 
license. 
(Source: P.A. 99-480, eff. 9-9-15; 100-1082, eff. 8-24-19; 
revised 10-4-18.)

  
 
    Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes 
changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text 
that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section 
represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does 
not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes 
made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other 
Public Act.


Effective Date:  1/1/2020