HB2670 EnrolledLRB101 09670 JRG 54769 b

1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Department of Professional Regulation Law of
5the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by
6changing Section 2105-131 as follows:
 
7    (20 ILCS 2105/2105-131)
8    Sec. 2105-131. Applicants with criminal convictions;
9notice of denial.
10    (a) For the purposes of this Section, "mitigating factors"
11means any information, evidence, conduct, or circumstances
12before, during, or after the offense or offenses reviewed by
13the Department that may reflect on an applicant's request for
14licensure, registration, or certification through the
15Department, such as 3 years having passed since release from
16confinement. Mitigating factors are not a bar to licensure,
17instead they provide guidance for the Department when
18considering licensure, registration, or certification for an
19applicant with criminal history.
20    Except as provided in Section 2105-165 of this Act
21regarding licensing restrictions based on enumerated offenses
22for health care workers as defined in the Health Care Worker
23Self-Referral Act and except as provided in any licensing Act

 

 

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1administered by the Department in which convictions of certain
2enumerated offenses are a bar to licensure, the Department,
3upon a finding that an applicant for a license, certificate, or
4registration was previously convicted of a felony or
5misdemeanor that may be grounds for refusing to issue a license
6or certificate or to grant a granting registration, shall
7consider any mitigating factors and evidence of rehabilitation
8contained in the applicant's record, including the
9circumstances surrounding the offense or offenses and any of
10the following, to determine whether a prior conviction will
11impair the ability of the applicant to engage in the practice
12for which a license, certificate, or registration is sought:
13        (1) the lack of direct relation of the offense for
14    which the applicant was previously convicted to the duties,
15    functions, and responsibilities of the position for which a
16    license is sought;
17        (2) any mitigating factors from the point of arrest or
18    indictment when determined to be appropriate, unless
19    otherwise specified and including, but not limited to,
20    whether 5 years since a felony conviction or 3 years since
21    release from confinement for the conviction, whichever is
22    later, have passed without a subsequent conviction;
23        (3) if the applicant was previously licensed or
24    employed in this State or other states or jurisdictions,
25    the lack of prior misconduct arising from or related to the
26    licensed position or position of employment;

 

 

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1        (4) the age of the person at the time of the criminal
2    offense;
3        (4.5) if, due to the applicant's criminal conviction
4    history, the applicant would be explicitly prohibited by
5    federal rules or regulations from working in the position
6    for which a license is sought;
7        (5) successful completion of sentence and, for
8    applicants serving a term of parole or probation, a
9    progress report provided by the applicant's probation or
10    parole officer that documents the applicant's compliance
11    with conditions of supervision;
12        (6) evidence of the applicant's present fitness and
13    professional character;
14        (7) evidence of rehabilitation or rehabilitative
15    effort during or after incarceration, or during or after a
16    term of supervision, including, but not limited to, a
17    certificate of good conduct under Section 5-5.5-25 of the
18    Unified Code of Corrections or certificate of relief from
19    disabilities under Section 5-5.5-10 of the Unified Code of
20    Corrections; and
21        (8) any other mitigating factors that contribute to the
22    person's potential and current ability to perform the job
23    duties.
24    (b) If the Department refuses to issue a license or
25certificate or grant registration to an applicant based upon a
26conviction or convictions, in whole or in part, the Department

 

 

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1shall notify the applicant of the denial in writing with the
2following included in the notice of denial:
3        (1) a statement about the decision to refuse to grant a
4    license, certificate, or registration;
5        (2) a list of convictions that the Department
6    determined will impair the applicant's ability to engage in
7    the position for which a license, registration, or
8    certificate is sought;
9        (3) a list of convictions that formed the sole or
10    partial basis for the refusal to issue a license or
11    certificate or grant registration; and
12        (4) a summary of the appeal process or the earliest the
13    applicant may reapply for a license, certificate, or
14    registration, whichever is applicable.
15(Source: P.A. 100-286, eff. 1-1-18.)