96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB6954

 

Introduced , by Rep. Patricia R. Bellock

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 2105/2105-165 new

    Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that when a licensed health care worker, as defined in the Health Care Worker Self-Referral Act, (1) has been convicted of any forcible intentional felony or a sexual criminal act that requires registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act against a patient in the course of patient care or treatment; (2) has been convicted of any forcible intentional felony against any natural person; or (3) is required as a part of a criminal sentence to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act, then the Secretary, after consultation with Department's regulatory and prosecutorial staff, may immediately temporarily suspend the license of a health care worker, as defined in the Health Care Worker Self-Referral Act, without a hearing if the Secretary finds that evidence in his or her possession indicates that the health care worker's continuation in practice would constitute an immediate danger to the public. Provides that within 15 business days after receiving notice from the State's Attorney of the filing of criminal charges against the health care worker, the Secretary shall issue an administrative order that the health care worker may only practice with a chaperone during all patient encounters pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings. Provides that in instances in which the Secretary immediately suspends a license, a hearing on the health care worker's license must be convened by the appropriate licensing or disciplinary board within 15 days after the summary suspension and completed without appreciable delay. Adds provisions concerning the confidentiality of certain information and documents. Effective immediately.


LRB096 24465 CEL 44173 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB6954LRB096 24465 CEL 44173 b

1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
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 adding
6Section 2105-165 as follows:
 
7    (20 ILCS 2105/2105-165 new)
8    Sec. 2105-165. Health care worker licensure actions;
9intentional felonies and sexual crimes.
10    (a) When a licensed health care worker, as defined in the
11Health Care Worker Self-Referral Act, (1) has been convicted of
12any forcible intentional felony or a sexual criminal act that
13requires registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act
14against a patient in the course of patient care or treatment;
15(2) has been convicted of any forcible intentional felony
16against any natural person; or (3) is required as a part of a
17criminal sentence to register under the Sex Offender
18Registration Act, then the Secretary, after consultation with
19the Department's regulatory and prosecutorial staff, may
20immediately temporarily suspend the license of the health care
21worker without a hearing, simultaneously with the institution
22of proceedings for a hearing in accordance with subsection (c)
23of this Section, if the Secretary finds that evidence in his or

 

 

HB6954- 2 -LRB096 24465 CEL 44173 b

1her possession indicates that the health care worker's
2continuation in practice would constitute an immediate danger
3to the public.
4    (b) When an Illinois State's Attorney files criminal felony
5charges alleging that a licensed health care worker, as defined
6in the Health Care Worker Self-Referral Act, committed an
7intentional forcible felony against a patient including a
8sexual act against a patient in the course of patient care or
9treatment, then the State's Attorney shall provide notice to
10the Department of the health care worker's name, address,
11practice address, and license number and the patient's name.
12Within 15 business days after receiving notice from the State's
13Attorney of the filing of criminal charges against the health
14care worker, the Secretary shall issue an administrative order
15that the health care worker shall immediately practice only
16with a chaperone during all patient encounters pending the
17outcome of the criminal proceedings. The licensee shall provide
18an acceptable written plan of compliance with the
19administrative order to the Department within 10 days after
20receipt of the administrative order. Failure to comply with the
21administrative order, failure to file a compliance plan, or
22failure to follow the compliance plan shall subject the health
23care worker to temporary suspension of his or her professional
24license.
25    (c) In instances in which the Secretary immediately
26suspends a license under this Section, a hearing on the health

 

 

HB6954- 3 -LRB096 24465 CEL 44173 b

1care worker's license must be convened by the appropriate
2licensing or disciplinary board within 15 days after the
3summary suspension and completed without appreciable delay.
4This hearing is to determine whether to recommend to the
5Secretary that the health care worker's license be revoked,
6suspended, placed on probationary status, or reinstated, or
7whether the health care worker should be subject to other
8disciplinary action. In the hearing, any written information or
9communication and any other evidence submitted therewith may be
10introduced as evidence against the health care worker; provided
11however, the health care worker, or his or her counsel, shall
12have the opportunity to discredit, impeach, and submit evidence
13rebutting such evidence.
14    (d) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary,
15any revocation or suspension for crimes requiring sex offender
16registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act shall be
17for a minimum of 5 years. Licensees may only be considered
18rehabilitated by the appropriate licensing or disciplinary
19board (1) based upon certified written reports of examination
20by 2 physicians board certified in psychiatry recommending that
21the licensee is sufficiently rehabilitated to warrant the
22public trust and that the licensee can resume practice without
23monitoring or limitations; (2) when the licensee is no longer
24required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender
25Registration Act; or (3) the licensee's conviction is vacated,
26overturned, or reversed.

 

 

HB6954- 4 -LRB096 24465 CEL 44173 b

1    (e) Nothing contained in this Section shall act in any way
2to waive or modify the confidentiality of information provided
3by the State's Attorney to the extent provided by law. Any
4information reported or disclosed shall be kept for the
5confidential use of the Secretary, Department attorneys, the
6investigative staff, and authorized clerical staff, as
7provided in this Act, and shall be afforded the same status as
8is provided information under Part 21 of Article VIII of the
9Code of Civil Procedure, except that the Department may
10disclose information and documents to (1) a federal, State, or
11local law enforcement agency pursuant to a subpoena in an
12ongoing criminal investigation or (2) an appropriate licensing
13authority of another state or jurisdiction pursuant to an
14official request made by that authority. Any information and
15documents disclosed to a federal, State, or local law
16enforcement agency may be used by that agency only for the
17investigation and prosecution of a criminal offense. Any
18information or documents disclosed by the Department to a
19professional licensing authority of another state or
20jurisdiction may only be used by that authority for
21investigations and disciplinary proceedings with regards to a
22professional license.
23    (f) Any licensee disciplined or who received an
24administrative order under this Section shall have the
25discipline or administrative order vacated and completely
26removed from the licensee's records and public view and the

 

 

HB6954- 5 -LRB096 24465 CEL 44173 b

1discipline or administrative order shall be afforded the same
2status as is provided information under Part 21 of Article VIII
3of the Code of Civil Procedure if (1) the charges upon which
4the discipline or administrative order is based are dropped;
5(2) the licensee is not convicted of the charges upon which the
6discipline or administrative order is based; or (3) any
7conviction for charges upon which the discipline or
8administrative order was based have been vacated, overturned,
9or reversed.
10    (g) Nothing contained in this Section shall prohibit the
11Department from initiating or maintaining a disciplinary
12action against a licensee independent from any criminal
13charges, conviction, or sex offender registration.
 
14    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
15becoming law.