HB4880 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB093 16888 NHT 42545 b

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB4880

Introduced 02/04/04, by Wyvetter H. Younge

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Public School Volunteer Health Care Practitioner Act. Establishes the Public School Volunteer Health Care Practitioner Program to encourage health care practitioners to provide their services in the public schools. Provides that if a health care practitioner provides services, without compensation, in a public school for a specified number of hours, the person is eligible to have his or her license renewal fee waived and 25% of any continuing education hours fulfilled. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning schools.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Public School Volunteer Health Care Practitioner Act.

Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to establish a public school volunteer health care practitioner program with incentives in order to encourage health care practitioners to provide their services, without compensation, in the public schools. The program is intended to complement other programs designed to provide health services or increase the level of health care in the public schools.

Section 10. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, in this Act:

"Health care practitioner" means a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches under the Medical Practice Act of 1987; a chiropractic physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987; a podiatric physician licensed under the Podiatric Medical Practice Act of 1987; an optometrist licensed under Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987; an advanced practice nurse, registered nurse, or practical nurse licensed under the Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act; a pharmacist licensed under the Pharmacy Practice Act of 1987; a dentist or dental hygienist licensed under the Illinois Dental Practice Act; a certified nurse midwife licensed under the Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act; a speech-language pathologist or audiologist licensed under the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act; or a physical therapist licensed under the Illinois Physical Therapy Act.

"Department" means the Department of Professional Regulation.

"Program" means the Public School Volunteer Health Care Practitioner Program established under this Act.

Section 15. Creation of Program; supervision and review. The Public School Volunteer Health Care Practitioner Program is created. The Department shall have the responsibility to supervise the Program and perform periodic Program reviews.

Section 20. Program incentives. Notwithstanding any provision of the Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Podiatric Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987, the Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act, the Pharmacy Practice Act of 1987, the Illinois Dental Practice Act, the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act, or the Illinois Physical Therapy Act to the contrary, any health care practitioner who participates in the Program and thereby agrees to provide his or her services, without compensation, in a public school for at least 80 hours a year for each school year during the licensure period, or, if the health care practitioner is retired, for at least 400 hours a year for each school year during the licensure period, upon providing sufficient proof from the applicable school district that the health care practitioner has completed these hours at the time of license renewal under procedures specified by the Department, shall be eligible for the following:

(1) waiver of the license renewal fee for an active license; and

(2) fulfillment of a maximum of 25% of the continuing education hours required for license renewal, if there is a requirement. The school district may establish a schedule for health care practitioners who participate in the Program.

Section 25. Requirements to participate.

(a) A health care practitioner must complete all forms and procedures for participation in the Program prior to the applicable license renewal date.

(b) To participate in the Program, a health care practitioner must have the following:

(1) a valid, active license to practice his or her profession in this State; and

(2) a criminal background investigation performed in the same manner as applicants for employment under Section 10-21.9 or 34-18.5 of the School Code, unless already provided and completed for practitioner licensing, profiling, or credentialing purposes.

Section 30. Liability protection costs. The school district, through its self-insurance program, shall bear the cost of any increase in premiums for liability protection for health care practitioners participating in the Program other than those employed by the school or school district.

Section 35. Program publicity. The Department, in cooperation with the State Board of Education, shall publicize the availability of the Program and its benefits in each school district.

Section 40. Rules. The Department, in cooperation with the State Board of Education, may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Act. The rules shall include the forms to be completed and procedures to be followed by applicants and school personnel under the Program.

Section 45. Funding. The provisions of this Act shall be implemented to the extent that specific appropriations have been made for this purpose.

Section 50. Implementation schedule. Implementation of the Program shall be in accordance with the following schedule:

(1) The forms and procedures required by this Act must be completed and distributed to all school districts on or before November 30, 2005.

(2) Each school district must make the application forms and any other materials required by this Act available to all public schools in the district within one month after the forms and procedures are completed and distributed to the school district.

(3) Publicity of the Program in a school district, as required by this Act, must begin within one month after the forms and procedures are completed and distributed to the school district.

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