101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB5205

 

Introduced , by Rep. Keith R. Wheeler

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
50 ILCS 705/10.25 new
55 ILCS 5/3-6012.3 new
65 ILCS 5/10-4-15 new
210 ILCS 50/3.5
210 ILCS 50/3.50

    Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board and the Department of Public Health shall jointly develop and establish a program of certification of tactical paramedics for the purposes of aiding special law enforcement teams involved in, but not limited to, search and rescues, civil disturbances, bomb threat responses, tactical or special operations team deployments, hostage negotiations, HazMat responses, executive and dignitary protection, and counterterrorism, as assigned and directed by a law enforcement agency recognized by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board. Includes program requirements. Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that chiefs of police and sheriffs may employ tactical paramedics and provide tactical paramedic support to first responders. Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act making conforming changes.


LRB101 20427 AWJ 69981 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5205LRB101 20427 AWJ 69981 b

1    AN ACT concerning local government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Police Training Act is amended by
5adding Section 10.25 as follows:
 
6    (50 ILCS 705/10.25 new)
7    Sec. 10.25. Tactical paramedics.
8    (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law following
9the effective date of this amendatory act of the 101st General
10Assembly, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards
11Board and the Department of Public Health shall jointly develop
12and establish a program of certification of tactical paramedics
13for the purposes of aiding special law enforcement teams
14involved in, but not limited to, search and rescues, civil
15disturbances, bomb threat responses, tactical or special
16operations team deployments, hostage negotiations, HazMat
17responses, executive and dignitary protection, and
18counterterrorism, as assigned and directed by a law enforcement
19agency that is recognized by the Illinois Law Enforcement
20Training and Standards Board.
21    The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board
22in conjunction with the Department of Public Health may
23establish any fees necessary to fund the training and

 

 

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1certification requirements of this Section and may establish
2other entities providing training to meet all or a portion of
3the requirements of this Section.
4    (b) The tactical paramedic program certification
5requirements shall include, but are not limited to, the
6following: that the individual must be an emergency medical
7technician, paramedic, physician, physician's assistant,
8nurse, or other medical professional licensed to practice in
9the State or in possession of a suitable license as determined
10by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board and
11the Department of Public Health; that the person has completed
12no less than a 40 hour basic firearms certification recognized
13by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board;
14that the person has completed no less than 50 hours of tactical
15medical training, approved by the Illinois Law Enforcement
16Training and Standards Board; that the person has attended no
17less than 50 hours of tactical and firearms training, including
18use of force training; and that the person operate under a
19medical facility in the State that is licensed by the
20Department of Public Health.
21    (c) The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards
22Board and the Department of Public Health shall establish
23annual requirements for certification of tactical paramedics
24including, but not limited to, proof of: a valid license or
25certification as a medical professional licensed or certified
26to practice in the State; that a person operates under a

 

 

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1medical facility in the State that is licensed by the
2Department of Public Health; completion of no less than 50
3hours annually of tactical medical training; and completion of
4no less than 50 hours annually of tactical and firearms
5training, including use of force training.
6    The Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board and
7the Department of Public Health may require any additional
8qualifications, licensing, standards, certification, or
9training deemed necessary and pertinent by either agency.
 
10    Section 10. The Counties Code is amended by adding Section
113-6012.3 as follows:
 
12    (55 ILCS 5/3-6012.3 new)
13    Sec. 3-6012.3. Tactical paramedic support. A Sheriff may
14employ and provide tactical paramedic support to first
15responders with tactical paramedics certified under Section
1610.25 of the Illinois Police Training Act. In addition to any
17other requirements, the tactical paramedics will participate
18in routine, ongoing tactical and medical training with the
19first responders that they will support and meet any additional
20training, certification, and licensing as the Sheriff deems
21appropriate.
 
22    Section 15. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by
23adding Section 10-4-15 as follows:
 

 

 

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1    (65 ILCS 5/10-4-15 new)
2    Sec. 10-4-15. Tactical paramedic support. A municipality
3may provide tactical paramedic support to first responders with
4tactical paramedics certified under Section 10.25 of the
5Illinois Police Training Act. In addition to any other
6requirements, the tactical paramedics will participate in
7routine, ongoing tactical and medical training with the first
8responders that they will support and meet any additional
9training, certification, and licensing as the chief of police
10deems appropriate.
 
11    Section 20. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems
12Act is amended by changing Sections 3.5 and 3.50 as follows:
 
13    (210 ILCS 50/3.5)
14    Sec. 3.5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
15    "Clinical observation" means the ongoing observation of a
16patient's condition by a licensed health care professional
17utilizing a medical skill set while continuing assessment and
18care.
19    "Department" means the Illinois Department of Public
20Health.
21    "Director" means the Director of the Illinois Department of
22Public Health.
23    "Emergency" means a medical condition of recent onset and

 

 

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1severity that would lead a prudent layperson, possessing an
2average knowledge of medicine and health, to believe that
3urgent or unscheduled medical care is required.
4    "Emergency Medical Services personnel" or "EMS personnel"
5means persons licensed as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
6(First Responder), Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD),
7Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Emergency Medical
8Technician-Intermediate (EMT-I), Advanced Emergency Medical
9Technician (A-EMT), Paramedic (EMT-P), Emergency
10Communications Registered Nurse (ECRN), Pre-Hospital
11Registered Nurse (PHRN), Pre-Hospital Advanced Practice
12Registered Nurse (PHAPRN), or Pre-Hospital Physician Assistant
13(PHPA), or Tactical Paramedics.
14    "Health care facility" means a hospital, nursing home,
15physician's office or other fixed location at which medical and
16health care services are performed. It does not include
17"pre-hospital emergency care settings" which utilize EMS
18personnel to render pre-hospital emergency care prior to the
19arrival of a transport vehicle, as defined in this Act.
20    "Hospital" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the
21Hospital Licensing Act.
22    "Medical monitoring" means the performance of medical
23tests and physical exams to evaluate an individual's ongoing
24exposure to a factor that could negatively impact that person's
25health. "Medical monitoring" includes close surveillance or
26supervision of patients liable to suffer deterioration in

 

 

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1physical or mental health and checks of various parameters such
2as pulse rate, temperature, respiration rate, the condition of
3the pupils, the level of consciousness and awareness, the
4degree of appreciation of pain, and blood gas concentrations
5such as oxygen and carbon dioxide.
6    "Trauma" means any significant injury which involves
7single or multiple organ systems.
8(Source: P.A. 100-1082, eff. 8-24-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)
 
9    (210 ILCS 50/3.50)
10    Sec. 3.50. Emergency Medical Services personnel licensure
11levels.
12    (a) "Emergency Medical Technician" or "EMT" means a person
13who has successfully completed a course in basic life support
14as approved by the Department, is currently licensed by the
15Department in accordance with standards prescribed by this Act
16and rules adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, and
17practices within an EMS System. A valid Emergency Medical
18Technician-Basic (EMT-B) license issued under this Act shall
19continue to be valid and shall be recognized as an Emergency
20Medical Technician (EMT) license until the Emergency Medical
21Technician-Basic (EMT-B) license expires.
22    (b) "Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate" or "EMT-I"
23means a person who has successfully completed a course in
24intermediate life support as approved by the Department, is
25currently licensed by the Department in accordance with

 

 

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1standards prescribed by this Act and rules adopted by the
2Department pursuant to this Act, and practices within an
3Intermediate or Advanced Life Support EMS System.
4    (b-5) "Advanced Emergency Medical Technician" or "A-EMT"
5means a person who has successfully completed a course in basic
6and limited advanced emergency medical care as approved by the
7Department, is currently licensed by the Department in
8accordance with standards prescribed by this Act and rules
9adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, and practices
10within an Intermediate or Advanced Life Support EMS System.
11    (c) "Paramedic (EMT-P)" means a person who has successfully
12completed a course in advanced life support care as approved by
13the Department, is licensed by the Department in accordance
14with standards prescribed by this Act and rules adopted by the
15Department pursuant to this Act, and practices within an
16Advanced Life Support EMS System. A valid Emergency Medical
17Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) license issued under this Act
18shall continue to be valid and shall be recognized as a
19Paramedic license until the Emergency Medical
20Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) license expires.
21    (c-3) "Tactical Paramedic" means a person who has
22successfully completed certification under the requirements of
23Section 10.25 of the Illinois Police Training Act.
24    (c-5) "Emergency Medical Responder" or "EMR (First
25Responder)" means a person who has successfully completed a
26course in emergency medical response as approved by the

 

 

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1Department and provides emergency medical response services
2prior to the arrival of an ambulance or specialized emergency
3medical services vehicle, in accordance with the level of care
4established by the National EMS Educational Standards
5Emergency Medical Responder course as modified by the
6Department. An Emergency Medical Responder who provides
7services as part of an EMS System response plan shall comply
8with the applicable sections of the Program Plan, as approved
9by the Department, of that EMS System. The Department shall
10have the authority to adopt rules governing the curriculum,
11practice, and necessary equipment applicable to Emergency
12Medical Responders.
13    On August 15, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act
1498-973), a person who is licensed by the Department as a First
15Responder and has completed a Department-approved course in
16first responder defibrillator training based on, or equivalent
17to, the National EMS Educational Standards or other standards
18previously recognized by the Department shall be eligible for
19licensure as an Emergency Medical Responder upon meeting the
20licensure requirements and submitting an application to the
21Department. A valid First Responder license issued under this
22Act shall continue to be valid and shall be recognized as an
23Emergency Medical Responder license until the First Responder
24license expires.
25    (c-10) All EMS Systems and licensees shall be fully
26compliant with the National EMS Education Standards, as

 

 

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1modified by the Department in administrative rules, within 24
2months after the adoption of the administrative rules.
3    (d) The Department shall have the authority and
4responsibility to:
5        (1) Prescribe education and training requirements,
6    which includes training in the use of epinephrine, for all
7    levels of EMS personnel except for EMRs, based on the
8    National EMS Educational Standards and any modifications
9    to those curricula specified by the Department through
10    rules adopted pursuant to this Act.
11        (2) Prescribe licensure testing requirements for all
12    levels of EMS personnel, which shall include a requirement
13    that all phases of instruction, training, and field
14    experience be completed before taking the appropriate
15    licensure examination. Candidates may elect to take the
16    appropriate National Registry examination in lieu of the
17    Department's examination, but are responsible for making
18    their own arrangements for taking the National Registry
19    examination. In prescribing licensure testing requirements
20    for honorably discharged members of the armed forces of the
21    United States under this paragraph (2), the Department
22    shall ensure that a candidate's military emergency medical
23    training, emergency medical curriculum completed, and
24    clinical experience, as described in paragraph (2.5), are
25    recognized.
26        (2.5) Review applications for EMS personnel licensure

 

 

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1    from honorably discharged members of the armed forces of
2    the United States with military emergency medical
3    training. Applications shall be filed with the Department
4    within one year after military discharge and shall contain:
5    (i) proof of successful completion of military emergency
6    medical training; (ii) a detailed description of the
7    emergency medical curriculum completed; and (iii) a
8    detailed description of the applicant's clinical
9    experience. The Department may request additional and
10    clarifying information. The Department shall evaluate the
11    application, including the applicant's training and
12    experience, consistent with the standards set forth under
13    subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of Section 3.10. If the
14    application clearly demonstrates that the training and
15    experience meet such standards, the Department shall offer
16    the applicant the opportunity to successfully complete a
17    Department-approved EMS personnel examination for the
18    level of license for which the applicant is qualified. Upon
19    passage of an examination, the Department shall issue a
20    license, which shall be subject to all provisions of this
21    Act that are otherwise applicable to the level of EMS
22    personnel license issued.
23        (3) License individuals as an EMR, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT,
24    or Paramedic who have met the Department's education,
25    training and examination requirements.
26        (4) Prescribe annual continuing education and

 

 

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1    relicensure requirements for all EMS personnel licensure
2    levels.
3        (5) Relicense individuals as an EMD, EMR, EMT, EMT-I,
4    A-EMT, PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or Paramedic every 4 years,
5    based on their compliance with continuing education and
6    relicensure requirements as required by the Department
7    pursuant to this Act. Every 4 years, a Paramedic shall have
8    100 hours of approved continuing education, an EMT-I and an
9    advanced EMT shall have 80 hours of approved continuing
10    education, and an EMT shall have 60 hours of approved
11    continuing education. An Illinois licensed EMR, EMD, EMT,
12    EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN, PHPA, PHAPRN, or PHRN whose
13    license has been expired for less than 36 months may apply
14    for reinstatement by the Department. Reinstatement shall
15    require that the applicant (i) submit satisfactory proof of
16    completion of continuing medical education and clinical
17    requirements to be prescribed by the Department in an
18    administrative rule; (ii) submit a positive recommendation
19    from an Illinois EMS Medical Director attesting to the
20    applicant's qualifications for retesting; and (iii) pass a
21    Department approved test for the level of EMS personnel
22    license sought to be reinstated.
23        (6) Grant inactive status to any EMR, EMD, EMT, EMT-I,
24    A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or PHRN who
25    qualifies, based on standards and procedures established
26    by the Department in rules adopted pursuant to this Act.

 

 

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1        (7) Charge a fee for EMS personnel examination,
2    licensure, and license renewal.
3        (8) Suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew the
4    license of any licensee, after an opportunity for an
5    impartial hearing before a neutral administrative law
6    judge appointed by the Director, where the preponderance of
7    the evidence shows one or more of the following:
8            (A) The licensee has not met continuing education
9        or relicensure requirements as prescribed by the
10        Department;
11            (B) The licensee has failed to maintain
12        proficiency in the level of skills for which he or she
13        is licensed;
14            (C) The licensee, during the provision of medical
15        services, engaged in dishonorable, unethical, or
16        unprofessional conduct of a character likely to
17        deceive, defraud, or harm the public;
18            (D) The licensee has failed to maintain or has
19        violated standards of performance and conduct as
20        prescribed by the Department in rules adopted pursuant
21        to this Act or his or her EMS System's Program Plan;
22            (E) The licensee is physically impaired to the
23        extent that he or she cannot physically perform the
24        skills and functions for which he or she is licensed,
25        as verified by a physician, unless the person is on
26        inactive status pursuant to Department regulations;

 

 

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1            (F) The licensee is mentally impaired to the extent
2        that he or she cannot exercise the appropriate
3        judgment, skill and safety for performing the
4        functions for which he or she is licensed, as verified
5        by a physician, unless the person is on inactive status
6        pursuant to Department regulations;
7            (G) The licensee has violated this Act or any rule
8        adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act; or
9            (H) The licensee has been convicted (or entered a
10        plea of guilty or nolo contendere nolo-contendere) by a
11        court of competent jurisdiction of a Class X, Class 1,
12        or Class 2 felony in this State or an out-of-state
13        equivalent offense.
14        (9) Prescribe education and training requirements in
15    the administration and use of opioid antagonists for all
16    levels of EMS personnel based on the National EMS
17    Educational Standards and any modifications to those
18    curricula specified by the Department through rules
19    adopted pursuant to this Act.
20    (d-5) An EMR, EMD, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN,
21PHAPRN, PHPA, or PHRN who is a member of the Illinois National
22Guard or an Illinois State Trooper or who exclusively serves as
23a volunteer for units of local government with a population
24base of less than 5,000 or as a volunteer for a not-for-profit
25organization that serves a service area with a population base
26of less than 5,000 may submit an application to the Department

 

 

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1for a waiver of the fees described under paragraph (7) of
2subsection (d) of this Section on a form prescribed by the
3Department.
4    The education requirements prescribed by the Department
5under this Section must allow for the suspension of those
6requirements in the case of a member of the armed services or
7reserve forces of the United States or a member of the Illinois
8National Guard who is on active duty pursuant to an executive
9order of the President of the United States, an act of the
10Congress of the United States, or an order of the Governor at
11the time that the member would otherwise be required to fulfill
12a particular education requirement. Such a person must fulfill
13the education requirement within 6 months after his or her
14release from active duty.
15    (e) In the event that any rule of the Department or an EMS
16Medical Director that requires testing for drug use as a
17condition of the applicable EMS personnel license conflicts
18with or duplicates a provision of a collective bargaining
19agreement that requires testing for drug use, that rule shall
20not apply to any person covered by the collective bargaining
21agreement.
22    (f) At the time of applying for or renewing his or her
23license, an applicant for a license or license renewal may
24submit an email address to the Department. The Department shall
25keep the email address on file as a form of contact for the
26individual. The Department shall send license renewal notices

 

 

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1electronically and by mail to a licensee all licensees who
2provides provide the Department with his or her email address.
3The notices shall be sent at least 60 days prior to the
4expiration date of the license.
5(Source: P.A. 100-1082, eff. 8-24-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19;
6101-153, eff. 1-1-20; revised 12-3-19.)