103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB3293

 

Introduced 2/7/2024, by Sen. Rachel Ventura

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
225 ILCS 46/40

    Amends the Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Allows a peer recovery specialist to request a waiver from the Illinois Department of Public Health to work in the health care industry when he or she would otherwise be prohibited because of his or her criminal record.


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A BILL FOR

 

SB3293LRB103 36956 RTM 67070 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 Health Care Worker Background Check Act is
5amended by changing Section 40 as follows:
 
6    (225 ILCS 46/40)
7    Sec. 40. Waiver.
8    (a) Any student; , applicant; , enrollee in a training
9program; , individual receiving services from a workforce
10intermediary or organization providing pro bono legal
11services; , or employee listed on the Health Care Worker
12Registry; or peer recovery specialist may request a waiver of
13the prohibition against employment by:
14        (1) completing a waiver application on a form
15    prescribed by the Department of Public Health;
16        (2) providing a written explanation of each conviction
17    to include (i) what happened, (ii) how many years have
18    passed since the offense, (iii) the individuals involved,
19    (iv) the age of the applicant at the time of the offense,
20    and (v) any other circumstances surrounding the offense;
21    and
22        (3) providing official documentation showing that all
23    fines have been paid, if applicable and except for in the

 

 

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1    instance of payment of court-imposed fines or restitution
2    in which the applicant is adhering to a payment schedule,
3    and the date probation or parole was satisfactorily
4    completed, if applicable.
5    (b) The applicant may, but is not required to, submit
6employment and character references and any other evidence
7demonstrating the ability of the applicant or employee to
8perform the employment responsibilities competently and
9evidence that the applicant or employee does not pose a threat
10to the health or safety of residents, patients, or clients.
11    (c) The Department of Public Health may, at the discretion
12of the Director of Public Health, grant a waiver to an
13applicant, student, or employee listed on the Health Care
14Worker Registry. The Department of Public Health shall act
15upon the waiver request within 30 days of receipt of all
16necessary information, as defined by rule. The Department of
17Public Health shall send an applicant, student, or employee
18written notification of its decision whether to grant a
19waiver, including listing the specific disqualifying offenses
20for which the waiver is being granted or denied. The
21Department shall issue additional copies of this written
22notification upon the applicant's, student's, or employee's
23request.
24    (d) An individual shall not be employed from the time that
25the employer receives a notification from the Department of
26Public Health based upon the results of a fingerprint-based

 

 

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1criminal history records check containing disqualifying
2conditions until the time that the individual receives a
3waiver.
4    (e) The entity responsible for inspecting, licensing,
5certifying, or registering the health care employer and the
6Department of Public Health shall be immune from liability for
7any waivers granted under this Section.
8    (f) A health care employer is not obligated to employ or
9offer permanent employment to an applicant, or to retain an
10employee who is granted a waiver under this Section.
11(Source: P.A. 100-432, eff. 8-25-17; 101-176, eff. 7-31-19.)