Public Act 0531 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB2450 Enrolled LRB103 27345 AMQ 53717 b

Public Act 103-0531

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 5. The Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 2105-370 and 2105-375 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2105/2105-370 new)

Sec. 2105-370. Continuing education; cultural competency.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Cultural competency" means a set of integrated attitudes, knowledge, and skills that enables a health care professional or organization to care effectively for patients from diverse cultures, groups, and communities.

"Health care professional" means a person licensed or registered by the Department under the following Acts: the Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Nurse Practice Act, the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act, the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987, the Illinois Physical Therapy Act, the Pharmacy Practice Act, the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987, the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act, the Nursing Home Administrators Licensing and Disciplinary Act, the Illinois Occupational Therapy Practice Act, the Podiatric Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Respiratory Care Practice Act, the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act, the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act, the Illinois Dental Practice Act, the Illinois Dental Practice Act, or the Behavior Analyst Licensing Act.

(b) For health care professional license or registration renewals occurring on or after January 1, 2025, a health care professional who has continuing education requirements must complete at least a one-hour course in training on cultural competency. A health care professional may count this one hour for completion of this course toward meeting the minimum credit hours required for continuing education.

(c) The Department may adopt rules for the implementation of this Section.

(20 ILCS 2105/2105-375 new)

Sec. 2105-375. Limitation on specific statutorily mandated training requirements.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Health care professional" means a person licensed or registered by the Department under the following Acts: the Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Nurse Practice Act, the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act, the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987, the Illinois Physical Therapy Act, the Pharmacy Practice Act, the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987, the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act, the Nursing Home Administrators Licensing and Disciplinary Act, the Illinois Occupational Therapy Practice Act, the Podiatric Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Respiratory Care Practice Act, the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act, the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act, the Illinois Dental Practice Act, the Illinois Dental Practice Act, or the Behavior Analyst Licensing Act.

"Statutorily mandated topics" means continuing education training as specified by statute, including, but not limited to, training required under Sections 2105-365 and 2105-370.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for health care professional license or registration renewals occurring on or after January 1, 2025, a health care professional whose license or registration renewal occurs every 2 years must complete all statutorily mandated topics within 3 renewal periods. If any additional statutorily mandated topics are added by law after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, then a health care professional whose license or registration renewal occurs every 2 years must complete all statutorily mandated topics within 4 renewal periods.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for health care professional license or registration renewals occurring on or after January 1, 2025, a health care professional whose license or registration renewal occurs every 3 years must complete all statutorily mandated topics within 2 renewal periods. If any additional statutorily mandated topics are added by law after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, then a health care professional whose license or registration renewal occurs every 3 years must complete all statutorily mandated topics within 3 renewal periods.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section to the contrary, the implicit bias awareness training required under Section 2105-15.7 and the sexual harassment prevention training required under Section 2105-15.5 must be completed as provided by law.

(d-5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section to the contrary, the Alzheimer's disease and other dementias training required under Section 2105-365 must be completed prior to the end of the health care professional's first license renewal period, and thereafter in accordance with this Section.

(e) The Department shall maintain on its website information regarding the current requirements for the specific statutorily mandated topics.

(f) Each license or permit application or renewal form the Department provides to a health care professional must include a notification regarding the current specific statutorily mandated topics.

Section 10. The Illinois Controlled Substances Act is amended by changing Section 315.5 as follows:

(720 ILCS 570/315.5)

Sec. 315.5. Opioid education for prescribers. In accordance with the requirement for prescribers of controlled substances to undergo training under Section 1263 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328), every Every prescriber who is licensed to prescribe controlled substances shall, during the pre-renewal period, complete one hour 3 hours of continuing education on safe opioid prescribing practices offered or accredited by a professional association, State government agency, or federal government agency. Notwithstanding any individual licensing Act or administrative rule, a prescriber may count this hour these 3 hours toward the total continuing education hours required for renewal of a professional license. Continuing education on safe opioid prescribing practices applied to meet any other State licensure requirement or professional accreditation or certification requirement may be used toward the requirement under this Section. The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may adopt rules for the administration of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 100-1106, eff. 1-1-19.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2025.