Public Act 100-0989
 
HB4707 EnrolledLRB100 16559 RLC 31691 b


  
    AN ACT concerning criminal law.
  
 
    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 
Prescription Drug Task Force Act.
 
    Section 5. Purpose. The General Assembly finds that:
    (1)  Prescription opioid abuse is endemic in this State.
    (2)   Some medical studies have shown that the use of opioid 
versus non-opioid medication therapy did not result in 
significantly better pain-related function over the trial 
periods.
    (3) While opioid abuse is an endemic public health problem, 
there are patients in pain who may need opioids for legitimate 
medical reasons.
    (4)   It has the right to regulate the licensing of health 
care professionals and has enacted various licensing Acts for 
that purpose authorizing the Department of Financial and 
Professional Regulation  to license and discipline these health 
care professionals.
    (5) A legislative Task Force is necessary to study 
prescription opioid abuse, and to make recommendations of 
future legislation to address this issue.
 
    Section 10. Prescription Drug Task Force. 
    (a) The Prescription Drug Task Force is created.  The Task 
Force shall be composed of 25 members appointed as follows:
        (1) one member  of the House of Representatives 
    appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
        (2) one member of the House of Representatives 
    appointed by the Minority Leader of the  House of 
    Representatives;
        (3)  one member of the Senate appointed by the President 
    of the Senate;
        (4) one member   of the Senate appointed by the Minority 
    Leader of the Senate;
        (5) the Secretary of Human Services or his or her 
    designee;
        (6)  one member   from each of the following organizations 
    appointed by the Secretary of Human Services from nominees 
    made by the respective organization:
            (A) a statewide organization representing advanced 
        practice registered nurses;
            (B) a statewide organization representing 
        hospitals;
            (C)  a statewide organization representing retail 
        merchants;
            (D) a statewide organization representing 
        dentists;
            (E) a statewide organization representing 
        physician assistants;
            (F)  a statewide organization representing 
        health-system pharmacists;
            (G)  a statewide organization representing 
        optometrists;
            (H) a statewide organization representing 
        pharmacists;
            (I)  a statewide organization representing 
        pharmaceutical manufacturers;
        (7)  2 members who are parents whose children have died 
    from drug overdoses, appointed by the Secretary of Human 
    Services;
        (8)  2 members who are selected from county sheriffs, 
    municipal police chiefs, and State's Attorneys, appointed 
    by the Attorney General; 
        (9) one member who is a peace officer specializing in 
    the enforcement of laws prohibiting the illegal 
    manufacture, delivery, and possession of controlled 
    substances and methamphetamine, appointed by the Director 
    of State Police; 
        (10) 2 members who are representatives of providers of 
    addiction treatment services, appointed by the Secretary 
    of Human Services;
        (11) 2 members who are public defenders, appointed by 
    the Attorney General; and
        (12) 2 members who are physicians licensed to practice 
    medicine in all its branches, including one physician 
    specializing in pain management and one physician 
    specializing in emergency medicine, nominated by a 
    statewide organization representing physicians licensed to 
    practice medicine in all its branches, appointed by the 
    Secretary of Human Services.
    (b)    The Task Force shall choose its chairperson from among 
its members and any other officers it deems appropriate.
    (c)    The Task Force shall initially meet within 30 days 
after the effective date of this Act. The members of the Task 
Force shall receive no compensation for their services as 
members of the Task Force but may be reimbursed for expenses 
from appropriations made by law.
    (d) The Task Force may seek the assistance of the 
Departments of Financial and Professional Regulation and 
Public Health in performing its duties.
    (e)  The Task Force shall:
        (1) study prescription opioid abuse in this State;
        (2)  study the over-prescription of opioids such as 
    Hydrocodone and Oxycodone; and
        (3)  recommend any legislation, including amendments to 
    the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, that would have the 
    effect of  reducing opioid addiction and abuse.
    (f) The Task Force shall focus its efforts in a manner that 
best utilizes the unique skills and perspectives of the experts 
on the Task Force.
    (g) The Task Force shall submit a report of its 
recommendations to the General Assembly on or before December 
31, 2019.  The report to the General Assembly shall be filed 
with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the 
Secretary of the Senate in electronic form only, in the manner 
that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct. 
    (h) The Department of Human Services shall provide 
administrative and other support to the Task Force.
    (i) This Act is repealed on January 1, 2021.
 

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