| ||||
| Public Act 102-0812 | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
AN ACT concerning regulation.
| ||||
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 Task | ||||
Force on Internationally-Licensed Health Care Professionals | ||||
Act. | ||||
Section 5. Purpose. The Task Force on | ||||
Internationally-Licensed Health Care Professionals is created | ||||
within the Department of Financial and Professional | ||||
Regulation. The Task Force shall aim to:
| ||||
(1) remove barriers to licensure and practice for | ||||
health care professionals licensed and practicing in other | ||||
countries to get licensed and practice in the State;
| ||||
(2) address the health care workforce shortage in the | ||||
State by increasing the supply of culturally competent | ||||
physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals; | ||||
and
| ||||
(3) protect the safety of patients and the broader | ||||
public.
| ||||
Section 10. Membership; appointment; vacancy; meeting; | ||||
support.
| ||||
(a) The Task Force shall have the following members:
| ||||
(1) the Secretary of Financial and Professional
| ||
Regulation, or the Secretary's designee;
| ||
(2) the Director of the Division of Professional
| ||
Regulation, or the Director's designee;
| ||
(3) the Chief Medical Coordinator of the Division of | ||
Professional Regulation; | ||
(4) the Nursing Coordinator of the Division of | ||
Professional Regulation; | ||
(5) the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or | ||
the Speaker's designee; | ||
(6) the Minority Leader of the House of | ||
Representatives, or the Leader's designee; | ||
(7) the President of the Senate, or the President's | ||
designee; | ||
(8) the Minority Leader of the Senate, or the Leader's | ||
designee; | ||
(9) two representatives of an organization that seek | ||
to eliminate employment barriers and advance the skills | ||
for immigrant professionals appointed by the Secretary; | ||
(10) a representative of an organization that recruits | ||
immigrants and foreign students to work in health related | ||
areas; focusing on raising the awareness of social, | ||
political, and economic issues faced related to immigrant | ||
health appointed by the Secretary; and | ||
(11) a representative of an organization that seeks to | ||
increase the number of internationally educated medical | ||
professionals for practice within diverse communities | ||
appointed by the Secretary.
| ||
(b) If a vacancy occurs in the Task Force, the vacancy | ||
shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment | ||
for the remainder of the unexpired term.
| ||
(c) The Task Force shall meet once every 2 months, | ||
indefinitely, until the Task Force votes to dissolve itself.
| ||
Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the Task Force from | ||
meeting more often if it deems it necessary to do so. | ||
(d) The Department shall provide administrative support to | ||
the Task Force.
| ||
(e) The Task Force shall only meet once a majority of | ||
members are appointed.
| ||
(f) The Secretary of Financial and Professional | ||
Regulation, or the Secretary's designee, shall be the chair of | ||
the Task Force.
| ||
Section 15. Subject matter of the Task Force. The subject | ||
matter of the Task Force is intended to:
| ||
(1) address health care professionals, broadly defined | ||
to include physicians and nurses, but also include other | ||
professionals as the need arises;
| ||
(2) be focused on professionals who are already | ||
licensed and practicing in another country and are seeking | ||
licensure in the State; and
| ||
(3) not include students.
| ||
Section 20. Report.
| ||
(a) The Task Force shall prepare an annual report that | ||
summarizes its work and makes recommendations resulting from | ||
its study.
| ||
(b) The report shall address barriers to licensure and | ||
practice for health care professionals in the State in | ||
professions to be determined by the Task Force. The Task Force | ||
shall address strategies for reducing barriers to licensure | ||
and practice for internationally-licensed health care | ||
professionals.
| ||
(c) The Task Force shall submit the report of its findings | ||
and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly.
| ||
(d) The Task Force shall submit the first report one year | ||
after the first meeting of the Task Force.
| ||