Public Act 0671 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB1119 Enrolled LRB096 04336 JDS 14382 b

Public Act 096-0671

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 5. The Environmental Health Practitioner Licensing Act is amended by changing Sections 27 and 30 as follows:

(225 ILCS 37/27)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 27. Renewals; restoration.

(a) The expiration date and renewal period for each license issued under this Act shall be set by rule. As a condition for renewal of a license, the licensee shall be required to complete continuing education requirements as set forth in rules by the Department. Licensees who are 70 years of age or older and have been licensed under this Act for at least 4 years shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements.

(b) A person who has permitted a license to expire for a period less than 5 years may have the license restored by making application to the Department and filing proof, acceptable to the Department, of fitness to have the license restored. Proof may include (i) sworn evidence certifying to active practice in another jurisdiction that is satisfactory to the Department, (ii) complying with any continuing education requirements, and (iii) paying the required restoration fee.

(c) A person seeking restoration of a license that has been expired or placed on inactive status for more than 5 years may have the license restored by making application to the Department and filing proof, acceptable to the Department, of fitness to have the license restored. Proof may include (i) sworn evidence of active practice in another jurisdiction, (ii) an affidavit attesting to military service as provided in subsection (c) of this Section, (iii) proof of passage of the environmental Health Proficiency Examination during the period the license was lapsed or on inactive status, (iv) sworn evidence of lawful practice under the supervision of an Illinois-licensed Environmental Healthcare Practitioner in the State of Illinois that is satisfactory to the Department, or (v) proof of current certification, including continuing education, from the National Environmental Health Association Accreditation Council for environmental health curricula or its equivalent as approved by the Department. An applicant for restoration under this Section shall be required to pay any restoration fees as required under this Act and provide proof of meeting continuing education requirements during the 2 years prior to restoration. If the person has not maintained an active practice in another jurisdiction satisfactory to the Department, the Board shall determine, by an evaluation program, established by rule, the person's fitness to resume active status. The Board may require the person to complete a period of evaluated clinical experience and successful completion of a practical examination.

However, a person whose license expired while (i) in federal service on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States or called into service or training with the State Militia or (ii) in training or education under the supervision of the United States, preliminary to induction into the military service may have his or her license renewed or restored without paying any lapsed renewal fees if, within 2 years after honorable termination of the service, training, or education, except under conditions other than honorable, he or she furnishes the Department with satisfactory evidence to the effect that he or she has been so engaged and that the service, training, or education has been terminated.

(d) A person who notifies the Department, in writing on forms prescribed by the Department, may place his or her license on inactive status and shall be excused from the payment of renewal fees until the person notifies the Department, in writing, of the intention to resume active practice.

(e) A person requesting his or her license be changed from inactive to active status shall be required to pay the current renewal fee and shall also demonstrate compliance with the continuing education requirements.

(f) An environmental health practitioner whose license is not renewed or whose license is on inactive status shall not engage in the practice of environmental health in the State of Illinois or use the title or advertise that he or she performs the services of a "licensed environmental health practitioner".

(g) A person violating subsection (f) of this Section shall be considered to be practicing without a license and shall be subject to the disciplinary provisions of this Act.

(h) A license to practice shall not be denied any applicant because of the applicant's race, religion, creed, national origin, political beliefs or activities, age, sex, sexual orientation, or physical impairment that does not affect a person's ability to practice with reasonable judgment, skill, or safety as determined by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 91-724, eff. 6-2-00.)

(225 ILCS 37/30)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)

Sec. 30. Endorsement. The Department may issue a license as a licensed environmental health practitioner, without the required examination, to an applicant licensed under the laws of another state if the requirements for licensure in that state are, on the date of granting the license, substantially equal to the requirements of this Act. The Department shall issue a license as a licensed environmental health practitioner to any applicant who holds a Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian credential in good standing with the National Environmental Health Association. An applicant under this Section shall pay all required fees. Applicants have 3 years from the date of application to complete the application process. If the process has not been completed within 3 years, the application shall be denied, the fee forfeited, and the applicant must reapply and meet the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.

(Source: P.A. 89-61, eff. 6-30-95.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2009.