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| Public Act 098-0659 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning State government.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Department of Professional Regulation Law of | ||||
the
Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding | ||||
Section 2105-17 as follows: | ||||
(20 ILCS 2105/2105-17 new) | ||||
Sec. 2105-17. Volunteer licenses. | ||||
(a) For the purposes of this Section: | ||||
"Health care professional" means a physician licensed | ||||
under the Medical Practice Act of 1987, a dentist licensed | ||||
under the Illinois Dental Practice Act, an optometrist licensed | ||||
under the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987, a physician | ||||
assistant licensed under the Physician Assistant Practice Act | ||||
of 1987, and a nurse or advanced practice nurse licensed under | ||||
the Nurse Practice Act. The Department may expand this | ||||
definition by rule. | ||||
"Volunteer practice" means the practice of a licensed | ||||
health care professional for the benefit of an individual or | ||||
the public and without compensation for the health care | ||||
services provided. | ||||
(b) The Department may grant a volunteer license to a | ||||
health care professional who: | ||||
(1) meets all requirements of the State licensing Act | ||
that applies to his or her health care profession and the | ||
rules adopted under the Act; and | ||
(2) agrees to engage in the volunteer practice of his | ||
or her health care profession in a free medical clinic, as | ||
defined in the Good Samaritan Act, or in a public health | ||
clinic, as defined in Section 6-101 of the Local | ||
Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunities | ||
Act, and to not practice for compensation. | ||
(c) A volunteer license shall be granted in accordance with | ||
the licensing Act that applies to the health care | ||
professional's given health care profession, and the licensure | ||
fee shall be set by rule in accordance with subsection (f). | ||
(d) No health care professional shall hold a non-volunteer | ||
license in a health care profession and a volunteer license in | ||
that profession at the same time. In the event that the health | ||
care professional obtains a volunteer license in the profession | ||
for which he or she holds a non-volunteer license, that | ||
non-volunteer license shall automatically be placed in | ||
inactive status. In the event that a health care professional | ||
obtains a non-volunteer license in the profession for which he | ||
or she holds a volunteer license, the volunteer license shall | ||
be placed in inactive status. Practicing on an expired | ||
volunteer license constitutes the unlicensed practice of the | ||
health care professional's profession. | ||
(e) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to waive or | ||
modify any statute, rule, or regulation concerning the | ||
licensure or practice of any health care profession. A health | ||
care professional who holds a volunteer license shall be | ||
subject to all statutes, rules, and regulations governing his | ||
or her profession. The Department shall waive the licensure fee | ||
for the first 500 volunteer licenses issued and may by rule | ||
provide for a fee waiver or fee reduction that shall apply to | ||
all licenses issued after the initial 500. | ||
(f) The Department shall determine by rule the total number | ||
of volunteer licenses to be issued. The Department shall file | ||
proposed rules implementing this Section within 6 months after | ||
the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General | ||
Assembly.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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