410 ILCS 325/ Illinois Sexually Transmitted Infection Control Act.

(410 ILCS 325/1) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 7401)

Sec. 1. Short title. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the Illinois Sexually Transmitted Infection Control Act.

(Source: P.A. 103-1049, eff. 8-9-24.)

(410 ILCS 325/2) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 7402)

Sec. 2. Findings; intent. The General Assembly finds and declares that sexually transmitted infections constitute a serious and sometimes fatal threat to the public and individual health and welfare of the people of the State and visitors to the State. The General Assembly finds that the incidence of sexually transmitted infections is rising at an alarming rate and that these infections result in significant social, health and economic costs, including infant and maternal mortality, temporary and lifelong disability and premature death. The General Assembly finds that sexually transmitted infections, by their nature, involve sensitive issues of privacy, and it is the intent of the General Assembly that all programs designed to deal with these infections afford patients privacy, confidentiality and dignity. The General Assembly finds that medical knowledge and information about sexually transmitted infections are rapidly changing. The General Assembly intends to provide a program that is sufficiently flexible to meet emerging needs, deals efficiently and effectively with reducing the incidence of sexually transmitted infections, and provides patients with a secure knowledge that information they provide will remain private and confidential.

(Source: P.A. 103-1049, eff. 8-9-24.)

(410 ILCS 325/3) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 7403)

Sec. 3. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(1) "Department" means the Department of Public Health.

(2) "Local health authority" means the full-time official health department of board of health, as recognized by the Department, having jurisdiction over a particular area.

(3) "Sexually transmitted infections" means a bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infection, determined by rule of the Department to be sexually transmissible, to be a threat to the public health and welfare, and to be an infection for which a legitimate public interest will be served by providing for regulation and treatment. In considering which infections are to be designated sexually transmitted infections, the Department shall consider such infections as chancroid, gonorrhea, granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum, genital herpes simplex, chlamydia, human papillomavirus (HPV), mpox, nongonococcal urethritis (NGU), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)/Acute Salpingitis, syphilis, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) for designation, and shall consider the recommendations and classifications of the Centers for Disease Control and other nationally recognized medical authorities. Not all infections that are sexually transmissible need be designated for purposes of this Act.

(4) "Health care professional" means a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, a licensed physician assistant, or a licensed advanced practice registered nurse.

(5) "Expedited partner therapy" means to prescribe, dispense, furnish, or otherwise provide prescription antibiotic drugs to the partner or partners of persons clinically diagnosed as infected with a sexually transmitted infection, without physical examination of the partner or partners.

(Source: P.A. 103-1049, eff. 8-9-24.)

(410 ILCS 325/4) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 7404)

Sec. 4. Reporting required.

(a) A physician licensed under the provisions of the Medical Practice Act of 1987, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under the provisions of the Nurse Practice Act, or a physician assistant licensed under the provisions of the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987 who makes a diagnosis of or treats a person with a sexually transmitted infection and each laboratory that performs a test for a sexually transmitted infection which concludes with a positive result shall report such facts as may be required by the Department by rule, within such time period as the Department may require by rule, but in no case to exceed 2 weeks.

(b) The Department shall adopt rules specifying the information required in reporting a sexually transmitted infection, the method of reporting and specifying a minimum time period for reporting. In adopting such rules, the Department shall consider the need for information, protections for the privacy and confidentiality of the patient, and the practical abilities of persons and laboratories to report in a reasonable fashion.

(c) Any person who knowingly or maliciously disseminates any false information or report concerning the existence of any sexually transmitted infections under this Section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(d) Any person who violates the provisions of this Section or the rules adopted hereunder may be fined by the Department up to $500 for each violation. The Department shall report each violation of this Section to the regulatory agency responsible for licensing a health care professional or a laboratory to which these provisions apply.

(Source: P.A. 103-1049, eff. 8-9-24.)

(410 ILCS 325/5) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 7405)

Sec. 5. Contact investigation.

(a) The Department shall adopt rules authorizing interviews and its authorized representatives may interview, or cause to be interviewed, all persons infected with a sexually transmitted infection and all persons whom the Department reasonably believes may be infected with such infection for the purpose of investigating the source and spread of the infection and for the purpose of ordering a person to submit to examination and treatment as necessary for the protection of the public health and safety.

(b) All information gathered in the course of contact investigation pursuant to this Section shall be considered confidential and subject to the provisions of Section 8 of this Act. Such information shall be exempt from inspection and copying under The Freedom of Information Act, as amended.

(c) No person contacted under this Section or reasonably believed to be infected with a sexually transmitted infection who reveals the name or names of sexual contacts during the course of an investigation shall be held liable in a civil action for such revelation, unless the revelation is made falsely or with reckless disregard for the truth.

(d) Any person who knowingly or maliciously disseminates any false information or report concerning the existence of any sexually transmitted infection under this Section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(Source: P.A. 103-1049, eff. 8-9-24.)

(410 ILCS 325/5.5) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 7405.5)

Sec. 5.5. Risk assessment.

(a) Whenever the Department receives a report of HIV infection or AIDS pursuant to this Act and the Department determines that the subject of the report may present or may have presented a possible risk of HIV transmission, the Department shall, when medically appropriate, investigate the subject of the report and that person's contacts as defined in subsection (c), to assess the potential risks of transmission. Any investigation and action shall be conducted in a timely fashion. All contacts other than those defined in subsection (c) shall be investigated in accordance with Section 5 of this Act.

(b) If the Department determines that there is or may have been potential risks of HIV transmission from the subject of the report to other persons, the Department shall afford the subject the opportunity to submit any information and comment on proposed actions the Department intends to take with respect to the subject's contacts who are at potential risk of transmission of HIV prior to notification of the subject's contacts. The Department shall also afford the subject of the report the opportunity to notify the subject's contacts in a timely fashion who are at potential risk of transmission of HIV prior to the Department taking any steps to notify such contacts. If the subject declines to notify such contacts or if the Department determines the notices to be inadequate or incomplete, the Department shall endeavor to notify such other persons of the potential risk, and offer testing and counseling services to these individuals. When the contacts are notified, they shall be informed of the disclosure provisions of the AIDS Confidentiality Act and the penalties therein and this Section.

(c) Contacts investigated under this Section shall in the case of HIV infection include (i) individuals who have undergone invasive procedures performed by an HIV infected health care provider and (ii) health care providers who have performed invasive procedures for persons infected with HIV, provided the Department has determined that there is or may have been potential risk of HIV transmission from the health care provider to those individuals or from infected persons to health care providers. The Department shall have access to the subject's records to review for the identity of contacts. The subject's records shall not be copied or seized by the Department.

For purposes of this subsection, the term "invasive procedures" means those procedures termed invasive by the Centers for Disease Control in current guidelines or recommendations for the prevention of HIV transmission in health care settings, and the term "health care provider" means any physician, dentist, podiatric physician, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, nurse, or other person providing health care services of any kind.

(d) All information and records held by the Department and local health authorities pertaining to activities conducted pursuant to this Section shall be strictly confidential and exempt from copying and inspection under the Freedom of Information Act. Such information and records shall not be released or made public by the Department or local health authorities, and shall not be admissible as evidence, nor discoverable in any action of any kind in any court or before any tribunal, board, agency or person and shall be treated in the same manner as the information and those records subject to the provisions of Part 21 of Article VIII of the Code of Civil Procedure except under the following circumstances:

(1) When made with the written consent of all persons to whom this information pertains;

(2) (Blank); or

(3) When made by the Department for the purpose of seeking a warrant authorized by Sections 6 and 7 of this Act. Such disclosure shall conform to the requirements of subsection (a) of Section 8 of this Act.

(e) Any person who knowingly or maliciously disseminates any information or report concerning the existence of any infection under this Section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(Source: P.A. 102-168, eff. 7-27-21; 103-1049, eff. 8-9-24.)

(410 ILCS 325/6) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 7406)

Sec. 6. Physical examination and treatment.

(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this Section, the Department and its authorized representatives may examine or cause to be examined persons reasonably believed to be infected with or to have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection.

(b) Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this Section, persons with a sexually transmitted infection shall report for complete treatment to a physician licensed under the provisions of the Medical Practice Act of 1987, or shall submit to treatment at a facility provided by a local health authority or other public facility, as the Department shall require by rule or regulation until the infection is noncommunicable or the Department determines that the person does not present a real and present danger to the public health. This subsection (b) shall not be construed to require the Department or local health authorities to pay for or provide such treatment.

(c) No person shall be apprehended, examined or treated for a sexually transmitted infection against his will, under the provisions of this Act, except upon the presentation of a warrant duly authorized by a court of competent jurisdiction. In requesting the issuance of such a warrant the Department shall show by a preponderance of evidence that the person is infectious and that a real and present danger to the public health and welfare exists unless such warrant is issued and shall show that all other reasonable means of obtaining compliance have been exhausted and that no other less restrictive alternative is available. The court shall require any proceedings authorized by this subsection (c) to be conducted in camera. A record shall be made of such proceedings but shall be sealed, impounded and preserved in the records of the court, to be made available to the reviewing court in the event of an appeal.

(d) Any person who knowingly or maliciously disseminates any false information or report concerning the existence of any sexually transmitted infection under this Section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(e) Taking into account the recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other nationally recognized medical authorities, the Department shall provide information and technical assistance as appropriate to health care professionals who provide expedited partner therapy services for persons with sexually transmitted infections.

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a health care professional who makes a clinical diagnosis of chlamydia, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis may prescribe, dispense, furnish, or otherwise provide prescription antibiotic drugs to the infected person's sexual partner or partners for the treatment of the sexually transmitted infection without physical examination of the partner or partners, if in the judgment of the health care professional the partner is unlikely or unable to present for comprehensive healthcare, including evaluation, testing, and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. Expedited partner therapy shall be limited to partners who may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection within the previous 60 days, if the patient is able to contact the partner.

(2) Health care professionals who provide expedited partner therapy shall comply with Sections 4 and 5 of this Act.

(3) Health care professionals who provide expedited partner therapy shall provide counseling for the patient and written materials provided by the Department to be given by the patient to the partner or partners that include at a minimum the following:

(A) a warning that a woman who is pregnant or might be pregnant must not take certain antibiotics and must immediately contact a health care professional for an examination, and a recommendation for such an examination;

(B) information about the antibiotic and dosage provided or prescribed; clear and explicit allergy and side effect warnings, including a warning that a partner who has a history of allergy to the antibiotic or the pharmaceutical class of antibiotic must not take the antibiotic and must be immediately examined by a health care professional, and a recommendation for such an examination;

(C) information about the treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted infections;

(D) the requirement of abstinence until a period of time after treatment to prevent infecting others;

(E) notification of the importance of the partner or partners of the patient to receive examination and testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, and available resources;

(F) notification of the risk to self, others, and the public health if the sexually transmitted infection is not completely and successfully treated;

(G) the responsibility of the partner or partners to inform his or her sex partner or partners of the risk of sexually transmitted infection and the importance of prompt examination and treatment; and

(H) other information as deemed necessary by the Department.

(4) The Department shall develop and disseminate in electronic and other formats the following written materials:

(A) informational materials for partners, as required in item (3) of this subsection (e);

(B) informational materials for persons who are repeatedly diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections; and

(C) guidance for health care professionals on the safe and effective provision of expedited partner therapy.

The Department may offer educational programs about expedited partner therapy for health care professionals and pharmacists licensed under the Pharmacy Practice Act.

(5) A health care professional prescribing, dispensing, furnishing, or otherwise providing in good faith without fee or compensation prescription antibiotics to partners under this subsection (e) and providing counseling and written materials as required by item (3) of this subsection (e) shall not be subject to civil or professional liability, except for willful and wanton misconduct. A health care professional shall not be subject to civil or professional liability for choosing not to provide expedited partner therapy.

(6) A pharmacist or pharmacy shall not be subject to civil or professional liability for choosing not to fill a prescription that would cause the pharmacist or pharmacy to violate any provision of the Pharmacy Practice Act, including the definition of "prescription" set forth in subsection (e) of Section 3 of the Pharmacy Practice Act or the definition of "drug regimen review" set forth in subsection (y) of Section 3 of the Pharmacy Practice Act.

(Source: P.A. 102-185, eff. 1-1-22; 103-1049, eff. 8-9-24.)

(410 ILCS 325/7) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 7407)

Sec. 7. Quarantine and isolation.

(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, the Department may order a person to be isolated or a place to be quarantined and made off limits to the public to prevent the probable spread of a sexually transmitted infection, until such time as the condition can be corrected or the danger to the public health eliminated or reduced in such a manner that no substantial danger to the public's health any longer exists.

(b) No person may be ordered to be isolated, and no place may be ordered to be quarantined, except with the consent of such person or owner of such place or upon the order of a court of competent jurisdiction and upon proof by the Department, by clear and convincing evidence, that the public's health and welfare are significantly endangered by a person with a sexually transmitted infection or by a place where there is a significant amount of sexual activity likely to spread a sexually transmitted infection, and upon proof that all other reasonable means of correcting the problem have been exhausted and no less restrictive alternative exists.

(c) This Section shall be considered supplemental to the existing authorities and powers of the Department, and shall not be construed to restrain or restrict the Department in protecting the public health under any other provisions of the law.

(d) Any person who knowingly or maliciously disseminates any false information or report concerning the existence of any sexually transmitted infection in connection with the Department's power of quarantine and isolation is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(Source: P.A. 103-1049, eff. 8-9-24.)

(410 ILCS 325/8) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 7408)

Sec. 8. Confidentiality.

(a) All information and records held by the Department and its authorized representatives relating to known or suspected cases of sexually transmitted infections shall be strictly confidential and exempt from inspection and copying under The Freedom of Information Act, as amended. The Department and its authorized representatives shall not disclose information and records held by them relating to known or suspected cases of sexually transmitted infections publicly or in any action of any kind in any court or before any tribunal, board, or agency, and such information shall not be released or made public by a court conducting proceedings authorized by subsection (c) of Section 6 of this Act, except that release of such information may be made under the following circumstances:

(1) When made with the consent of all persons to which the information applies;

(2) When made for statistical purposes and medical or epidemiologic information is summarized so that no person can be identified and no names are revealed;

(3) When made to medical personnel, appropriate State agencies or courts of appropriate jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this Act and related rules; or

(4) When made to persons determined by the Department to be or have been at potential risk of HIV transmission pursuant to Section 5.5 of this Act.

(b) (Blank).

(c) A court hearing a request for the issuance of a warrant as authorized in subsection (c) of Section 6 of this Act shall conduct such proceedings in camera. A record shall be made of authorized proceedings but shall be sealed, impounded and preserved in the records of the court, to be made available to the reviewing court in the event of an appeal.

(d) No employee of the Department or its authorized representatives shall be examined in a civil, criminal, special or other proceeding concerning the existence or contents of pertinent records of a person examined or treated for a sexually transmitted infection by the Department or its authorized representatives pursuant to the provisions of this Act, or concerning the existence or contents of such reports received from a private physician or private health facility, pursuant to the provisions of this Act, without the consent of the person examined and treated for such infections, except in proceedings under Sections 6 and 7 of this Act.

(e) Any person who knowingly violates the confidentiality provisions of this Section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(f) Any person who knowingly or maliciously disseminates any false information or report concerning the existence of any sexually transmitted infection under this Section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(Source: P.A. 103-1049, eff. 8-9-24.)

(410 ILCS 325/9) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 7409)

Sec. 9. Prisoners.

(a) The Department and its authorized representatives may, at its discretion, enter any State, county or municipal detention facility to interview, examine and treat any prisoner for a sexually transmitted infection. Any such State, county or municipal detention facility shall cooperate with the Department and its authorized representative to provide such space as is necessary for the examination and treatment of all prisoners suffering from or suspected of having a sexually transmitted infection.

(b) Nothing in this Section shall be construed as relieving the Department of Corrections or any county or municipality of their primary responsibility for providing medical treatment for prisoners under their jurisdiction, including treatment for sexually transmitted infections.

(c) Any person who knowingly or maliciously disseminates any false information or report concerning the existence of any sexually transmitted infection under this Section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(d) The Department, in consultation with the Department of Corrections, shall develop and implement written procedures that establish a process for confidentially notifying and recommending sexually transmitted infection testing of the contacts of a committed person who has been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection and for notifying and recommending sexually transmitted infection testing of a committed person who has had contact with one diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection. The process shall be in accordance with Sections 3, 5, and 8 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 103-1049, eff. 8-9-24.)

(410 ILCS 325/10) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 7410)

Sec. 10. Rules. (a) The Department shall adopt such rules as may be necessary for the performance of its duties under this Act.

(b) Rules of the Department for the performance of its duties under this Act shall include criteria, standards and procedures for the identification and contact of any person to be interviewed and subject to examination and treatment under Sections 5 and 6 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 85-681.)