Public Act 0779 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB3134 Enrolled LRB103 37193 CES 67312 b

Public Act 103-0779

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 5. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act is amended by changing Section 3.40 as follows:

(210 ILCS 50/3.40)

Sec. 3.40. EMS System Participation Suspensions and Due Process.

(a) An EMS Medical Director may suspend from participation within the System any EMS personnel, EMS Lead Instructor (LI), individual, individual provider or other participant considered not to be meeting the requirements of the Program Plan of that approved EMS System. An EMS Medical Director must submit a suspension order to the Department describing which requirements of the Program Plan were not met and the suspension's duration. The Department shall review and confirm receipt of the suspension order, request additional information, or initiate an investigation. The Department shall incorporate the duration of that suspension into any further action taken by the Department to suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew the license of the individual or entity for any violation of this Act or the Program Plan arising from the same conduct for which the suspension order was issued if the suspended party has neither requested a Department hearing on the suspension nor worked as a provider in any other System during the term of the suspension.

(b) Prior to suspending any individual or entity, an EMS Medical Director shall provide an opportunity for a hearing before the local System review board in accordance with subsection (f) and the rules promulgated by the Department.

(1) If the local System review board affirms or modifies the EMS Medical Director's suspension order, the individual or entity shall have the opportunity for a review of the local board's decision by the State EMS Disciplinary Review Board, pursuant to Section 3.45 of this Act.

(2) If the local System review board reverses or modifies the EMS Medical Director's order, the EMS Medical Director shall have the opportunity for a review of the local board's decision by the State EMS Disciplinary Review Board, pursuant to Section 3.45 of this Act.

(3) The suspension shall commence only upon the occurrence of one of the following:

(A) the individual or entity has waived the opportunity for a hearing before the local System review board;

(B) the order has been affirmed or modified by the local system review board and the individual or entity has waived the opportunity for review by the State Board; or

(C) the order has been affirmed or modified by the local system review board, and the local board's decision has been affirmed or modified by the State Board.

(c) An individual interviewed or investigated by the local system review board or the Department shall have the right to a union representative and legal counsel of the individual's choosing present at any interview. The union representative must comply with any confidentiality requirements and requirements for the protection of any patient information presented during the proceeding.

(d) An EMS Medical Director may immediately suspend an EMR, EMD, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN, PHRN, LI, PHPA, PHAPRN, or other individual or entity if he or she finds that the continuation in practice by the individual or entity would constitute an imminent danger to the public. The suspended individual or entity shall be issued an immediate verbal notification followed by a written suspension order by the EMS Medical Director which states the length, terms and basis for the suspension.

(1) Within 24 hours following the commencement of the suspension, the EMS Medical Director shall deliver to the Department, by messenger, telefax, or other Department-approved electronic communication, a copy of the suspension order and copies of any written materials which relate to the EMS Medical Director's decision to suspend the individual or entity. All medical and patient-specific information, including Department findings with respect to the quality of care rendered, shall be strictly confidential pursuant to the Medical Studies Act (Part 21 of Article VIII of the Code of Civil Procedure).

(2) Within 24 hours following the commencement of the suspension, the suspended individual or entity may deliver to the Department, by messenger, telefax, or other Department-approved electronic communication, a written response to the suspension order and copies of any written materials which the individual or entity feels are appropriate. All medical and patient-specific information, including Department findings with respect to the quality of care rendered, shall be strictly confidential pursuant to the Medical Studies Act.

(3) Within 24 hours following receipt of the EMS Medical Director's suspension order or the individual or entity's written response, whichever is later, the Director or the Director's designee shall determine whether the suspension should be stayed pending an opportunity for a hearing or review in accordance with this Act, or whether the suspension should continue during the course of that hearing or review. When an immediate suspension order is not stayed, the Director or the Director's designee within the Department shall identify if that suspension shall immediately apply to statewide participation only in situations when a licensee has been charged with a crime while performing the licensee's official duties as an EMR, EMD, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN, TNS, PHRN, LI, PHPA, or PHAPRN and the licensee's continuation to practice poses the possibility of imminent harm to the public based off factual evidence provided to the Department. The determination to issue an immediate statewide suspension shall not deny the right to due process to a licensee. The Director or the Director's designee shall issue this determination to the EMS Medical Director, who shall immediately notify the suspended individual or entity. The suspension shall remain in effect during this period of review by the Director or the Director's designee.

(e) Upon issuance of a suspension order for reasons directly related to medical care, the EMS Medical Director shall also provide the individual or entity with the opportunity for a hearing before the local System review board, in accordance with subsection (f) and the rules promulgated by the Department.

(1) If the local System review board affirms or modifies the EMS Medical Director's suspension order, the individual or entity shall have the opportunity for a review of the local board's decision by the State EMS Disciplinary Review Board, pursuant to Section 3.45 of this Act.

(2) If the local System review board reverses or modifies the EMS Medical Director's suspension order, the EMS Medical Director shall have the opportunity for a review of the local board's decision by the State EMS Disciplinary Review Board, pursuant to Section 3.45 of this Act.

(3) The suspended individual or entity may elect to bypass the local System review board and seek direct review of the EMS Medical Director's suspension order by the State EMS Disciplinary Review Board.

(f) The Resource Hospital shall designate a local System review board in accordance with the rules of the Department, for the purpose of providing a hearing to any individual or entity participating within the System who is suspended from participation by the EMS Medical Director. The EMS Medical Director shall arrange for a certified shorthand reporter to make a stenographic record of that hearing and thereafter prepare a transcript of the proceedings. The EMS Medical Director shall inform the individual of the individual's right to have a union representative and legal counsel of the individual's choosing present at any interview. The union representative must comply with any confidentiality requirements and requirements for the protection of any patient information presented during the proceeding. The transcript, all documents or materials received as evidence during the hearing and the local System review board's written decision shall be retained in the custody of the EMS system. The System shall implement a decision of the local System review board unless that decision has been appealed to the State Emergency Medical Services Disciplinary Review Board in accordance with this Act and the rules of the Department.

(g) The Resource Hospital shall implement a decision of the State Emergency Medical Services Disciplinary Review Board which has been rendered in accordance with this Act and the rules of the Department.

(Source: P.A. 103-521, eff. 1-1-24.)

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

Effective Date: 8/2/2024