(225 ILCS 65/50-65) (was 225 ILCS 65/10-25)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

Sec. 50-65. Board.

(a) The Secretary shall solicit recommendations from nursing organizations and appoint the Board of Nursing, which shall consist of 13 members, one of whom shall be a practical nurse; one of whom shall be a practical nurse educator; one of whom shall be a registered professional nurse in practice; one of whom shall be an associate degree nurse educator; one of whom shall be a baccalaureate degree nurse educator; one of whom shall be a nurse who is actively engaged in direct care; one of whom shall be a registered professional nurse actively engaged in direct care; one of whom shall be a nursing administrator; 4 of whom shall be advanced practice registered nurses representing CNS, CNP, CNM, and CRNA practice; and one of whom shall be a public member who is not employed in and has no material interest in any health care field. The Board shall receive actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

All nursing members of the Board must be (i) residents of this State, (ii) licensed in good standing to practice nursing in this State, (iii) graduates of an approved nursing program, with a minimum of 5 years' experience in the field of nursing, and (iv) at the time of appointment to the Board, actively engaged in nursing or work related to nursing.

Membership terms shall be for 3 years, except that in making initial appointments, the Secretary shall appoint all members for initial terms of 2, 3, and 4 years and these terms shall be staggered as follows: 3 shall be appointed for terms of 2 years; 4 shall be appointed for terms of 3 years; and 6 shall be appointed for terms of 4 years. No member shall be appointed to more than 2 consecutive terms. In the case of a vacated position, an individual may be appointed to serve the unexpired portion of that term; if the term is less than half of a full term, the individual is eligible to serve 2 full terms.

The Secretary may remove any member of the Board for misconduct, incapacity, or neglect of duty. The Secretary shall reduce to writing any causes for removal.

The Board shall meet annually to elect a chairperson and vice chairperson. The Board shall hold regularly scheduled meetings during the year. A simple majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum at any meeting. Any action taken by the Board must be on the affirmative vote of a simple majority of members. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted. In the case of an emergency where all Board members cannot meet in person, the Board may convene a meeting via an electronic format in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.

(b) The Board may perform each of the following activities:

(1) Recommend to the Department the adoption and the revision of rules necessary for the administration of this Act;

(2) Recommend the approval, denial of approval, withdrawal of approval, or discipline of nursing education programs;

(c) The Board shall participate in disciplinary conferences and hearings and make recommendations to the Department regarding disciplinary action taken against a licensee as provided under this Act. Disciplinary conference hearings and proceedings regarding scope of practice issues shall be conducted by a Board member at the same or higher licensure level as the respondent. Participation in an informal conference shall not bar members of the Board from future participation or decisions relating to that matter.

(d) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 100-513, eff. 1-1-18.)