(225 ILCS 109/125)

Sec. 125. Appointment of a hearing officer. The Secretary has the authority to appoint any attorney duly licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois to serve as the hearing officer in any action for refusal to issue or renew a license, or to discipline a licensee. The hearing officer has full authority to conduct the hearing. The hearing officer shall report his or her findings and recommendations to the Board and the Secretary. The Board has 60 calendar days from receipt of the report to review the report of the hearing officer and present its findings of fact, conclusions of law and recommendations to the Secretary. If the Board fails to present its report within the 60 calendar day period, the respondent may request in writing a direct appeal to the Secretary, in which case the Secretary shall, within 7 calendar days after receipt of the request, issue an order directing the Board to issue its findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations to the Secretary within 30 calendar days after that order. If the Board fails to issue its findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations within that time frame to the Secretary after the entry of the order, the Secretary shall, within 30 calendar days thereafter, issue an order based upon the report of the hearing officer and the record of the proceedings or issue an order remanding the matter back to the hearing officer for additional proceedings in accordance with the order. If (i) a direct appeal is requested, (ii) the Board fails to issue its findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations within the 30 day mandate from the Secretary or the Secretary fails to order the Board to do so, and (iii) the Secretary fails to issue an order within 30 calendar days thereafter, then the hearing officer's report is deemed accepted and a final decision of the Secretary. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, if the Secretary, upon review, determines that substantial justice has not been done in the revocation, suspension, or refusal to issue or renew a license or other disciplinary action taken as the result of the entry of the hearing officer's report, the Secretary may order a rehearing by the same or other hearing officer. If the Secretary disagrees with the recommendation of the Board or the hearing officer, the Secretary may issue an order in contravention of the recommendation.

(Source: P.A. 97-1098, eff. 7-1-13.)