(225 ILCS 340/20) (from Ch. 111, par. 6620)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2030)

Sec. 20. Grounds for disciplinary action.

(a) The Department may refuse to issue or renew a license or registration, or may revoke, suspend, place on probation, reprimand, or take other disciplinary or non-disciplinary action as the Department may deem proper, including fines not to exceed $10,000 per violation, with regard to any license issued under the provisions of this Act, for any one or a combination of the following reasons:

(1) Material misstatement in furnishing information to the Department.

(2) Negligence, incompetence or misconduct in the practice of structural engineering.

(3) Failure to comply with any provisions of this Act or any of its rules.

(4) Fraud or any misrepresentation in applying for or procuring a license or registration under this Act or in connection with applying for renewal or restoration of a license or registration under this Act.

(5) Purposefully making false statements or signing false statements, certificates, or affidavits to induce payment.

(6) Conviction of or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, finding of guilt, jury verdict, or entry of judgment or sentencing, including, but not limited to, convictions, preceding sentences of supervision, conditional discharge, or first offender probation under the laws of any jurisdiction of the United States that is (i) a felony or (ii) a misdemeanor, an essential element of which is dishonesty, that is directly related to the practice of structural engineering.

(7) Aiding or assisting another in violating any provision of this Act or its rules.

(8) Failing to provide information in response to a written request made by the Department within 60 days after receipt of such written request.

(9) Engaging in dishonorable, unethical, or unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public, as defined by rule.

(10) Habitual or excessive use or abuse of drugs defined in law as controlled substances, of alcohol, narcotics, stimulants, or any other substances that results in the inability to practice with reasonable judgment, skill, or safety.

(11) A finding by the Department that an applicant or licensee has failed to pay a fine imposed by the Department.

(12) A finding by the Department that the licensee, after having his or her license placed on probationary status, has violated the terms of probation or failed to comply with such terms.

(13) Inability to practice the profession with reasonable judgment, skill, or safety as a result of physical illness, including, but not limited to, deterioration through the aging process, loss of motor skill, mental illness, or disability.

(14) Discipline by another state, territory, foreign country, the District of Columbia, the United States government, or any other government agency if at least one of the grounds for discipline is the same or substantially equivalent to those set forth in this Act.

(15) The making of any willfully false oath or affirmation in any matter or proceeding where an oath or affirmation is required by this Act.

(16) Using or attempting to use an expired, inactive, suspended, or revoked license or the certificate or seal of another, or impersonating another licensee.

(17) Signing or affixing the structural engineer's seal or permitting the seal to be affixed to any technical submissions not prepared by the structural engineer or under the structural engineer's supervision and control or not sufficiently reviewed by the licensed structural engineer to ensure that the documents have met the standards of reasonable professional skill and diligence.

(18) Making a statement of compliance pursuant to the Environmental Barriers Act that technical submissions prepared by the structural engineer or prepared under the structural engineer's responsible control for construction or alteration of an occupancy required to be in compliance with the Environmental Barriers Act are in compliance with the Environmental Barriers Act when such technical submissions are not in compliance.

(a-5) In enforcing this Section, the Department or Board, upon a showing of a possible violation, may order a licensee or applicant to submit to a mental or physical examination, or both, at the expense of the Department. The Department or Board may order the examining physician to present testimony concerning his or her examination of the licensee or applicant. No information shall be excluded by reason of any common law or statutory privilege relating to communications between the licensee or applicant and the examining physician. The examining physicians shall be specifically designated by the Board or Department. The licensee or applicant may have, at his or her own expense, another physician of his or her choice present during all aspects of the examination. Failure of a licensee or applicant to submit to any such examination when directed, without reasonable cause as defined by rule, shall be grounds for either the immediate suspension of his or her license or immediate denial of his or her application.

If the Secretary immediately suspends the license of a licensee for his or her failure to submit to a mental or physical examination when directed, a hearing must be convened by the Department within 15 days after the suspension and completed without appreciable delay.

If the Secretary otherwise suspends a license pursuant to the results of the licensee's mental or physical examination, a hearing must be convened by the Department within 15 days after the suspension and completed without appreciable delay. The Department and Board shall have the authority to review the licensee's record of treatment and counseling regarding the relevant impairment or impairments to the extent permitted by applicable federal statutes and regulations safeguarding the confidentiality of medical records.

Any licensee suspended under this subsection (a-5) shall be afforded an opportunity to demonstrate to the Department or Board that he or she can resume practice in compliance with the acceptable and prevailing standards under the provisions of his or her license.

(b) The determination by a circuit court that a licensee is subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission, as provided in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, operates as an automatic suspension. Such suspension will end only upon a finding by a court that the patient is no longer subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission, the issuance of an order so finding and discharging the patient, and the recommendation of the Board to the Secretary that the licensee be allowed to resume practice.

(c) (Blank).

(d) In cases where the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly the Department of Public Aid) has previously determined that a licensee or a potential licensee is more than 30 days delinquent in the payment of child support and has subsequently certified the delinquency to the Department, the Department shall refuse to issue or renew or shall revoke or suspend that person's license or shall take other disciplinary action against that person based solely upon the certification of delinquency made by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services in accordance with subdivision (a)(5) of Section 2105-15 of the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

(e) The Department shall refuse to issue or renew or shall revoke or suspend a person's license or entity's registration or shall take other disciplinary action against that person or entity for his or her failure to file a return, to pay the tax, penalty, or interest shown in a filed return, or to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty, or interest as required by any tax Act administered by the Department of Revenue, until such time as the requirements of the tax Act are satisfied in accordance with subsection (g) of Section 2105-15 of the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

(f) Persons who assist the Department in good faith as consultants or expert witnesses in the investigation or prosecution of alleged violations of the Act, licensure matters, restoration proceedings, or criminal prosecutions, are not liable for damages in any civil action or proceeding as a result of such assistance. The Attorney General of the State of Illinois shall defend such persons in any such action or proceeding at no cost to the person.

(Source: P.A. 100-872, eff. 8-14-18; 101-312, eff. 8-9-19.)