(720 ILCS 570/305) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 1305)

Sec. 305. (a) Before denying, refusing renewal of, suspending, or revoking a registration, or imposing a fine on an applicant or registrant, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall serve upon the applicant or registrant, by registered mail at the address in the application or registration or by any other means authorized under the Civil Practice Law or Rules of the Illinois Supreme Court for the service of summons or subpoenas, a notice of hearing to determine why registration should not be denied, refused renewal, suspended or revoked. The notice shall contain a statement of the basis therefor and shall call upon the applicant or registrant to appear before the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation at a reasonable time and place. These proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with Sections 2105-5, 2105-15, 2105-100, 2105-105, 2105-110, 2105-115, 2105-120, 2105-125, 2105-175, and 2105-325 of the Department of Professional Regulation Law (20 ILCS 2105/2105-5, 2105/2105-15, 2105/2105-100, 2105/2105-105, 2105/2105-110, 2105/2105-115, 2105/2105-120, 2105/2105-125, 2105/2105-175, and 2105/2105-325), without regard to any criminal prosecution or other proceeding. Except as authorized in subsection (c), proceedings to refuse renewal or suspend or revoke registration shall not abate the existing registration, which shall remain in effect until the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has held the hearing called for in the notice and found, with input from the appropriate licensure or disciplinary board, that the registration shall no longer remain in effect.

(b) The Secretary of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may appoint an attorney duly licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois to serve as the hearing officer in any action to deny, refuse to renew, suspend, or revoke, or take any other disciplinary action with regard to a registration. The hearing officer shall have full authority to conduct the hearing. The hearing officer shall report his or her findings and recommendations to the appropriate licensure or disciplinary board within 30 days after receiving the record. The Disciplinary Board shall have 60 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 of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

(c) If the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation finds that there is an imminent danger to the public health or safety by the continued manufacture, distribution or dispensing of controlled substances by the registrant, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may, upon the issuance of a written ruling stating the reasons for such finding and without notice or hearing, suspend such registrant. The suspension shall continue in effect for not more than 15 days during which time the registrant shall be given a hearing on the issues involved in the suspension. If after the hearing, and after input from the appropriate licensure or disciplinary board, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation finds that the public health or safety requires the suspension to remain in effect it shall so remain until the ruling is terminated by its own terms or subsequent ruling or is dissolved by a circuit court upon determination that the suspension was wholly without basis in fact and law.

(d) If, after a hearing as provided in subsection (a), the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation finds that a registration should be refused renewal, suspended or revoked, a written ruling to that effect shall be entered. The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation's ruling shall remain in effect until the ruling is terminated by its own terms or subsequent ruling or is dissolved by a circuit court upon a determination that the refusal to renew suspension or revocation was wholly without basis in fact and law.

(Source: P.A. 97-334, eff. 1-1-12.)