Public Act 096-0671
 
HB1119 Enrolled LRB096 04336 JDS 14382 b

    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Environmental Health Practitioner Licensing
Act is amended by changing Sections 27 and 30 as follows:
 
    (225 ILCS 37/27)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)
    Sec. 27. Renewals; restoration.
    (a) The expiration date and renewal period for each license
issued under this Act shall be set by rule. As a condition for
renewal of a license, the licensee shall be required to
complete continuing education requirements as set forth in
rules by the Department. Licensees who are 70 years of age or
older and have been licensed under this Act for at least 4
years shall be exempt from the continuing education
requirements.
    (b) A person who has permitted a license to expire for a
period less than 5 years may have the license restored by
making application to the Department and filing proof,
acceptable to the Department, of fitness to have the license
restored. Proof may include (i) sworn evidence certifying to
active practice in another jurisdiction that is satisfactory to
the Department, (ii) complying with any continuing education
requirements, and (iii) paying the required restoration fee.
    (c) A person seeking restoration of a license that has been
expired or placed on inactive status for more than 5 years may
have the license restored by making application to the
Department and filing proof, acceptable to the Department, of
fitness to have the license restored. Proof may include (i)
sworn evidence of active practice in another jurisdiction, (ii)
an affidavit attesting to military service as provided in
subsection (c) of this Section, (iii) proof of passage of the
environmental Health Proficiency Examination during the period
the license was lapsed or on inactive status, (iv) sworn
evidence of lawful practice under the supervision of an
Illinois-licensed Environmental Healthcare Practitioner in the
State of Illinois that is satisfactory to the Department, or
(v) proof of current certification, including continuing
education, from the National Environmental Health Association
Accreditation Council for environmental health curricula or
its equivalent as approved by the Department. An applicant for
restoration under this Section shall be required to pay any
restoration fees as required under this Act and provide proof
of meeting continuing education requirements during the 2 years
prior to restoration. If the person has not maintained an
active practice in another jurisdiction satisfactory to the
Department, the Board shall determine, by an evaluation
program, established by rule, the person's fitness to resume
active status. The Board may require the person to complete a
period of evaluated clinical experience and successful
completion of a practical examination.
    However, a person whose license expired while (i) in
federal service on active duty with the Armed Forces of the
United States or called into service or training with the State
Militia or (ii) in training or education under the supervision
of the United States, preliminary to induction into the
military service may have his or her license renewed or
restored without paying any lapsed renewal fees if, within 2
years after honorable termination of the service, training, or
education, except under conditions other than honorable, he or
she furnishes the Department with satisfactory evidence to the
effect that he or she has been so engaged and that the service,
training, or education has been terminated.
    (d) A person who notifies the Department, in writing on
forms prescribed by the Department, may place his or her
license on inactive status and shall be excused from the
payment of renewal fees until the person notifies the
Department, in writing, of the intention to resume active
practice.
    (e) A person requesting his or her license be changed from
inactive to active status shall be required to pay the current
renewal fee and shall also demonstrate compliance with the
continuing education requirements.
    (f) An environmental health practitioner whose license is
not renewed or whose license is on inactive status shall not
engage in the practice of environmental health in the State of
Illinois or use the title or advertise that he or she performs
the services of a "licensed environmental health
practitioner".
    (g) A person violating subsection (f) of this Section shall
be considered to be practicing without a license and shall be
subject to the disciplinary provisions of this Act.
    (h) A license to practice shall not be denied any applicant
because of the applicant's race, religion, creed, national
origin, political beliefs or activities, age, sex, sexual
orientation, or physical impairment that does not affect a
person's ability to practice with reasonable judgment, skill,
or safety as determined by the Department.
(Source: P.A. 91-724, eff. 6-2-00.)
 
    (225 ILCS 37/30)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)
    Sec. 30. Endorsement. The Department may issue a license as
a licensed environmental health practitioner, without the
required examination, to an applicant licensed under the laws
of another state if the requirements for licensure in that
state are, on the date of granting the license, substantially
equal to the requirements of this Act. The Department shall
issue a license as a licensed environmental health practitioner
to any applicant who holds a Registered Environmental Health
Specialist/Registered Sanitarian credential in good standing
with the National Environmental Health Association. An
applicant under this Section shall pay all required fees.
Applicants have 3 years from the date of application to
complete the application process. If the process has not been
completed within 3 years, the application shall be denied, the
fee forfeited, and the applicant must reapply and meet the
requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.
(Source: P.A. 89-61, eff. 6-30-95.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
2009.