HB4154eng 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB4154 Engrossed LRB104 15658 AAS 28830 b

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Pharmacy Practice Act is amended by changing Sections 7 and 12 as follows:

(225 ILCS 85/7) (from Ch. 111, par. 4127)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

Sec. 7. Application; examination. Applications for original licenses shall be made to the Department in writing or electronically on forms prescribed by the Department and shall be accompanied by the required fee, which shall not be refundable. Any such application shall require such information as in the judgment of the Department will enable the Board and Department to pass on the qualifications of the applicant for a license.

The Department shall authorize examinations of applicants as pharmacists not less than 3 times per year at such times and places as it may determine. The examination of applicants shall be of a character to give a fair test of the qualifications of the applicant to practice pharmacy.

Applicants for examination as pharmacists shall be required to pay, either to the Department or the designated testing service, a fee covering the cost of providing the examination. Failure to appear for the examination on the scheduled date, at the time and place specified, after the applicant's application for examination has been received and acknowledged by the Department or the designated testing service, shall result in the forfeiture of the examination fee. The theoretical and applied pharmaceutical sciences examination shall be developed and provided by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

Applicants for licensure as pharmacists shall also be required to complete an Accreditation Council on Pharmacy Education approved program and assessment related to Illinois pharmacy law developed and provided by the Illinois Pharmacists Association, or any other such program and assessment or test approved by the Department by rule.

If an applicant neglects, fails or refuses to take an examination or fails to pass an examination for a license under this Act within 3 years after filing his application, the application shall expire is denied. However, such applicant may thereafter make a new application accompanied by the required fee and show evidence of meeting the requirements in force at the time of the new application.

The Department shall notify applicants taking the examination of their results within 7 weeks of the examination date. Further, the Department shall have the authority to immediately authorize such applicants who successfully pass the examination to engage in the practice of pharmacy.

An applicant shall have one year from the date of notification of successful completion of the examination to apply to the Department for a license. If an applicant fails to make such application within one year the applicant shall be required to again take and pass the examination.

An applicant who has graduated with a professional degree from a school of pharmacy located outside of the United States must do the following:

(1) obtain a Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) Certificate;

(2) complete 1,200 hours of clinical training and experience, as defined by rule, in the United States or its territories; and

(3) successfully complete the licensing requirements set forth in Section 6 of this Act, as well as those adopted by the Department by rule.

The Department may employ consultants for the purpose of preparing and conducting examinations.

(Source: P.A. 100-497, eff. 9-8-17.)

(225 ILCS 85/12) (from Ch. 111, par. 4132)

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

Sec. 12. Expiration of license; renewal.

(a) The expiration date and renewal period for each license issued under this Act shall be set by rule.

(b) As a condition for the renewal of a license as a pharmacist, the licensee shall provide evidence to the Department of completion of a total of 30 hours of pharmacy continuing education during the 24 months preceding the expiration date of the certificate. Two hours of continuing pharmacy education must be in the subject of pharmacy law. Such continuing education shall be approved by the Accreditation Council on Pharmacy Education.

(c) The Department may establish by rule a means for the verification of completion of the continuing education required by this Section. This verification may be accomplished through audits of records maintained by licensees, by requiring the filing of continuing education certificates with the Department or a qualified organization selected by the Department to maintain such records or by other means established by the Department.

(d) Rules developed under this Section may provide for a reasonable biennial fee, not to exceed $20, to fund the cost of such recordkeeping. The Department may, by rule, further provide an orderly process for the restoration of licenses which have not been renewed due to the failure to meet the continuing education requirements of this Section. The requirements of continuing education may be waived, in whole or in part, in cases of extreme hardship as defined by rule of the Department. Such waivers shall be granted for not more than one of any 3 consecutive renewal periods.

(e) Any pharmacist who has permitted his license to expire or who has had his license on inactive status may have his license restored by making application to the Department and filing proof acceptable to the Department of his fitness to have his license restored, and by paying the required restoration fee. The Department shall determine, by an evaluation program established by rule his fitness for restoration of his license and shall establish procedures and requirements for such restoration. However, any pharmacist who demonstrates that he has continuously maintained active practice in another jurisdiction pursuant to a license in good standing, and who has substantially complied with the continuing education requirements of this Section shall not be subject to further evaluation for purposes of this Section.

(f) Any licensee who shall engage in the practice for which his or her license was issued while the license is expired or on inactive status shall be considered to be practicing without a license which, shall be grounds for discipline under Section 30 of this Act.

(g) Any pharmacy operating on an expired license is engaged in the unlawful practice of pharmacy and is subject to discipline under Section 30 of this Act. A pharmacy whose license has been expired for one year or more may not have its license restored but must apply for a new license and meet all requirements for licensure. Any pharmacy whose license has been expired for less than one year may apply for restoration of its license and shall have its license restored.

(h) However, any pharmacist whose license expired while he was (1) in Federal Service on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States, or the State Militia called into service or training, or (2) in training or education under the supervision of the United States preliminary to induction into the military service, may have his license or certificate restored without paying any lapsed renewal fees, if within 2 years after honorable termination of such service, training or education he furnishes the Department with satisfactory evidence to the effect that he has been so engaged and that his service, training or education has been so terminated.

(Source: P.A. 100-497, eff. 9-8-17.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.