SB2817 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 16439 BDA 29831 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2817

Introduced 1/13/2026, by Sen. Ram Villivalam

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
30 ILCS 105/5.1038 new

Creates the Expanding Medical Residency Opportunities in Illinois Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall establish a grant program to provide funding for medical residency positions not funded by certain federal or other funding sources and to provide startup funding for entities that wish to establish a residency program. Provides for procedures, criteria, and other requirements for the grant program. Creates the Medical Residency Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Defines terms. Makes conforming changes to the State Finance Act.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Expanding Medical Residency Opportunities in Illinois Act.

Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:

"Department" means the Department of Public Health.

"Residency program" means a program that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or the Committee on Postdoctoral Training of the American Osteopathic Association or that demonstrates to the Department a plan for receiving accreditation for the new graduate medical education program.

Section 10. Medical residencies; program.

(a) The Department of Public Health shall, subject to appropriation, establish a grant program to provide:

(1) funding for residency program positions that are not funded by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or other established funding sources; and

(2) startup funding for entities that wish to establish a residency program.

(b) The Department shall establish a grant application process for an entity seeking funding. The application and criteria shall be based on health care workforce needs and priorities with a focus on increasing access to healthcare in rural areas. When funding new residency program positions, funding shall be given to programs that strive to:

(1) graduate individuals who practice in health professional shortage areas in the State;

(2) locate the positions' main training site in a health professional shortage area; and

(3) have formal provisions and commitments for residents, post-graduation, to practice in health professional shortage areas in Illinois.

(c) An entity receiving funding under the program shall provide any information requested by the Department that the Department determines is necessary to administer this Section.

(d) Funds shall be awarded to those institutions that best demonstrate the ability to provide quality training and to retain residents in specific areas of the State where there is a recognized unmet priority need for physicians.

(e) An entity applying for a grant under this Section shall submit as part of its application a plan for receiving accreditation for the new graduate medical education program. The plan shall include a timeline and proof of accreditation application, if applicable, along with other information requested by the Department as necessary. Entities that fail to achieve accreditation milestones as described in the plan may be required to return grant funding at the discretion of the Department.

(f) The Medical Residency Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Moneys in the Fund may be used by the Department for administrative costs to initiate and maintain the demands of the grant program under this Act, to expand graduate residency program opportunities in the State, and to maximize the delivery of medical care and physician services to specific areas of the State where there is a recognized unmet priority need for medical care and physician services pursuant to this Section.

Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.1038 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.1038 new)

Sec. 5.1038. The Medical Residency Fund.