HB3244 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 06061 RAS 26153 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB3244

Introduced 2/26/2007, by Rep. Tom Cross

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

225 ILCS 107/30

from Ch. 111, par. 8451-30

Amends the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Professional Counselor Examining and Disciplinary Board.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 5. The Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing Act is amended by changing Section 30 as follows:

(225 ILCS 107/30) (from Ch. 111, par. 8451-30)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2013)

Sec. 30. Professional Counselor Examining and Disciplinary Board.

(a) The The Director shall appoint a Board which shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Director. The Board shall consist of 7 persons, 2 of whom are licensed solely as professional counselors, 3 of whom are licensed solely as clinical professional counselors, one full-time faculty member of an accredited college or university that is engaged in training professional counselors or clinical professional counselors who possesses the qualifications substantially equivalent to the education and experience requirements for a professional counselor or clinical professional counselor, and one member of the public who is not a licensed health care provider. In appointing members of the Board, the Director shall give due consideration to the adequate representation of the various fields of counseling. In appointing members of the Board, the Director shall give due consideration to recommendations by members of the professions of professional counseling and clinical professional counseling, the Statewide organizations representing the interests of professional counselors and clinical professional counselors, organizations representing the interests of academic programs, rehabilitation counseling programs, and approved counseling programs in the State of Illinois.

(b) Members shall be appointed for and shall serve 4 year terms and until their successors are appointed and qualified, except that of the initial appointments 2 members shall be appointed to serve for 2 years, 2 shall be appointed to serve for 3 years, and the remaining shall be appointed to serve for 4 years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. No member shall be reappointed to the Board for a term that would cause continuous service on the Board to be longer than 8 years. Any appointment to fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired portion of the term.

(c) The membership of the Board should reasonably reflect representation from different geographic areas of Illinois.

(d) Any member appointed to fill a vacancy shall be eligible for reappointment to only one full term.

(e) The Director may remove any member for cause at any time prior to the expiration of his or her term.

(f) The Board shall annually elect one of its members as chairperson.

(g) The members of the Board shall be reimbursed for all legitimate, necessary, and authorized expenses incurred in attending the meetings of the Board.

(h) The Board may make recommendations on matters relating to approving graduate counseling, rehabilitation counseling, psychology, and related programs.

(i) The Board may make recommendations on matters relating to continuing education including the number of hours necessary for license renewal, waivers for those unable to meet such requirements, and acceptable course content. These recommendations shall not impose an undue burden on the Department or an unreasonable restriction on those seeking license renewal.

(j) The Director shall give due consideration to all recommendations of the Board.

(k) A majority of the Board members currently appointed shall constitute a quorum. A vacancy in the membership of the Board shall not impair the right of a quorum to perform all of the duties of the Board.

(l) Members of the Board shall have no criminal, civil, or professional liability in an action based upon a disciplinary proceeding or other activity performed in good faith as a member of the Board, except for willful or wanton misconduct.

(Source: P.A. 92-719, eff. 7-25-02.)