SB1842sam002 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Miguel del Valle

Filed: 3/15/2005

09400SB1842sam002 LRB094 11425 AMC 43783 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 1842

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 1842 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act is amended by adding Section 10-37 as follows:

(225 ILCS 65/10-37 new)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2008)

Sec. 10-37. Nurse internship permit.

(a) The Department shall establish a 2-year program under which the Department may issue a nurse internship permit to a registered nurse who is licensed under the laws of another state or territory of the United States and who has not taken the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). A nurse who is issued a permit shall be allowed to practice professional nursing under the direct supervision of a registered professional nurse licensed under this Act. The Secretary, in consultation with the Board, may continue the program beyond 2 years.

(b) An applicant shall be qualified to receive a nurse internship permit if that applicant:

(1) Has submitted a completed written application to the Department, on forms provided by the Department, and paid any fees established by the Department.

(2) Has graduated from a professional nursing education program approved by the Department.

(3) Is licensed as a professional nurse in another state or territory of the United States and has submitted a verification of active and unencumbered licensure in all of the states and territories in which the applicant is licensed.

(4) Has submitted verification of an offer of employment in Illinois as a nurse intern. The Department may prescribe the information necessary to determine if this employment meets the requirements of the permit program. This information shall include a copy of the written employment offer and a statement signed by a registered nurse licensed under this Act who has agreed to directly supervise the applicant.

(5) Has submitted a written statement from the applicant's prospective employer stating that the prospective employer agrees to pay the full tuition for the Bilingual Nurse Consortium course or other course approved by rule.

(6) Has submitted a written statement from the applicant's prospective employer stating that the prospective employer agrees to pay the full tuition of a Department-approved English language course if such a course is needed to enable the applicant to pass the Department-approved test of competency in the English language.

(7) Has submitted written verification that the applicant has been enrolled in the Bilingual Nurse Consortium course or other course approved by rule. This verification must state that the applicant shall be able to complete the course within the year for which the permit is issued.

(8) Has not violated the provisions of Section 10-45 of this Act. The Department may take into consideration any felony conviction of the applicant, but such a conviction shall not operate as an absolute bar to licensure.

(9) Has met all other requirements established by rule.

(c) A nurse intern shall be issued no more then one permit in a lifetime. The permit shall expire one calendar year after it is issued. Before the expiration of the permit, the nurse intern must submit proof of the successful completion of the Bilingual Nurse Consortium course or other course approved by rule and the successful passage of a test of competency in the English language which shall be prescribed by the Department. The nurse intern shall not practice professional nursing except under the direct supervision of a registered nurse licensed under this Act and shall not be employed in a supervisory capacity. The nurse intern shall work only in the sponsoring facility. A nurse intern may work for a period not to exceed one calendar year from the date of issuance of the permit or until he or she fails the NCLEX. While working as a nurse intern, the nurse intern is subject to the provisions of this Act and all rules adopted by the Department for the administration of this Act.

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