(410 ILCS 130/60)
    Sec. 60. Issuance of registry identification cards.
    (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the Department of Public Health shall:
        (1) verify the information contained in an
    
application or renewal for a registry identification card submitted under this Act, and approve or deny an application or renewal, within 90 days of receiving a completed application or renewal application and all supporting documentation specified in Section 55;
        (2) issue registry identification cards to a
    
qualifying patient and his or her designated caregiver, if any, within 15 business days of approving the application or renewal;
        (3) enter the registry identification number of the
    
registered dispensing organization the patient designates into the verification system; and
        (4) allow for an electronic application process, and
    
provide a confirmation by electronic or other methods that an application has been submitted.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Department of Public Health shall adopt rules for qualifying patients and applicants with life-long debilitating medical conditions, who may be charged annual renewal fees. The Department of Public Health shall not require patients and applicants with life-long debilitating medical conditions to apply to renew registry identification cards.
    (b) The Department of Public Health may not issue a registry identification card to a qualifying patient who is under 18 years of age, unless that patient suffers from seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy, or as provided by administrative rule. The Department of Public Health shall adopt rules for the issuance of a registry identification card for qualifying patients who are under 18 years of age and suffering from seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy. The Department of Public Health may adopt rules to allow other individuals under 18 years of age to become registered qualifying patients under this Act with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. Registered qualifying patients under 18 years of age shall be prohibited from consuming forms of cannabis other than medical cannabis infused products and purchasing any usable cannabis.
    (c) A veteran who has received treatment at a VA hospital is deemed to have a bona fide health care professional-patient relationship with a VA certifying health care professional if the patient has been seen for his or her debilitating medical condition at the VA hospital in accordance with VA hospital protocols. All reasonable inferences regarding the existence of a bona fide health care professional-patient relationship shall be drawn in favor of an applicant who is a veteran and has undergone treatment at a VA hospital.
    (c-10) An individual who submits an application as someone who is terminally ill shall have all fees waived. The Department of Public Health shall within 30 days after this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly adopt emergency rules to expedite approval for terminally ill individuals. These rules shall include, but not be limited to, rules that provide that applications by individuals with terminal illnesses shall be approved or denied within 14 days of their submission.
    (d) No later than 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, the Secretary of State shall remove all existing notations on driving records that the person is a registered qualifying patient or his or her caregiver under this Act.
    (e) Upon the approval of the registration and issuance of a registry card under this Section, the Department of Public Health shall electronically forward the registered qualifying patient's identification card information to the Prescription Monitoring Program established under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act and certify that the individual is permitted to engage in the medical use of cannabis. For the purposes of patient care, the Prescription Monitoring Program shall make a notation on the person's prescription record stating that the person is a registered qualifying patient who is entitled to the lawful medical use of cannabis. If the person no longer holds a valid registry card, the Department of Public Health shall notify the Prescription Monitoring Program and Department of Human Services to remove the notation from the person's record. The Department of Human Services and the Prescription Monitoring Program shall establish a system by which the information may be shared electronically. This confidential list may not be combined or linked in any manner with any other list or database except as provided in this Section.
    (f) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 100-1114, eff. 8-28-18; 101-363, eff. 8-9-19; 101-593, eff. 12-4-19.)