Public Act 0812 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB5465 Enrolled LRB102 25510 AMQ 34799 b

Public Act 102-0812

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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 Task Force on Internationally-Licensed Health Care Professionals Act.

Section 5. Purpose. The Task Force on Internationally-Licensed Health Care Professionals is created within the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The Task Force shall aim to:

(1) remove barriers to licensure and practice for health care professionals licensed and practicing in other countries to get licensed and practice in the State;

(2) address the health care workforce shortage in the State by increasing the supply of culturally competent physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals; and

(3) protect the safety of patients and the broader public.

Section 10. Membership; appointment; vacancy; meeting; support.

(a) The Task Force shall have the following members:

(1) the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation, or the Secretary's designee;

(2) the Director of the Division of Professional Regulation, or the Director's designee;

(3) the Chief Medical Coordinator of the Division of Professional Regulation;

(4) the Nursing Coordinator of the Division of Professional Regulation;

(5) the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the Speaker's designee;

(6) the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, or the Leader's designee;

(7) the President of the Senate, or the President's designee;

(8) the Minority Leader of the Senate, or the Leader's designee;

(9) two representatives of an organization that seek to eliminate employment barriers and advance the skills for immigrant professionals appointed by the Secretary;

(10) a representative of an organization that recruits immigrants and foreign students to work in health related areas; focusing on raising the awareness of social, political, and economic issues faced related to immigrant health appointed by the Secretary; and

(11) a representative of an organization that seeks to increase the number of internationally educated medical professionals for practice within diverse communities appointed by the Secretary.

(b) If a vacancy occurs in the Task Force, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(c) The Task Force shall meet once every 2 months, indefinitely, until the Task Force votes to dissolve itself. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the Task Force from meeting more often if it deems it necessary to do so.

(d) The Department shall provide administrative support to the Task Force.

(e) The Task Force shall only meet once a majority of members are appointed.

(f) The Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation, or the Secretary's designee, shall be the chair of the Task Force.

Section 15. Subject matter of the Task Force. The subject matter of the Task Force is intended to:

(1) address health care professionals, broadly defined to include physicians and nurses, but also include other professionals as the need arises;

(2) be focused on professionals who are already licensed and practicing in another country and are seeking licensure in the State; and

(3) not include students.

Section 20. Report.

(a) The Task Force shall prepare an annual report that summarizes its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study.

(b) The report shall address barriers to licensure and practice for health care professionals in the State in professions to be determined by the Task Force. The Task Force shall address strategies for reducing barriers to licensure and practice for internationally-licensed health care professionals.

(c) The Task Force shall submit the report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly.

(d) The Task Force shall submit the first report one year after the first meeting of the Task Force.