Public Act 102-0812
 
HB5465 EnrolledLRB102 25510 AMQ 34799 b

    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.