State of Illinois
Public Acts
92nd General Assembly

[ Home ]  [ ILCS ] [ Search ] [ Bottom ]
 [ Other General Assemblies ]

Public Act 92-0451

HB2595 Enrolled                                LRB9202314LBgc

    AN ACT in relation to the regulation of professions.

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

    Section  5.  The Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987
is amended by  changing  Sections  12,  16,  17,  and  22  as
follows:

    (225 ILCS 80/12) (from Ch. 111, par. 3912)
    Sec.  12.  Applications  for  licenses  and certificates.
Applications for original licenses and certificates shall  be
made  to the Department in writing on forms prescribed by the
Department and shall be  accompanied  by  the  required  fee,
which  shall  not  be refundable.  Any such application shall
require such information as in the judgment of the Department
will enable the Department to pass on the  qualifications  of
the applicant for a license or certificate.
    An  applicant  for  initial  licensure in  Illinois shall
apply for and be qualified  to  receive  and  shall  maintain
certification   to  use  diagnostic  and  therapeutic  ocular
pharmaceuticals.
    Applicants have 3 years from the date of  application  to
complete  the  application  process.   If the process has not
been completed within  3  years,  the  application  shall  be
denied,  the  application  fees  shall  be forfeited, and the
applicant must reapply and meet the requirements in effect at
the time of reapplication.
    Applicants who meet all other  conditions  for  licensure
and  who  will be practicing optometry in a residency program
approved by the Board may apply for and receive a limited one
year license to practice  optometry  as  a  resident  in  the
program.   A  licensee  who  receives a limited license under
this   Section   shall   have   the   same   privileges   and
responsibilities as a therapeutically certified licensee.
(Source: P.A. 91-141, eff. 7-16-99.)

    (225 ILCS 80/16) (from Ch. 111, par. 3916)
    Sec.  16.   Renewal,  reinstatement  or  restoration   of
licenses;  military  service. The expiration date and renewal
period for each license and certificate issued under this Act
shall be set by rule.
    All renewal applicants shall provide proof of having  met
the  requirements  of  continuing  education set forth in the
rules of the Department.   The  Department  shall,  by  rule,
provide  for  an  orderly  process  for  the reinstatement of
licenses which have not been renewed due to failure  to  meet
the   continuing   education  requirements.   The  continuing
education requirement may  be  waived  in  cases  of  extreme
hardship as defined by rules of the Department.
    The  Department  shall  establish by rule a means for the
verification  of  completion  of  the  continuing   education
required   by   this   Section.   This  verification  may  be
accomplished  through  audits  of   records   maintained   by
registrants;  by requiring the filing of continuing education
certificates  with  the  Department;  or   by   other   means
established by the Department.
    Any  optometrist  who has permitted his or her license to
expire or who has had his or her license on  inactive  status
may have his or her license restored by making application to
the  Department and filing proof acceptable to the Department
of his or her fitness to have his or her license restored and
by paying the required  fees.   Such  proof  of  fitness  may
include  evidence  certifying  to  active  lawful practice in
another jurisdiction and must include proof of the completion
of the continuing education  requirements  specified  in  the
rules  for  the  preceding  license  renewal  period  for the
applicant's level of certification that  has  been  completed
during  the  2  years  prior  to  the application for license
restoration.
    The Department shall determine, by an evaluation  program
established  by  rule,  his or her fitness for restoration of
his  or  her  license  and  shall  establish  procedures  and
requirements for such restoration.
    However, any optometrist whose license expired  while  he
or  she  was  (1)  in Federal Service on active duty with the
Armed Forces of the  United  States,  or  the  State  Militia
called  into  service  or  training,  or  (2)  in training or
education  under  the  supervision  of  the   United   States
preliminary  to induction into the military service, may have
his or her license restored without paying any lapsed renewal
fees if within 2 years after honorable  termination  of  such
service,  training,  or  education,  he  or she furnishes the
Department with satisfactory evidence to the effect  that  he
or  she  has  been  so  engaged  and that his or her service,
training, or education has been so terminated.
(Source: P.A. 89-702, eff. 7-1-97.)

    (225 ILCS 80/17) (from Ch. 111, par. 3917)
    Sec. 17.  Inactive status. Any optometrist  who  notifies
the   Department  in  writing  on  forms  prescribed  by  the
Department, may elect to place  his  or  her  license  on  an
inactive  status and shall be excused from payment of renewal
fees until he or she notifies the Department  in  writing  of
his intent to restore his or her license.
    Any  optometrist  requesting  restoration  from  inactive
status  shall  be required to pay the current renewal fee, to
provide proof  of  completion  of  the  continuing  education
requirements specified in the rules for the preceding license
renewal  period  for  the  applicant's level of certification
that has been completed during  the  2  years  prior  to  the
application for restoration, and shall be required to restore
his or her license as provided by rule of the Department.
    Any  optometrist  whose  license is in an inactive status
shall not practice optometry in the State of Illinois.
    Any licensee who shall practice while his or her  license
is  lapsed  or  on  inactive status shall be considered to be
practicing without a  license  which  shall  be  grounds  for
discipline under Section 24 subsection (a) of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 89-702, eff. 7-1-97.)

    (225 ILCS 80/22) (from Ch. 111, par. 3922)
    Sec.   22.   Any  person  licensed  under  this  Act  may
advertise the availability of professional  services  in  the
public  media  or  on  the  premises  where such professional
services are  rendered  provided  that  such  advertising  is
truthful  and  not misleading and is in conformity with rules
promulgated by the Department.
    It is unlawful for any person licensed under this Act  to
use  testimonials  or  claims  of superior quality of care to
entice the public.
(Source: P.A. 85-896.)

    Section 99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect  upon
becoming law.
    Passed in the General Assembly May 31, 2001.
    Approved August 21, 2001.

[ Top ]