Bill Text: IL HB5793 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that as soon as practicable after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department of Public Health shall adopt rules or amendments to its existing emergency medical responder licensing rules to authorize the electronic submission of licensure application documents to the Department for an EMR candidate who (i) is at least 18 years of age; (ii) has completed and passed all components of the education program required under the Act; (iii) has passed the National Registry Emergency Medical Technician EMR examination; and (iv) paid the appropriate initial licensure fee, unless the fee has not been waived under a specified administrative rule.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-03-27 - Referred to Rules Committee [HB5793 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB5793-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB5793 Introduced , by Rep. Norine K. Hammond SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
210 ILCS 50/3.50
Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that as soon as practicable after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Department of Public Health shall adopt rules or amendments to its existing emergency medical responder licensing rules to authorize the electronic submission of licensure application documents to the Department for an EMR candidate who (i) is at least 18 years of age; (ii) has completed and passed all components of the education program required under the Act; (iii) has passed the National Registry Emergency Medical Technician EMR examination; and (iv) paid the appropriate initial licensure fee, unless the fee has not been waived under a specified administrative rule.
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A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning regulation.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems
Act is amended by changing Section 3.50 as follows:
(210 ILCS 50/3.50)
Sec. 3.50. Emergency Medical Services personnel licensure
levels.
(a) "Emergency Medical Technician" or "EMT" means a person
who has successfully completed a course in basic life support
as approved by the Department, is currently licensed by the
Department in accordance with standards prescribed by this Act
and rules adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, and
practices within an EMS System. A valid Emergency Medical
Technician-Basic (EMT-B) license issued under this Act shall
continue to be valid and shall be recognized as an Emergency
Medical Technician (EMT) license until the Emergency Medical
Technician-Basic (EMT-B) license expires.
(b) "Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate" or "EMT-I"
means a person who has successfully completed a course in
intermediate life support as approved by the Department, is
currently licensed by the Department in accordance with
standards prescribed by this Act and rules adopted by the

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Department pursuant to this Act, and practices within an
Intermediate or Advanced Life Support EMS System.
(b-5) "Advanced Emergency Medical Technician" or "A-EMT"
means a person who has successfully completed a course in
basic and limited advanced emergency medical care as approved
by the Department, is currently licensed by the Department in
accordance with standards prescribed by this Act and rules
adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, and practices
within an Intermediate or Advanced Life Support EMS System.
(c) "Paramedic (EMT-P)" means a person who has
successfully completed a course in advanced life support care
as approved by the Department, is licensed by the Department
in accordance with standards prescribed by this Act and rules
adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, and practices
within an Advanced Life Support EMS System. A valid Emergency
Medical Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) license issued under this
Act shall continue to be valid and shall be recognized as a
Paramedic license until the Emergency Medical
Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) license expires.
(c-5) "Emergency Medical Responder" or "EMR (First
Responder)" means a person who has successfully completed a
course in emergency medical response as approved by the
Department and provides emergency medical response services in
accordance with the level of care established by the National
EMS Educational Standards Emergency Medical Responder course
as modified by the Department, or who provides services as

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part of an EMS System response plan, as approved by the
Department, of that EMS System. The Department shall have the
authority to adopt rules governing the curriculum, practice,
and necessary equipment applicable to Emergency Medical
Responders.
On August 15, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act
98-973), a person who is licensed by the Department as a First
Responder and has completed a Department-approved course in
first responder defibrillator training based on, or equivalent
to, the National EMS Educational Standards or other standards
previously recognized by the Department shall be eligible for
licensure as an Emergency Medical Responder upon meeting the
licensure requirements and submitting an application to the
Department. A valid First Responder license issued under this
Act shall continue to be valid and shall be recognized as an
Emergency Medical Responder license until the First Responder
license expires.
(c-10) All EMS Systems and licensees shall be fully
compliant with the National EMS Education Standards, as
modified by the Department in administrative rules, within 24
months after the adoption of the administrative rules.
(d) The Department shall have the authority and
responsibility to:
(1) Prescribe education and training requirements,
which includes training in the use of epinephrine, for all
levels of EMS personnel except for EMRs, based on the

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National EMS Educational Standards and any modifications
to those curricula specified by the Department through
rules adopted pursuant to this Act.
(2) Prescribe licensure testing requirements for all
levels of EMS personnel, which shall include a requirement
that all phases of instruction, training, and field
experience be completed before taking the appropriate
licensure examination. Candidates may elect to take the
appropriate National Registry examination in lieu of the
Department's examination, but are responsible for making
their own arrangements for taking the National Registry
examination. In prescribing licensure testing requirements
for honorably discharged members of the armed forces of
the United States under this paragraph (2), the Department
shall ensure that a candidate's military emergency medical
training, emergency medical curriculum completed, and
clinical experience, as described in paragraph (2.5), are
recognized.
(2.5) Review applications for EMS personnel licensure
from honorably discharged members of the armed forces of
the United States with military emergency medical
training. Applications shall be filed with the Department
within one year after military discharge and shall
contain: (i) proof of successful completion of military
emergency medical training; (ii) a detailed description of
the emergency medical curriculum completed; and (iii) a

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detailed description of the applicant's clinical
experience. The Department may request additional and
clarifying information. The Department shall evaluate the
application, including the applicant's training and
experience, consistent with the standards set forth under
subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of Section 3.10. If the
application clearly demonstrates that the training and
experience meet such standards, the Department shall offer
the applicant the opportunity to successfully complete a
Department-approved EMS personnel examination for the
level of license for which the applicant is qualified.
Upon passage of an examination, the Department shall issue
a license, which shall be subject to all provisions of
this Act that are otherwise applicable to the level of EMS
personnel license issued.
(3) License individuals as an EMR, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT,
or Paramedic who have met the Department's education,
training and examination requirements.
As soon as practicable after the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, the
Department shall adopt rules or amendments to its existing
emergency medical responder licensing rules to authorize
the electronic submission of licensure application
documents to the Department for an EMR candidate who:
(i) is at least 18 years of age;
(ii) has completed and passed all components of

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the EMR education program required under this Act and
the Department's rules;
(iii) has passed the National Registry Emergency
Medical Technician EMR examination; and
(iv) has paid the appropriate initial licensure
fee, unless the fee has not been waived under 77 Ill.
Adm. Code 515.260(b).
(4) Prescribe annual continuing education and
relicensure requirements for all EMS personnel licensure
levels.
(5) Relicense individuals as an EMD, EMR, EMT, EMT-I,
A-EMT, PHRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or Paramedic every 4 years,
based on their compliance with continuing education and
relicensure requirements as required by the Department
pursuant to this Act. Every 4 years, a Paramedic shall
have 100 hours of approved continuing education, an EMT-I
and an advanced EMT shall have 80 hours of approved
continuing education, and an EMT shall have 60 hours of
approved continuing education. An Illinois licensed EMR,
EMD, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN, PHPA, PHAPRN, or
PHRN whose license has been expired for less than 36
months may apply for reinstatement by the Department.
Reinstatement shall require that the applicant (i) submit
satisfactory proof of completion of continuing medical
education and clinical requirements to be prescribed by
the Department in an administrative rule; (ii) submit a

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positive recommendation from an Illinois EMS Medical
Director attesting to the applicant's qualifications for
retesting; and (iii) pass a Department approved test for
the level of EMS personnel license sought to be
reinstated.
(6) Grant inactive status to any EMR, EMD, EMT, EMT-I,
A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN, PHAPRN, PHPA, or PHRN who
qualifies, based on standards and procedures established
by the Department in rules adopted pursuant to this Act.
(7) Charge a fee for EMS personnel examination,
licensure, and license renewal.
(8) Suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew the
license of any licensee, after an opportunity for an
impartial hearing before a neutral administrative law
judge appointed by the Director, where the preponderance
of the evidence shows one or more of the following:
(A) The licensee has not met continuing education
or relicensure requirements as prescribed by the
Department;
(B) The licensee has failed to maintain
proficiency in the level of skills for which he or she
is licensed;
(C) The licensee, during the provision of medical
services, engaged in dishonorable, unethical, or
unprofessional conduct of a character likely to
deceive, defraud, or harm the public;

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(D) The licensee has failed to maintain or has
violated standards of performance and conduct as
prescribed by the Department in rules adopted pursuant
to this Act or his or her EMS System's Program Plan;
(E) The licensee is physically impaired to the
extent that he or she cannot physically perform the
skills and functions for which he or she is licensed,
as verified by a physician, unless the person is on
inactive status pursuant to Department regulations;
(F) The licensee is mentally impaired to the
extent that he or she cannot exercise the appropriate
judgment, skill and safety for performing the
functions for which he or she is licensed, as verified
by a physician, unless the person is on inactive
status pursuant to Department regulations;
(G) The licensee has violated this Act or any rule
adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act; or
(H) The licensee has been convicted (or entered a
plea of guilty or nolo contendere) by a court of
competent jurisdiction of a Class X, Class 1, or Class
2 felony in this State or an out-of-state equivalent
offense.
(9) Prescribe education and training requirements in
the administration and use of opioid antagonists for all
levels of EMS personnel based on the National EMS
Educational Standards and any modifications to those

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curricula specified by the Department through rules
adopted pursuant to this Act.
(d-5) An EMR, EMD, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN,
PHAPRN, PHPA, or PHRN who is a member of the Illinois National
Guard or an Illinois State Trooper or who exclusively serves
as a volunteer for units of local government with a population
base of less than 5,000 or as a volunteer for a not-for-profit
organization that serves a service area with a population base
of less than 5,000 may submit an application to the Department
for a waiver of the fees described under paragraph (7) of
subsection (d) of this Section on a form prescribed by the
Department.
The education requirements prescribed by the Department
under this Section must allow for the suspension of those
requirements in the case of a member of the armed services or
reserve forces of the United States or a member of the Illinois
National Guard who is on active duty pursuant to an executive
order of the President of the United States, an act of the
Congress of the United States, or an order of the Governor at
the time that the member would otherwise be required to
fulfill a particular education requirement. Such a person must
fulfill the education requirement within 6 months after his or
her release from active duty.
(e) In the event that any rule of the Department or an EMS
Medical Director that requires testing for drug use as a
condition of the applicable EMS personnel license conflicts

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