Bill Text: IL HB5800 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987. Provides that beginning April 1, 2024, all continuing education may be completed online through live, real-time presentations or by pre-recorded video provided by an approved continuing education sponsor. Provides that an approved continuing education sponsor is a person, firm, association, corporation, or another entity that has been recommended by the Illinois Optometric Licensing and Disciplinary Board to coordinate and present continuing education courses or programs and approved by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-11-16 - Referred to Rules Committee [HB5800 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-HB5800-Introduced.html

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102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2021 and 2022 HB5800 Introduced , by Rep. Robert Rita SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
225 ILCS 80/16 from Ch. 111, par. 3916
Amends the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987. Provides that beginning April 1, 2024, all continuing education may be completed online through live, real-time presentations or by pre-recorded video provided by an approved continuing education sponsor. Provides that an approved continuing education sponsor is a person, firm, association, corporation, or another entity that has been recommended by the Illinois Optometric Licensing and Disciplinary Board to coordinate and present continuing education courses or programs and approved by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
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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 Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987 is
amended by changing Section 16 as follows:
(225 ILCS 80/16) (from Ch. 111, par. 3916)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)
Sec. 16. Renewal, reinstatement, or restoration of
licenses; military service. The expiration date and renewal
period for each license 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 for such good cause, including, but
not limited to, illness or 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

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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.
Beginning April 1, 2024, all continuing education, except
for certified courses or transcript quality courses that meet
the requirements of 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1320.80(b)(2)(A), may be
completed online through live, real-time presentations or by
pre-recorded video provided by an approved continuing
education sponsor. An approved continuing education sponsor is
a person, firm, association, corporation, or another entity
that has been recommended by the Board to coordinate and
present continuing education courses or programs and approved
by the Department.
Any licensee seeking renewal of his or her license during
the renewal cycle beginning April 1, 2008 must first complete
a tested educational course in the use of oral pharmaceutical
agents for the management of ocular conditions, as approved by
the Board.
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

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jurisdiction and must include proof of the completion of the
continuing education requirements specified in the rules for
the preceding license renewal period 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.
All licenses without "Therapeutic Certification" on March
31, 2006 shall be placed on non-renewed status and may only be
renewed after the licensee meets those requirements
established by the Department that may not be waived. All
licensees on March 31, 2010 without a certification of
completion of an oral pharmaceutical course as required by

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this Section shall be placed on non-renewed status and may
only be renewed after the licensee meets those requirements
established by the Department that may not be waived.
(Source: P.A. 95-242, eff. 1-1-08; 96-270, eff. 1-1-10.)