103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2509 Introduced , by Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 225 ILCS 65/60-5225 ILCS 65/60-10 Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that the Board of Nursing shall review and make a recommendation for the approval or disapproval of a program by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation based on, among other criteria, a measurement of program effectiveness based on a passage rate of all graduates over the 3 most recent calendar years without reference to first-time test takers. Provides that a graduate who does not take an examination for licensure within the first 90 days after graduation and a graduate who has failed the exam will be required to return to the institution of higher education for remediation prior to repeating or taking the exam. Provides that a graduate may retake the exam only after the institution of higher education provides approval once remediation has been successfully completed. Provides that institutional approval to retake expires 6 months after issuance of the approval to retake. Provides that a graduate with an expired approval is required to repeat the remediation and reapproval process. LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2509 Introduced , by Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 225 ILCS 65/60-5225 ILCS 65/60-10 225 ILCS 65/60-5 225 ILCS 65/60-10 Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that the Board of Nursing shall review and make a recommendation for the approval or disapproval of a program by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation based on, among other criteria, a measurement of program effectiveness based on a passage rate of all graduates over the 3 most recent calendar years without reference to first-time test takers. Provides that a graduate who does not take an examination for licensure within the first 90 days after graduation and a graduate who has failed the exam will be required to return to the institution of higher education for remediation prior to repeating or taking the exam. Provides that a graduate may retake the exam only after the institution of higher education provides approval once remediation has been successfully completed. Provides that institutional approval to retake expires 6 months after issuance of the approval to retake. Provides that a graduate with an expired approval is required to repeat the remediation and reapproval process. LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2509 Introduced , by Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 225 ILCS 65/60-5225 ILCS 65/60-10 225 ILCS 65/60-5 225 ILCS 65/60-10 225 ILCS 65/60-5 225 ILCS 65/60-10 Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that the Board of Nursing shall review and make a recommendation for the approval or disapproval of a program by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation based on, among other criteria, a measurement of program effectiveness based on a passage rate of all graduates over the 3 most recent calendar years without reference to first-time test takers. Provides that a graduate who does not take an examination for licensure within the first 90 days after graduation and a graduate who has failed the exam will be required to return to the institution of higher education for remediation prior to repeating or taking the exam. Provides that a graduate may retake the exam only after the institution of higher education provides approval once remediation has been successfully completed. Provides that institutional approval to retake expires 6 months after issuance of the approval to retake. Provides that a graduate with an expired approval is required to repeat the remediation and reapproval process. LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b A BILL FOR HB2509LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509 LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509 LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b 1 AN ACT concerning regulation. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Nurse Practice Act is amended by changing 5 Sections 60-5 and 60-10 as follows: 6 (225 ILCS 65/60-5) 7 (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028) 8 Sec. 60-5. RN education program requirements; out-of-State 9 programs. 10 (a) All registered professional nurse education programs 11 must be reviewed by the Board and approved by the Department 12 before the successful completion of such a program may be 13 applied toward meeting the requirements for registered 14 professional nurse licensure under this Act. Any program 15 changing the level of educational preparation or the 16 relationship with or to the parent institution or establishing 17 an extension of an existing program must request a review by 18 the Board and approval by the Department. The Board shall 19 review and make a recommendation for the approval or 20 disapproval of a program by the Department based on the 21 following criteria: 22 (1) a feasibility study that describes the need for 23 the program and the facilities used, the potential of the 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2509 Introduced , by Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 225 ILCS 65/60-5225 ILCS 65/60-10 225 ILCS 65/60-5 225 ILCS 65/60-10 225 ILCS 65/60-5 225 ILCS 65/60-10 Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that the Board of Nursing shall review and make a recommendation for the approval or disapproval of a program by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation based on, among other criteria, a measurement of program effectiveness based on a passage rate of all graduates over the 3 most recent calendar years without reference to first-time test takers. Provides that a graduate who does not take an examination for licensure within the first 90 days after graduation and a graduate who has failed the exam will be required to return to the institution of higher education for remediation prior to repeating or taking the exam. Provides that a graduate may retake the exam only after the institution of higher education provides approval once remediation has been successfully completed. Provides that institutional approval to retake expires 6 months after issuance of the approval to retake. Provides that a graduate with an expired approval is required to repeat the remediation and reapproval process. LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b A BILL FOR 225 ILCS 65/60-5 225 ILCS 65/60-10 LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509 LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509- 2 -LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509 - 2 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509 - 2 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b 1 program to recruit faculty and students, financial support 2 for the program, and other criteria, as established by 3 rule; 4 (2) program curriculum that meets all State 5 requirements; 6 (2.5) measurement of program effectiveness based on a 7 passage rate of all graduates over the 3 most recent 8 calendar years without reference to first-time test 9 takers; 10 (3) the administration of the program by a Nurse 11 Administrator and the involvement of a Nurse Administrator 12 in the development of the program; 13 (4) the occurrence of a site visit prior to approval; 14 and 15 (5) beginning December 31, 2022, obtaining and 16 maintaining programmatic accreditation by a national 17 accrediting body for nursing education recognized by the 18 United States Department of Education and approved by the 19 Department. 20 The Department and Board of Nursing shall be notified 21 within 30 days if the program loses its accreditation. The 22 Department may adopt rules regarding a warning process and 23 reaccreditation. 24 (b) In order to obtain initial Department approval and to 25 maintain Department approval, a registered professional 26 nursing program must meet all of the following requirements: HB2509 - 2 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509- 3 -LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509 - 3 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509 - 3 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b 1 (1) The institution responsible for conducting the 2 program and the Nurse Administrator must ensure that 3 individual faculty members are academically and 4 professionally competent. 5 (2) The program curriculum must contain all applicable 6 requirements established by rule, including both theory 7 and clinical components. 8 (3) The passage rates of the program's graduating 9 classes on the State-approved licensure exam must be 10 deemed satisfactory by the Department. 11 (c) Program site visits to an institution conducting or 12 hosting a professional nursing program may be made at the 13 discretion of the Nursing Coordinator or upon recommendation 14 of the Board. Full routine site visits may be conducted by the 15 Department for periodic evaluation. Such visits shall be used 16 to determine compliance with this Act. Full routine site 17 visits must be announced and may be waived at the discretion of 18 the Department if the program maintains accreditation with an 19 accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of 20 Education and approved by the Department. 21 (d) Any institution conducting a registered professional 22 nursing program that wishes to discontinue the program must do 23 each of the following: 24 (1) Notify the Department, in writing, of its intent 25 to discontinue the program. 26 (2) Continue to meet the requirements of this Act and HB2509 - 3 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509- 4 -LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509 - 4 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509 - 4 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b 1 the rules adopted thereunder until the official date of 2 termination of the program. 3 (3) Notify the Department of the date on which the 4 last student shall graduate from the program and the 5 program shall terminate. 6 (4) Assist remaining students in the continuation of 7 their education in the event of program termination prior 8 to the graduation of the program's final student. 9 (5) Upon the closure of the program, notify the 10 Department, in writing, of the location of student and 11 graduate records' storage. 12 (e) Out-of-State registered professional nursing education 13 programs planning to offer clinical practice experiences in 14 this State must meet the requirements set forth in this 15 Section and must meet the clinical and faculty requirements 16 for institutions outside of this State, as established by 17 rule. The institution responsible for conducting an 18 out-of-State registered professional nursing education program 19 and the administrator of the program shall be responsible for 20 ensuring that the individual faculty and preceptors overseeing 21 the clinical experience are academically and professionally 22 competent. 23 (Source: P.A. 100-513, eff. 1-1-18.) 24 (225 ILCS 65/60-10) 25 (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028) HB2509 - 4 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509- 5 -LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509 - 5 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509 - 5 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b 1 Sec. 60-10. RN licensure by examination. 2 (a) Each applicant who successfully meets the requirements 3 of this Section is eligible for licensure as a registered 4 professional nurse. 5 (b) An applicant for licensure by examination to practice 6 as a registered professional nurse is eligible for licensure 7 when the following requirements are met: 8 (1) the applicant has submitted a completed written 9 application, on forms provided by the Department, and 10 fees, as established by the Department; 11 (2) the applicant has graduated from a professional 12 nursing education program approved by the Department or 13 has been granted a certificate of completion of 14 pre-licensure requirements from another United States 15 jurisdiction; 16 (3) the applicant has successfully completed a 17 licensure examination approved by the Department; 18 (4) (blank); 19 (5) the applicant has submitted to the criminal 20 history records check required under Section 50-35 of this 21 Act; 22 (6) the applicant has submitted, either to the 23 Department or its designated testing service, a fee 24 covering the cost of providing the examination; failure to 25 appear for the examination on the scheduled date at the 26 time and place specified after the applicant's application HB2509 - 5 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509- 6 -LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509 - 6 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509 - 6 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b 1 for examination has been received and acknowledged by the 2 Department or the designated testing service shall result 3 in the forfeiture of the examination fee; and 4 (7) the applicant has met all other requirements 5 established by the Department by rule. 6 An applicant for licensure by examination may take the 7 Department-approved examination in another jurisdiction. 8 (b-5) If an applicant for licensure by examination 9 neglects, fails, or refuses to take an examination or fails to 10 pass an examination for a license within 3 years of the date of 11 initial application, the application shall be denied. When an 12 applicant's application is denied due to the failure to pass 13 the examination within the 3-year period, that applicant must 14 undertake an additional course of education as defined by rule 15 prior to submitting a new application for licensure. Any new 16 application must be accompanied by the required fee, evidence 17 of meeting the requirements in force at the time of the new 18 application, and evidence of completion of the additional 19 course of education prescribed by rule. 20 A graduate who does not take an examination for licensure 21 within the first 90 days after graduation and a graduate who 22 has failed the exam will be required to return to the 23 institution of higher education for remediation prior to 24 repeating or taking the exam. A graduate may retake the exam 25 only after the institution of higher education provides 26 approval once remediation has been successfully completed. HB2509 - 6 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509- 7 -LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509 - 7 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509 - 7 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b 1 Institutional approval to retake expires 6 months after 2 issuance of the approval to retake. A graduate with an expired 3 approval is required to repeat the remediation and reapproval 4 process. 5 (c) An applicant for licensure by examination shall have 6 one year after the date of notification of the successful 7 completion of the examination to apply to the Department for a 8 license. If an applicant fails to apply within one year, the 9 applicant shall be required to retake and pass the examination 10 unless licensed in another jurisdiction of the United States. 11 (d) An applicant for licensure by examination who passes 12 the Department-approved licensure examination for professional 13 nursing may obtain employment as a license-pending registered 14 nurse and practice under the direction of a registered 15 professional nurse or an advanced practice registered nurse 16 until such time as he or she receives his or her license to 17 practice or until the license is denied. In no instance shall 18 any such applicant practice or be employed in any management 19 capacity. An individual may be employed as a license-pending 20 registered nurse if all of the following criteria are met: 21 (1) He or she has completed and passed the 22 Department-approved licensure exam and presents to the 23 employer the official written notification indicating 24 successful passage of the licensure examination. 25 (2) He or she has completed and submitted to the 26 Department an application for licensure under this Section HB2509 - 7 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509- 8 -LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509 - 8 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509 - 8 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b 1 as a registered professional nurse. 2 (3) He or she has submitted the required licensure 3 fee. 4 (4) He or she has met all other requirements 5 established by rule, including having submitted to a 6 criminal history records check. 7 (e) The privilege to practice as a license-pending 8 registered nurse shall terminate with the occurrence of any of 9 the following: 10 (1) Three months have passed since the official date 11 of passing the licensure exam as inscribed on the formal 12 written notification indicating passage of the exam. The 13 3-month license pending period may be extended if more 14 time is needed by the Department to process the licensure 15 application. 16 (2) Receipt of the registered professional nurse 17 license from the Department. 18 (3) Notification from the Department that the 19 application for licensure has been refused. 20 (4) A request by the Department that the individual 21 terminate practicing as a license-pending registered nurse 22 until an official decision is made by the Department to 23 grant or deny a registered professional nurse license. 24 (f) (Blank). 25 (g) (Blank). 26 (h) (Blank). HB2509 - 8 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509- 9 -LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509 - 9 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b HB2509 - 9 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b 1 (i) (Blank). 2 (j) (Blank). 3 (k) All applicants for registered professional nurse 4 licensure have 3 years after the date of application to 5 complete the application process. If the process has not been 6 completed within 3 years after the date of application, the 7 application shall be denied, the fee forfeited, and the 8 applicant must reapply and meet the requirements in effect at 9 the time of reapplication. 10 (l) All applicants for registered nurse licensure by 11 examination who are graduates of practical nursing educational 12 programs in a country other than the United States and its 13 territories shall have their nursing education credentials 14 evaluated by a Department-approved nursing credentialing 15 evaluation service. No such applicant may be issued a license 16 under this Act unless the applicant's program is deemed by the 17 nursing credentialing evaluation service to be equivalent to a 18 professional nursing education program approved by the 19 Department. An applicant who has graduated from a nursing 20 educational program outside of the United States or its 21 territories and whose first language is not English shall 22 submit evidence of English proficiency, as defined by rule. 23 (m) (Blank). 24 (Source: P.A. 100-513, eff. 1-1-18.) HB2509 - 9 - LRB103 04652 AMQ 49660 b