(225 ILCS 37/1)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Environmental Health Practitioner Licensing Act. (Source: P.A. 89‑61, eff. 6‑30‑95.)

    (225 ILCS 37/5)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 5. Legislative intent. In adopting this Act, it is recognized that the field of environmental health is a dynamic field that is continually evolving into new and complex areas of concern. It is the legislative intent of this Act to recognize the occasional existence of overlapping functions with engineers, industrial hygienists, veterinarians, and other professions licensed to carry out specific activities that may touch on some aspects of the field of environmental health. It is not the intent of this Act to require registration of these individuals, nor is it the intent that the registration of any person under this Act would allow that person to perform functions or engage in activities that would include the practice of engineering. It is the sole purpose and intent of this Act to safeguard the health, safety, and general welfare of the public from adverse environmental factors and to license those environmental health professionals who have completed approved environmental health or science curricula, are qualified to work in the field of environmental health, within the scope of practice as defined in this Act, and not to restrict nor interfere with interstate commerce. (Source: P.A. 89‑61, eff. 6‑30‑95; 90‑44, eff. 7‑3‑97.)

    (225 ILCS 37/10)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:     "Board" means the Environmental Health Practitioners Board as created in this Act.     "Department" means the Department of Professional Regulation.     "Director" means the Director of Professional Regulation.     "Environmental health inspector" means an individual who, in support of and under the general supervision of a licensed environmental health practitioner or licensed professional engineer, practices environmental health and meets the educational qualifications of an environmental health inspector.     "Environmental health practice" is the practice of environmental health by licensed environmental health practitioners within the meaning of this Act and includes, but is not limited to, the following areas of professional activities: milk and food sanitation; protection and regulation of private water supplies; private waste water management; domestic solid waste disposal practices; institutional health and safety; and consultation and education in these fields.     "Environmental health practitioner in training" means a person licensed under this Act who meets the educational qualifications of a licensed environmental health practitioner and practices environmental health in support of and under the general supervision of a licensed environmental health practitioner or licensed professional engineer, but has not passed the licensed environmental health practitioner examination administered by the Department.     "License" means the authorization issued by the Department permitting the person named on the authorization to practice environmental health as defined in this Act.     "Licensed environmental health practitioner" is a person who, by virtue of education and experience in the physical, chemical, biological, and environmental health sciences, is especially trained to organize, implement, and manage environmental health programs, trained to carry out education and enforcement activities for the promotion and protection of the public health and environment, and is licensed as an environmental health practitioner under this Act. (Source: P.A. 92‑837, eff. 8‑22‑02.)

    (225 ILCS 37/15)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 15. License requirement.     (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in an environmental health practice after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly unless the person is licensed by the Department as an environmental health practitioner or an environmental health practitioner in training or is an environmental health inspector as defined in this Act.     (b) It is the responsibility of an individual required to be licensed under this Act to obtain a license and to pay all necessary fees, not the responsibility of his or her employer. (Source: P.A. 92‑837, eff. 8‑22‑02.)

    (225 ILCS 37/16)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 16. Exemptions. This Act does not prohibit or restrict any of the following:     (1) A person performing the functions and duties of an environmental health practitioner under the general supervision of a licensed environmental health practitioner or licensed professional engineer if that person (i) is not responsible for the administration or supervision of one or more employees engaged in an environmental health program, (ii) establishes a method of verbal communication with the licensed environmental health practitioner or licensed professional engineer to whom they can refer and report questions, problems, and emergency situations encountered in environmental health practice, and (iii) has his or her written reports reviewed monthly by a licensed environmental health practitioner or licensed professional engineer.     (2) A person licensed in this State under any other Act from engaging in the practice for which he or she is licensed.     (3) A person working in laboratories licensed by, registered with, or operated by the State of Illinois.     (4) A person employed by a State‑licensed health care facility who engages in the practice of environmental health or whose job responsibilities include ensuring that the environment in the health care facility is healthy and safe for employees, patients, and visitors.     (5) A person employed with the Illinois Department of Agriculture who engages in meat and poultry inspections or environmental inspections under the authority of the Department of Agriculture.     (6) A person holding a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery and licensed under the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004. (Source: P.A. 92‑837, eff. 8‑22‑02; 93‑281, eff. 12‑31‑03.)

    (225 ILCS 37/17)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 17. Powers and duties of the Department of Professional Regulation. Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Department shall exercise the following functions, powers, and duties:     (1) Prescribe rules defining what constitutes an approved school, college, or department of a university, except that no school, college, or department of a university that refuses admittance to applicants solely on account of race, color, creed, sex, or national origin shall be approved.     (2) Conduct hearings on proceedings to revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue licenses.     (3) Promulgate rules required for the administration of this Act. (Source: P.A. 91‑724, eff. 6‑2‑00.)

    (225 ILCS 37/18)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 18. Board of Environmental Health Practitioners. The Board of Environmental Health Practitioners is created and shall exercise its duties as provided in this Act. The Board shall consist of 5 members appointed by the Director. Of the 5 members, 3 shall be environmental health practitioners, one a Public Health Administrator who meets the minimum qualifications for public health personnel employed by full time local health departments as prescribed by the Illinois Department of Public Health and is actively engaged in the administration of a local health department within this State, and one member of the general public. In making the appointments to the Board, the Director shall consider the recommendations of related professional and trade associations including the Illinois Environmental Health Association and the Illinois Public Health Association and of the Director of Public Health. Each of the environmental health practitioners shall have at least 5 years of full time employment in the field of environmental health practice before the date of appointment. Each appointee filling the seat of an environmental health practitioner appointed to the Board must be licensed under this Act.     The membership of the Board shall reasonably reflect representation from the various geographic areas of the State.     A vacancy in the membership of the Board shall not impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the Board.     The members of the Board are entitled to receive as compensation a reasonable sum as determined by the Director for each day actually engaged in the duties of the office and all legitimate and necessary expenses incurred in attending the meetings of the Board.     Members of the Board shall be immune from suit in any action based upon any disciplinary proceedings or other activities performed in good faith as members of the Board.     The Director may remove any member of the Board for any cause that, in the opinion of the Director, reasonably justifies termination. (Source: P.A. 91‑724, eff. 6‑2‑00; 91‑798, eff. 7‑9‑00; 92‑837, eff. 8‑22‑02.)

    (225 ILCS 37/19)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 19. Requirements of approval by Board of Environmental Health Practitioners. The Director may consider the recommendations of the Board in establishing guidelines for professional conduct, for the conduct of formal disciplinary proceedings brought under this Act, and for establishing guidelines for qualifications and examinations of applicants. Notice of proposed rulemaking shall be transmitted to the Board. The Department shall review the response of the Board and its recommendations. The Department, at any time, may seek the expert advice and knowledge of the Board on any matter relating to the administration or enforcement of this Act. (Source: P.A. 89‑61, eff. 6‑30‑95.)

    (225 ILCS 37/20)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 20. Qualifications for registration as an environmental health practitioner. A person is qualified to be licensed as an environmental health practitioner if that person:         (1) Has applied in writing on the prescribed forms,
    has paid the required fee, and holds one of the following:
            (A) A Bachelor's Degree in environmental health
        science from a college or university approved by the National Environmental Health Association Accreditation Council for environmental health curricula or its equivalent as approved by the Department.
            (B) A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited
        college or university which included a minimum of 30 semester hours or equivalent of basic sciences acceptable to the Department and 12 months of full time experience.
            (C) A Master's Degree in public health or
        environmental health science from an accredited college or university if the applicant has completed a minimum of 30 semester or equivalent hours of basic science acceptable to the Department.
        (2) Passes an examination authorized by the
    Department. The examination shall be of a character to give a fair test of the qualifications of the applicant to practice as an environmental health practitioner.
(Source: P.A. 89‑61, eff. 6‑30‑95; 89‑706, eff. 1‑31‑97.)

    (225 ILCS 37/20.1)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 20.1. Qualifications for an environmental health inspector. An environmental health inspector must have an associate's degree or its equivalent, including a minimum of 9 credit hours of science. (Source: P.A. 92‑837, eff. 8‑22‑02.)

    (225 ILCS 37/21)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 21. Grandfather provision. A person who, on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, was certified by his or her employer as serving as a sanitarian or environmental health practitioner in environmental health practice in this State may be issued a license as an environmental health practitioner in training upon filing an application by July 1, 2003 and paying the required fees. (Source: P.A. 92‑837, eff. 8‑22‑02.)

    (225 ILCS 37/22)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 22. Environmental health practitioner in training.     (a) Any person who meets the educational qualifications specified in Section 20, but does not meet the experience requirement specified in that Section, may make application to the Department on a form prescribed by the Department for licensure as an environmental health practitioner in training. The Department shall license that person as an environmental health practitioner in training upon payment of the fee required by this Act.     (b) An environmental health practitioner in training shall apply for licensure as an environmental health practitioner within 3 years of his or her licensure as an environmental health practitioner in training. The license may be renewed or extended as defined by rule of the Department. The Board may extend the licensure of any environmental health practitioner in training who furnishes, in writing, sufficient cause for not applying for examination as an environmental health practitioner within the 3‑year period.     (c) An environmental health practitioner in training may engage in the practice of environmental health for a period not to exceed 6 years provided that he or she is supervised by a licensed professional engineer or a licensed environmental health practitioner as prescribed in this Act. (Source: P.A. 95‑876, eff. 8‑21‑08.)

    (225 ILCS 37/23)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 23. Supervision.     (a) A licensed environmental health practitioner in training or an environmental health inspector may perform the duties and functions of environmental health practice under the supervision of a licensed environmental health practitioner or licensed professional engineer.     (b) A licensed environmental health practitioner or a licensed professional engineer may serve as a supervisor to any licensed environmental health practitioner in training or environmental health inspector. The supervisor shall fulfill the minimum supervisor requirements, including but not limited to:         (1) being available for consultation on a daily
    basis;
        (2) reviewing and advising on law enforcement
    proceedings; and
        (3) evaluating the practice of environmental health
    performed by the licensed environmental health practitioner in training or the environmental health inspector.
    (c) A licensed environmental health practitioner or licensed professional engineer is responsible for assuring that a licensed environmental health practitioner in training or environmental health inspector that he or she is supervising properly engages in the practice of environmental health. (Source: P.A. 92‑837, eff. 8‑22‑02.)

    (225 ILCS 37/25)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 25. Application for original license. Applications for original licenses shall be made to the Department on forms prescribed by the Department and accompanied by the required nonrefundable fee. All applications shall contain information that, in the judgment of the Department, will enable the Department to pass on the qualifications of the applicant for a license as an environmental health practitioner or environmental health practitioner in training.     If an applicant for a license as an environmental health practitioner neglects, fails, or refuses to take an examination or fails to pass an examination for a license under this Act within 3 years after filing an application, the application is denied. However, the applicant may thereafter make a new application, accompanied by the required fee, if the applicant meets the requirements in force at the time of making the new application. (Source: P.A. 92‑837, eff. 8‑22‑02.)

    (225 ILCS 37/26)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 26. Examination for registration as an environmental health practitioner.     (a) Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, only persons who meet the educational and experience requirements of Section 20 and who pass the examination authorized by the Department shall be licensed as environmental health practitioners.     (b) Applicants for examination as environmental health practitioners shall be required to pay, either to the Department or the designated testing service, a fee covering the cost of providing the examination. (Source: P.A. 92‑837, eff. 8‑22‑02.)

    (225 ILCS 37/27)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 27. Renewals; restoration.     (a) The expiration date and renewal period for each license issued under this Act shall be set by rule. As a condition for renewal of a license, the licensee shall be required to complete continuing education requirements as set forth in rules by the Department. Licensees who are 70 years of age or older and have been licensed under this Act for at least 4 years shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements.     (b) A person who has permitted a license to expire for a period less than 5 years may have the license restored by making application to the Department and filing proof, acceptable to the Department, of fitness to have the license restored. Proof may include (i) sworn evidence certifying to active practice in another jurisdiction that is satisfactory to the Department, (ii) complying with any continuing education requirements, and (iii) paying the required restoration fee.     (c) A person seeking restoration of a license that has been expired or placed on inactive status for more than 5 years may have the license restored by making application to the Department and filing proof, acceptable to the Department, of fitness to have the license restored. Proof may include (i) sworn evidence of active practice in another jurisdiction, (ii) an affidavit attesting to military service as provided in subsection (c) of this Section, (iii) proof of passage of the environmental Health Proficiency Examination during the period the license was lapsed or on inactive status, (iv) sworn evidence of lawful practice under the supervision of an Illinois‑licensed Environmental Healthcare Practitioner in the State of Illinois that is satisfactory to the Department, or (v) proof of current certification, including continuing education, from the National Environmental Health Association Accreditation Council for environmental health curricula or its equivalent as approved by the Department. An applicant for restoration under this Section shall be required to pay any restoration fees as required under this Act and provide proof of meeting continuing education requirements during the 2 years prior to restoration.     However, a person whose license expired while (i) in federal service on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States or called into service or training with the State Militia or (ii) in training or education under the supervision of the United States, preliminary to induction into the military service may have his or her license renewed or restored without paying any lapsed renewal fees if, within 2 years after honorable termination of the service, training, or education, except under conditions other than honorable, he or she furnishes the Department with satisfactory evidence to the effect that he or she has been so engaged and that the service, training, or education has been terminated.     (d) A person who notifies the Department, in writing on forms prescribed by the Department, may place his or her license on inactive status and shall be excused from the payment of renewal fees until the person notifies the Department, in writing, of the intention to resume active practice.     (e) A person requesting his or her license be changed from inactive to active status shall be required to pay the current renewal fee and shall also demonstrate compliance with the continuing education requirements.     (f) An environmental health practitioner whose license is not renewed or whose license is on inactive status shall not engage in the practice of environmental health in the State of Illinois or use the title or advertise that he or she performs the services of a "licensed environmental health practitioner".     (g) A person violating subsection (f) of this Section shall be considered to be practicing without a license and shall be subject to the disciplinary provisions of this Act.     (h) A license to practice shall not be denied any applicant because of the applicant's race, religion, creed, national origin, political beliefs or activities, age, sex, sexual orientation, or physical impairment that does not affect a person's ability to practice with reasonable judgment, skill, or safety as determined by the Department. (Source: P.A. 96‑671, eff. 8‑25‑09.)

    (225 ILCS 37/28)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 28. Fees. The Department shall provide by rule for a schedule of fees for the administration and enforcement of this Act, including but not limited to original licensure, renewal, and restoration. The fees shall be nonrefundable. (Source: P.A. 91‑454, eff. 1‑1‑00.)

    (225 ILCS 37/29)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 29. Deposit of fees and fines; appropriations. All fees and fines collected under this Act shall be deposited into the General Professions Dedicated Fund. All moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Department of Professional Regulation, as appropriated, for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department. (Source: P.A. 89‑61, eff. 6‑30‑95.)

    (225 ILCS 37/30)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 30. Endorsement. The Department may issue a license as a licensed environmental health practitioner, without the required examination, to an applicant licensed under the laws of another state if the requirements for licensure in that state are, on the date of granting the license, substantially equal to the requirements of this Act. The Department shall issue a license as a licensed environmental health practitioner to any applicant who holds a Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian credential in good standing with the National Environmental Health Association. An applicant under this Section shall pay all required fees. 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 fee forfeited, and the applicant must reapply and meet the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication. (Source: P.A. 96‑671, eff. 8‑25‑09.)

    (225 ILCS 37/31)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 31. Checks or orders dishonored. A person who issues or delivers a check or other order to the Department that is returned to the Department unpaid by the financial institution upon which it is drawn shall pay to the Department, in addition to the amount already owed to the Department, a fine of $50. The fines imposed by this Section are in addition to any other discipline provided under this Act prohibiting unlicensed practice or practice on a nonrenewed license. The Department shall notify the person that payment of fees and fines shall be paid to the Department by certified check or money order within 30 calendar days after notification. If, after the expiration of 30 days from the date of the notification, the person fails to submit the necessary remittance, the Department shall automatically terminate the license or certification or deny the application, without hearing. If, after termination or denial, the person seeks a license or certificate, he or she shall apply to the Department for restoration or issuance of a license or certificate and pay all fees and fines due to the Department. The Department may establish a fee for the processing of an application for restoration of a license to pay all costs and expenses of processing of this application. The Director may waive the fines due under this Section in individual cases where the Director finds that the fines would be unnecessarily burdensome. (Source: P.A. 92‑146, eff. 1‑1‑02.)

    (225 ILCS 37/35)     (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019)     Sec. 35. Grounds for discipline.     (a) The Department may refuse to issue or renew, or may revoke, suspend, place on probation, reprimand, or take other disciplinary action with regard to any license issued under this Act as the Department may consider proper, including the imposition of fines not to exceed $5,000 for each violation, for any one or combination of the following causes:         (1) Material misstatement in furnishing information
    to the Department.
        (2) Violations of this Act or its rules.         (3) Conviction of any felony under the laws of any
    U.S. jurisdiction, any misdemeanor an essential element of which is dishonesty, or any crime that is directly related to the practice of the profession.
        (4) Making any misrepresentation for the purpose of
    obtaining a certificate of registration.
        (5) Professional incompetence.         (6) Aiding or assisting another person in viola

Scroll for next Illinois statute…