Bill Text: IL HB5608 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the Universal Recognition of Occupational Licenses Act. Defines terms, including that “board” means a government agency, board, department, or other government entity that regulates a lawful occupation and issues an occupational license or government certification to an individual. Provides that, notwithstanding any other State law to the contrary, a board in the State shall issue an occupational license or government certification to a person who holds an occupational license or government certification in another state if the person satisfies specified conditions. Provides that, notwithstanding any other State law to the contrary, a board shall issue an occupational license or government certification to a person upon application based on work experience in another state if the person satisfies specified conditions. Sets forth provisions concerning State law examinations; decisions of a board; appeals; State laws and jurisdiction; exceptions to the Act; limitations of the Act; application fees; and emergency powers. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-04-16 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Anthony DeLuca [HB5608 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB5608-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB5608 Introduced , by Rep. Paul Jacobs SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act
Creates the Universal Recognition of Licenses Act. Defines "board". Provides that, notwithstanding any other State law to the contrary, a board in the State shall issue an occupational license or government certification to a person who holds an occupational license or government certification in another state if the person satisfies specified conditions. Provides that, notwithstanding any other State law to the contrary, a board shall issue an occupational license or government certification to a person upon application based on work experience in another state if the person satisfies specified conditions. Sets forth provisions concerning State law examinations; decisions of a board; appeals; State laws and jurisdiction; exceptions to the Act; limitations of the Act; application fees; and emergency powers. Effective immediately.
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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 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
Universal Recognition of Occupational Licenses Act.
Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
"Board" means a government agency, board, department, or
other government entity that regulates a lawful occupation and
issues an occupational license or government certification to
an individual.
"Government certification" means a voluntary,
government-granted, and nontransferable recognition to an
individual who meets personal qualifications related to a
lawful occupation that upon the government's initial and
continuing approval, the individual may use "government
certified" or "state certified" as a title. "Government
certification" does not mean "occupational license."
"Government certification" does not include credentials, such
as those used for medical-board certification or held by a
certified public accountant, that are prerequisites to working
lawfully in an occupation.
"Lawful occupation" means a course of conduct, pursuit, or
profession that includes the sale of goods or services that

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are not themselves illegal to sell irrespective of whether the
individual selling them is subject to an occupational license.
"Military" means the Armed Forces of the United States
including the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps,
Navy, Space Force, National Guard, and all reserve components
and auxiliaries. "Military" includes the military reserves and
militia of any United States territory or state.
"Occupational license" is a nontransferable authorization
in law for an individual to perform exclusively a lawful
occupation based on meeting personal qualifications.
"Occupational license" includes a military occupational
specialty.
"Other state" or "another state" means any territory, or
state other than this State in the United States. It also means
any branch or unit of the military.
"Scope of practice" means the procedures, actions,
processes and work that a person may perform under an
occupational license or government certification issued in
this State.
Section 10. Recognition of another occupational license or
government certification.
(a) Notwithstanding any other State law to the contrary, a
board shall issue an occupational license or government
certification to a person upon application if all the
following apply:

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(1) The person holds a current and valid occupational
license or government certification in another state in a
lawful occupation with a similar scope of practice, as
determined by the relevant board in this State;
(2) The person has held the occupational license or
government certification in the other state for at least
one year;
(3) The board in the other state required the person
to pass an examination or to meet education, training or
experience standards;
(4) The board in the other state holds the person in
good standing;
(5) The person does not have a disqualifying criminal
record as determined by the relevant board in this State
under State law;
(6) No board in another state revoked the person's
occupational license or government certification because
of negligence or intentional misconduct related to the
person's work in the occupation;
(7) The person did not surrender an occupational
license or government certification because of negligence
or intentional misconduct related to the person's work in
the occupation in another state;
(8) The person does not have a complaint, allegation,
or investigation pending before a board in another state
which relates to unprofessional conduct or an alleged

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crime. If the person has a complaint, allegation, or
investigation pending, then the board in this State may
not issue or deny an occupational license or government
certification to the person until the complaint,
allegation, or investigation is resolved or the person
otherwise meets the criteria for an occupational license
or government certification in this State to the
satisfaction of the board in this State; and
(9) The person pays all applicable fees to the State.
(b) If another state issued the person a government
certification but the board in this State requires an
occupational license to work, then the relevant board in this
State shall issue an occupational license to the person if the
person otherwise satisfies subsection (a).
Section 15. Recognition of work experience.
Notwithstanding any other State law to the contrary, the board
shall issue an occupational license or government
certification to a person upon application based on work
experience in another state if all the following apply:
(1) The person worked in a state that does not use an
occupational license or government certification to
regulate a lawful occupation, but the State uses an
occupational license or government certification to
regulate a lawful occupation with a similar scope of
practice, as determined by the board;

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(2) The person worked for at least 3 years in the
lawful occupation; and
(3) The person satisfies paragraphs (5), (6), (7),
(8), and (9) of subsection (a) of Section 10.
Section 20. State law examination. A board may require a
person to pass a jurisprudential examination specific to
relevant State laws that regulate the occupation if an
occupational license or government certification in this State
requires a person to pass a jurisprudential examination
specific to relevant State statutes and administrative rules
that regulate the occupation.
Section 25. Decision. The board shall provide the person
with a written decision regarding the application within 30
days after receiving a complete application.
Section 30. Appeal.
(a) The person may appeal the board's decision to a court
of general jurisdiction.
(b) The person may appeal the board's:
(1) denial of an occupational license or government
certification;
(2) determination of the occupation;
(3) determination of the similarity of the scope of
practice of the occupational license or government

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certification issued; or
(4) other determinations under this Act.
Section 35. State laws and jurisdiction. A person who
obtains an occupational license or government certification
pursuant to this chapter is subject to:
(1) the laws regulating the occupation in this State;
and
(2) the jurisdiction of the relevant board in this
State.
Section 40. Exception. This Act does not apply to an
occupation regulated by the Illinois Supreme Court.
Section 45. Limitations.
(a) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit a
person from applying for an occupational license or government
certification under another statute or rule in State law.
(b) An occupational license or government certification
issued pursuant to this Act is valid only in this State. It
does not make the person eligible to work in another state
under an interstate compact or reciprocity agreement unless
otherwise provided in law.
(c) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent
this State from entering into a licensing compact or
reciprocity agreement with another state, foreign province, or

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foreign country.
(d) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent
this State from recognizing occupational credentials issued by
a private certification organization, foreign province,
foreign country, international organization, or other entity.
(e) Nothing in this Act may be construed to require a
private certification organization to grant or deny private
certification to any individual.
Section 50. Application fees. The board may charge a fee,
not to exceed $100, to an applicant to recoup its costs for
each application.
Section 55. Emergency powers.
(a) During a declared emergency, the Governor may order
the recognition of an occupational license from another state
or foreign country as if the license was issued by this State.
(b) The Governor may expand any license's scope of
practice and may authorize any licensee to provide services in
this State in person, telephonically,
or by other means for
the duration of the emergency.