Bill Text: IL SB2795 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the Safe Patient Limits Act. Provides the maximum number of patients that may be assigned to a registered nurse in specified situations. Provides that nothing shall preclude a facility from assigning fewer patients to a registered nurse than the limits provided in the Act. Provides that the maximum patient assignments may not be exceeded, regardless of the use and application of any patient acuity system. Requires the Department of Public Health to adopt rules governing the implementation and administration of the Act. Provides that all facilities shall adopt written policies and procedures for the training and orientation of nursing staff and that no registered nurse shall be assigned to a nursing unit or clinical area unless that nurse has, among other things, demonstrated competence in providing care in that area. Provides requirements for the Act's implementation. Establishes recordkeeping requirements. Provides rights and protections for nurses. Contains a severability provision and other provisions. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a hospital shall not mandate that a registered professional nurse delegate nursing interventions. Makes changes concerning staffing plans. Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Requires the exercise of professional judgment by a direct care registered professional nurse in the performance of his or her scope of practice to be provided in the exclusive interests of the patient. Ratifies and approves the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows for the issuance of multistate licenses that allow nurses to practice in their home state and other compact states. Provides that the Compact does not supersede existing State labor laws. Provides that the State may not share with or disclose to the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators or any other state any of the contents of a nationwide criminal history records check conducted for the purpose of multistate licensure under the Nurse Licensure Compact.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-03-15 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments [SB2795 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB2795-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB2795 Introduced 1/17/2024, by Sen. Michael W. Halpin SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
See Index
Creates the Safe Patient Limits Act. Provides the maximum number of patients that may be assigned to a registered nurse in specified situations. Provides that nothing shall preclude a facility from assigning fewer patients to a registered nurse than the limits provided in the Act. Provides that the maximum patient assignments may not be exceeded, regardless of the use and application of any patient acuity system. Requires the Department of Public Health to adopt rules governing the implementation and administration of the Act. Provides that all facilities shall adopt written policies and procedures for the training and orientation of nursing staff and that no registered nurse shall be assigned to a nursing unit or clinical area unless that nurse has, among other things, demonstrated competence in providing care in that area. Provides requirements for the Act's implementation. Establishes recordkeeping requirements. Provides rights and protections for nurses. Contains a severability provision and other provisions. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a hospital shall not mandate that a registered professional nurse delegate nursing interventions. Makes changes concerning staffing plans. Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Requires the exercise of professional judgment by a direct care registered professional nurse in the performance of his or her scope of practice to be provided in the exclusive interests of the patient. Ratifies and approves the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows for the issuance of multistate licenses that allow nurses to practice in their home state and other compact states. Provides that the Compact does not supersede existing State labor laws. Provides that the State may not share with or disclose to the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators or any other state any of the contents of a nationwide criminal history records check conducted for the purpose of multistate licensure under the Nurse Licensure Compact.
LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
A BILL FOR
SB2795 LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
AN ACT concerning health.
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 Safe
Patient Limits Act.
Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:
"Couplet" means one postpartum patient and one baby.
"Critical trauma patient" means a patient who has an
injury to an anatomic area that (i) requires life-saving
interventions or (ii) in conjunction with unstable vital
signs, poses an immediate threat to life or limb.
"Department" means the Department of Public Health.
"Direct care registered professional nurse" means a
registered professional nurse who has accepted a hands-on,
in-person patient care assignment and whose primary role is to
provide hands-on, in-person patient care.
"Facility" means a hospital licensed under the Hospital
Licensing Act or organized under the University of Illinois
Hospital Act, a private or State-owned and State-operated
general acute care hospital, an LTAC hospital as defined in
Section 10 of the Long Term Acute Care Hospital Quality
Improvement Transfer Program Act, an ambulatory surgical
treatment center as defined in Section 3 of the Ambulatory

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Surgical Treatment Center Act, a freestanding emergency center
licensed under the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems
Act, a birth center licensed under the Birth Center Licensing
Act, an acute psychiatric hospital, an acute care specialty
hospital, or an acute care unit within a health care facility.
"Health care emergency" means an emergency that is
declared by an authorized person within federal, State, or
local government and is related to circumstances that are
unpredictable and unavoidable, affect the delivery of medical
care, and require an immediate or exceptional level of
emergency or other medical services at the specific facility.
"Health care emergency" does not include a state of emergency
that results from a labor dispute in the health care industry
or consistent understaffing.
"Health care workforce" means personnel employed by or
contracted to work at a facility that have an effect upon the
delivery of quality care to patients, including, but not
limited to, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses,
unlicensed assistive personnel, service, maintenance,
clerical, professional, and technical workers, and other
health care workers.
"Immediate postpartum patient" means a patient who has
given birth within the previous 2 hours.
"Nursing care" means care that falls within the scope of
practice described in Section 55-30 or 60-35 of the Nurse
Practice Act or is otherwise encompassed within recognized

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standards of nursing practice.
"Rapid response team" means a team of health care
providers that provide care to patients with early signs of
deterioration to prevent respiratory or cardiac arrest.
"Registered nurse" or "registered professional nurse"
means a person who is licensed as a registered professional
nurse under the Nurse Practice Act and practices nursing as
described in Section 60-35 of the Nurse Practice Act.
"Specialty care unit" means a unit that is organized,
operated, and maintained to provide care for a specific
medical condition or a specific patient population.
Section 10. Maximum patient assignments for registered
nurses.
(a) The maximum number of patients assigned to a
registered nurse in a facility shall not exceed the limits
provided in this Section. However, nothing shall preclude a
facility from assigning fewer patients to a registered nurse
than the limits provided in this Section. The requirements of
this Section apply at all times during each shift within each
clinical unit and each patient care area. For the purposes of
this Act, a patient is assigned to a registered nurse if the
registered nurse accepts responsibility for the patient's
nursing care.
(b) In all units with critical care or intensive care
patients, including, but not limited to, coronary care, acute

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respiratory care, medical, burn, pediatric, or neonatal
intensive care patients, the maximum patient assignment of
critical care patients to a registered nurse is one.
(c) In all units with step-down or intermediate intensive
care patients, the maximum patient assignment of step-down or
intermediate intensive care patients to a registered nurse is
3.
(d) In all units with postanesthesia care patients,
regardless of the type of anesthesia administered, the maximum
patient assignment of postanesthesia care patients or patients
being monitored for the effects of any anesthetizing agent to
a registered nurse is one.
(e) In all units with operating room patients, the maximum
patient assignment of operating room patients to a registered
nurse is one, provided that a minimum of one additional person
serves as a scrub assistant for each patient.
(f) In the emergency department:
(1) In a unit providing basic emergency services or
comprehensive emergency services, the maximum patient
assignment at any time to a registered nurse is 3.
(2) The maximum assignment of critical care emergency
patients to a registered nurse is one. A patient in the
emergency department shall be considered a critical care
patient when the patient meets the criteria for admission
to a critical care service area within the facility.
(3) The maximum assignment of critical trauma patients

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in an emergency unit to a registered nurse is one.
(4) At least one direct care registered professional
nurse shall be assigned to triage patients. The direct
care registered professional nurse assigned to triage
patients shall be immediately available at all times to
triage patients when they arrive in the emergency
department. The direct care registered professional nurse
assigned to triage patients shall perform triage functions
only and may not be assigned the responsibility of the
base radio. Triage, radio, or flight registered nurses
shall not be counted in the calculation of direct care
registered nurse staffing levels.
(g) In all units with maternal child care patients the
maximum patient assignment:
(1) to a registered nurse of antepartum patients
requiring continuous fetal monitoring is 2;
(2) of other antepartum patients who are not in active
labor to a registered nurse is 3;
(3) of active labor patients to a registered nurse is
one;
(4) of patients with medical or obstetrical
complications during the initiation of epidural anesthesia
or during circulation for a caesarean section delivery to
a registered nurse is one;
(5) during birth is one registered nurse responsible
for the patient in labor and, for each newborn, one

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registered nurse whose sole responsibility is that newborn
patient;
(6) of postpartum patients when the parent has given
birth within the previous 2 hours is one registered nurse
for each couplet, and in the case of multiple births, one
registered nurse for each additional newborn;
(7) of couplets to a registered nurse is 2;
(8) of patients receiving postpartum or postoperative
gynecological care to a registered nurse is 4 when the
registered nurse has been assigned only to patients
receiving postpartum or postoperative gynecological care;
(9) of newborn patients when the patient is unstable,
as assessed by a direct care registered professional
nurse, to a registered nurse is one; and
(10) of newborn patients to a registered nurse is 2
when the patients are receiving intermediate care or the
nurse has been assigned to a patient care unit that
receives newborn patients requiring intermediate care,
including, but not limited to, an intermediate care
nursery.
(h) In all units with pediatric patients, the maximum
patient assignment of pediatric patients to a registered nurse
is 3.
(i) In all units with psychiatric patients, the maximum
patient assignment of psychiatric patients to a registered
nurse is 4.

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(j) In all units with medical and surgical patients, the
maximum patient assignment of medical or surgical patients to
a registered nurse is 4.
(k) In all units with telemetry patients, the maximum
patient assignment of telemetry patients to a registered nurse
is 3.
(l) In all units with observational patients, the maximum
patient assignment of observational patients to a registered
nurse is 3.
(m) In all units with acute rehabilitation patients, the
maximum patient assignment of acute rehabilitation patients to
a registered nurse is 4.
(n) In all units with conscious sedation patients, the
maximum patient assignment of conscious sedation patients to a
registered nurse is one.
(o) In any unit not otherwise listed in this Section,
including all specialty care units not otherwise listed in
this Section, the maximum patient assignment to a registered
nurse is 4.
Section 15. Use of rapid response teams as first
responders prohibited. A rapid response team's registered
nurse shall not be given direct care patient assignments while
assigned as a registered nurse who is responsible for
responding to a rapid response team request.

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Section 20. Implementation by a facility.
(a) A facility shall implement the patient limits
established under Section 10 without diminishing the staffing
levels of the facility's health care workforce. A facility may
not lay off licensed practical nurses, licensed psychiatric
technicians, certified nursing assistants, or other ancillary
support staff to meet the patient limits under Section 10.
(b) Each patient shall be assigned to a direct care
registered professional nurse who shall directly provide the
comprehensive patient assessment, development of a plan of
care, and supervision, implementation, and evaluation of the
nursing care provided to the patient at least every shift and
who has the responsibility for the provision of care to a
particular patient within the registered nurse's scope of
practice.
(c) There shall be no averaging of the number of patients
and the total number of registered nurses in each clinical
unit or patient care area in order to meet the patient limits
under Section 10.
(d) Only registered nurses providing direct patient care
shall be considered when evaluating compliance with the
patient limits under Section 10. Ancillary staff and
unlicensed personnel shall not be considered when evaluating
compliance with the patient limits under Section 10.
(e) The hours in which a nurse administrator, nurse
supervisor, nurse manager, charge nurse, and other licensed

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nurse provides patient care shall not be considered when
evaluating compliance with the patient limits under Section 10
and with the patient assignment requirement under subsection
(b) unless the registered nurse:
(1) has a current and active direct patient care
assignment;
(2) provides direct patient care in compliance with
this Act;
(3) has demonstrated the registered nurse's competence
in providing care in the registered nurse's assigned unit
to the facility; and
(4) has the principal responsibility of providing
direct patient care and has no additional job duties
during the time period during which the nurse has a
patient assignment.
(f) The hours in which a nurse administrator, nurse
supervisor, nurse manager, charge nurse, or other licensed
nurse provides direct patient care may be considered when
evaluating compliance with the patient limits under Section 10
and with the patient assignment requirement under subsection
(b) only if he or she is providing relief for a direct care
registered professional nurse during breaks, meals, and other
routine and expected absences from that unit.
(g) At all times during each shift within a facility unit,
clinical unit, or patient care area of a facility, and with the
full complement of ancillary support staff, at least 2 direct

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care registered nurses shall be physically present in each
facility unit, clinical unit, or patient care area where a
patient is present.
(h) Identifying a clinical unit or patient care area by a
name or term other than those listed in this Act does not
affect a facility's requirement to staff the unit consistent
with the patient limits identified for the level of intensity
or type of care described in this Act.
(i) A registered nurse providing direct care to a patient
has the authority to determine if a change in the patient's
status places the patient in a different category requiring a
different patient limit under Section 10.
(j) A facility shall assign direct care professional
registered nurses in a patient care unit in accordance with
Section 10 in order to meet the highest level of intensity and
type of care provided in the patient care unit. If multiple
assignments described under Section 10 apply to a patient, the
facility shall assign a direct care professional registered
nurse in accordance with the lowest numerical patient
assignment under that Section.
(k) A facility shall provide staffing of direct care
registered professional nurses above the number of direct care
registered professional nurses required to comply with the
patient levels under Section 10, or additional staffing of
licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, or
other licensed or unlicensed ancillary support staff, based on

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the direct care registered professional nurse's assessment of
each assigned individual patient, the individual patient's
nursing care requirements, and the individual patient's
nursing care plan.
(l) A facility shall not employ video monitors, remote
patient monitoring, or any form of electronic visualization of
a patient as a substitute for the direct in-person observation
required for patient assessment by a registered nurse or for
patient protection. Video monitors or any form of electronic
visualization of a patient shall not constitute compliance
with the patient limits under Section 10.
(m) A facility must provide relief by a direct care
registered professional nurse with unit-specific education,
training, and competence during another direct care registered
professional nurse's meal periods, breaks, and routine
absences as part of the facility's obligation to meet the
patient limits under Section 10 at all times.
Section 25. Changes in patient census.
(a) A facility shall plan for routine fluctuations in its
patient census, including, but not limited to, admissions,
discharges, and transfers.
(b) If a health care emergency causes a change in the
number of patients in a clinical care unit or patient care
area, the facility must be able to demonstrate that immediate
and diligent efforts were made to maintain required staffing

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levels under this Act.
(c) A facility shall immediately notify the Department if
a health care emergency described under subsection (b) causes
a change in the number of patients in a clinical care unit or
patient care area and shall report to the Department efforts
made to maintain staffing levels required under this Act.
Section 30. Record of staff assignments.
(a) A facility shall keep a record of the actual direct
care registered professional nurse, licensed practical nurse,
certified nursing assistant, and other ancillary staff
assignments to individual patients documented on a day-to-day,
shift-by-shift basis, shall submit copies of its records to
the Department quarterly, and shall keep copies of its staff
assignments on file for a period of 7 years.
(b) The documentation required under subsection (a) shall
be submitted to the Department as a mandatory condition of
licensure. The documentation shall be submitted with a
certification by the chief nursing officer of the facility
that the documentation completely and accurately reflects
registered nurse staffing levels by the facility for each
shift in each facility unit, clinical unit, and patient care
area in which patients receive care. The chief nursing officer
shall execute the certification under penalty of perjury and
the certification must contain an expressed acknowledgment
that any false statement constitutes fraud and is subject to

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criminal and civil prosecution and penalties.
Section 35. Implementation by the Department. The
Department shall adopt rules governing the implementation and
administration of this Act, including methods for facility
staff, facility staff's collective bargaining representatives,
and the public to file complaints regarding violations of this
Act with the Department. The Department shall conduct periodic
audits to ensure compliance with this Act.
Section 40. Nursing staff education, training, and
orientation.
(a) A facility shall adopt written policies that include,
but are not limited to:
(1) procedures for the education, training, and
orientation of nursing staff to each clinical area where
the nursing staff will work; and
(2) criteria for the facility to use in determining
whether a registered nurse has demonstrated current
competence in providing care in a clinical area.
(b) A registered nurse shall not be assigned to a facility
unit, clinical unit, or patient care area unless the
registered nurse has first received education, training, and
orientation in that clinical area that is sufficient to
provide safe, therapeutic, and competent care to patients in
that clinical area and has demonstrated competence in

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providing care in that clinical area.
(c) A registered nurse shall not be assigned to relieve a
direct care professional registered nurse during breaks,
meals, and routine absences from a facility unit, clinical
unit, or patient care area unless that registered nurse has
first received education, training, and orientation in that
clinical area that is sufficient to provide safe, therapeutic,
and competent care to patients in that clinical area and has
demonstrated competence in providing care in that clinical
area.
(d) A health care facility may not assign any nursing
personnel from a temporary nursing agency to the facility's
unit, clinical unit, or patient care area unless the nursing
personnel have first received education, training, and
orientation in that clinical area that is sufficient to
provide safe, therapeutic, and competent care to patients in
that clinical area and have demonstrated competence in
providing care in that clinical area.
Section 45. Enforcement.
(a) In addition to any other penalty prescribed by law,
the Department may impose a civil penalty against a facility
that violates this Act of up to $25,000 for each violation,
except that the Department shall impose a civil penalty of at
least $25,000 for each violation if the Department determines
that the health care facility has a pattern of violation. A

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separate and distinct violation shall be deemed to have been
committed on each day during which any violation continues
after receipt of written notice of the violation from the
Department by the facility.
(b) The Department shall post on its website the names of
facilities against which civil penalties have been imposed
under this Act, the violation for which the penalty was
imposed, and additional information as the Department deems
necessary.
(c) A facility's failure to adhere to the patient
assignment limits under Section 10, any other violation of
this Act, or any violation of Section 10.10 of the Hospital
Licensing Act shall be reported by the Department to the
Attorney General for enforcement, for which the Attorney
General may bring action in a court of competent jurisdiction
seeking injunctive relief and civil penalties.
(d) It is a defense to an enforcement action under this Act
if the facility demonstrates that a health care emergency was
in force at the time of the alleged violation and that the
facility made immediate and diligent efforts to maintain
staffing levels required under this Act.
Section 50. Nurse rights and protections.
(a) A registered professional nurse may object to or
refuse to participate in any activity, practice, assignment,
or task if:

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(1) in good faith, the registered nurse reasonably
believes it to be a violation of the direct care
registered professional nurse maximum patient assignments
or any other provision established under this Act or a
rule adopted by the Department under this Act;
(2) the registered nurse, based on the registered
nurse's nursing judgment, reasonably believes the
registered nurse is not prepared by education, training,
or experience to fulfill the assignment without
compromising the safety of any patient or jeopardizing the
license of the registered nurse; or
(3) in the registered nurse's nursing judgment, the
activity, policy, practice, assignment or task would be
outside the registered nurse's scope of practice or would
otherwise compromise the safety of any patient or the
registered nurse.
(b) A facility shall not retaliate, discriminate, or
otherwise take adverse action in any manner with respect to
any aspect of a nurse's employment, including discharge,
promotion, compensation, or terms, conditions, or privileges
of employment, based on the nurse's refusal to complete an
assignment under subsection (a).
(c) A facility shall not file a complaint against a
registered professional nurse with the Board of Nursing based
on the nurse's refusal to complete an assignment under
subsection (a).

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(d) A facility shall not retaliate, discriminate, or
otherwise take adverse action in any manner against any person
or with respect to any aspect of a nurse's employment,
including discharge, promotion, compensation, or terms,
conditions, or privileges of employment, based on that nurse's
or that person's opposition to any facility policy, practice,
or action that the nurse in good faith believes violates this
Act.
(e) A facility shall not retaliate, discriminate, or
otherwise take adverse action against any patient or employee
of the facility or any other individual on the basis that the
patient, employee, or individual, in good faith, individually
or in conjunction with another person or persons, has
presented a grievance or complaint, initiated or cooperated in
any investigation or proceeding of any governmental entity,
regulatory agency, or private accreditation body, made a civil
claim or demand, or filed an action relating to the care,
services, or conditions of the facility or of any affiliated
or related facility.
(f) A facility shall not:
(1) interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of,
or attempt to deny the exercise of, a right conferred
under this Act; or
(2) coerce or intimidate any individual regarding the
exercise of, or an attempt to exercise, a right conferred
under this Act.

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Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are
severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
Section 110. The Hospital Licensing Act is amended by
changing Section 10.10 as follows:
(210 ILCS 85/10.10)
(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 103-211)
Sec. 10.10. Nurse staffing by patient acuity.
(a) Findings. The Legislature finds and declares all of
the following:
(1) The State of Illinois has a substantial interest
in promoting quality care and improving the delivery of
health care services.
(2) Evidence-based studies have shown that the basic
principles of staffing in the acute care setting should be
based on the complexity of patients' care needs aligned
with available nursing skills to promote quality patient
care consistent with professional nursing standards.
(3) Compliance with this Section promotes an
organizational climate that values registered nurses'
input in meeting the health care needs of hospital
patients.
(b) Definitions. As used in this Section:
"Acuity model" means an assessment tool selected and

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implemented by a hospital, as recommended by a nursing care
committee, that assesses the complexity of patient care needs
requiring professional nursing care and skills and aligns
patient care needs and nursing skills consistent with
professional nursing standards.
"Department" means the Department of Public Health.
"Direct patient care" means care provided by a registered
professional nurse with direct responsibility to oversee or
carry out medical regimens or nursing care for one or more
patients.
"Nursing care committee" means a hospital-wide committee
or committees of nurses whose functions, in part or in whole,
contribute to the development, recommendation, and review of
the hospital's nurse staffing plan established pursuant to
subsection (d).
"Registered professional nurse" means a person licensed as
a Registered Nurse under the Nurse Practice Act.
"Written staffing plan for nursing care services" means a
written plan for the assignment of patient care nursing staff
based on multiple nurse and patient considerations that yield
minimum staffing levels for inpatient care units and the
adopted acuity model aligning patient care needs with nursing
skills required for quality patient care consistent with
professional nursing standards.
(c) Written staffing plan.
(1) Every hospital shall implement a written

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hospital-wide staffing plan, prepared by a nursing care
committee or committees, that provides for minimum direct
care professional registered nurse-to-patient staffing
needs for each inpatient care unit, including inpatient
emergency departments. If the staffing plan prepared by
the nursing care committee is not adopted by the hospital,
or if substantial changes are proposed to it, the chief
nursing officer shall either: (i) provide a written
explanation to the committee of the reasons the plan was
not adopted; or (ii) provide a written explanation of any
substantial changes made to the proposed plan prior to it
being adopted by the hospital. The written hospital-wide
staffing plan shall include, but need not be limited to,
the following considerations:
(A) The complexity of complete care, assessment on
patient admission, volume of patient admissions,
discharges and transfers, evaluation of the progress
of a patient's problems, ongoing physical assessments,
planning for a patient's discharge, assessment after a
change in patient condition, and assessment of the
need for patient referrals.
(B) The complexity of clinical professional
nursing judgment needed to design and implement a
patient's nursing care plan, the need for specialized
equipment and technology, the skill mix of other
personnel providing or supporting direct patient care,

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and involvement in quality improvement activities,
professional preparation, and experience.
(C) Patient acuity and the number of patients for
whom care is being provided.
(D) The ongoing assessments of a unit's patient
acuity levels and nursing staff needed shall be
routinely made by the unit nurse manager or his or her
designee.
(E) The identification of additional registered
nurses available for direct patient care when
patients' unexpected needs exceed the planned workload
for direct care staff.
(2) In order to provide staffing flexibility to meet
patient needs, every hospital shall identify an acuity
model for adjusting the staffing plan for each inpatient
care unit.
(2.5) Each hospital shall implement the staffing plan
and assign nursing personnel to each inpatient care unit,
including inpatient emergency departments, in accordance
with the staffing plan.
(A) A registered nurse may report to the nursing
care committee any variations where the nurse
personnel assignment in an inpatient care unit is not
in accordance with the adopted staffing plan and may
make a written report to the nursing care committee
based on the variations.

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(B) Shift-to-shift adjustments in staffing levels
required by the staffing plan may be made by the
appropriate hospital personnel overseeing inpatient
care operations. If a registered nurse in an inpatient
care unit objects to a shift-to-shift adjustment, the
registered nurse may submit a written report to the
nursing care committee.
(C) The nursing care committee shall develop a
process to examine and respond to written reports
submitted under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this
paragraph (2.5), including the ability to determine if
a specific written report is resolved or should be
dismissed.
(3) The written staffing plan shall be posted, either
by physical or electronic means, in a conspicuous and
accessible location for both patients and direct care
staff, as required under the Hospital Report Card Act. A
copy of the written staffing plan shall be provided to any
member of the general public upon request.
(d) Nursing care committee.
(1) Every hospital shall have a nursing care committee
that meets at least 6 times per year. A hospital shall
appoint members of a committee whereby at least 55% of the
members are registered professional nurses providing
direct inpatient care, one of whom shall be selected
annually by the direct inpatient care nurses to serve as

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co-chair of the committee.
(2) (Blank).
(2.5) A nursing care committee shall prepare and
recommend to hospital administration the hospital's
written hospital-wide staffing plan. If the staffing plan
is not adopted by the hospital, the chief nursing officer
shall provide a written statement to the committee prior
to a staffing plan being adopted by the hospital that: (A)
explains the reasons the committee's proposed staffing
plan was not adopted; and (B) describes the changes to the
committee's proposed staffing or any alternative to the
committee's proposed staffing plan.
(3) A nursing care committee's or committees' written
staffing plan for the hospital shall be based on the
principles from the staffing components set forth in
subsection (c). In particular, a committee or committees
shall provide input and feedback on the following:
(A) Selection, implementation, and evaluation of
minimum staffing levels for inpatient care units.
(B) Selection, implementation, and evaluation of
an acuity model to provide staffing flexibility that
aligns changing patient acuity with nursing skills
required.
(C) Selection, implementation, and evaluation of a
written staffing plan incorporating the items
described in subdivisions (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this

SB2795 - 24 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
Section.
(D) Review the nurse staffing plans for all
inpatient areas and current acuity tools and measures
in use. The nursing care committee's review shall
consider:
(i) patient outcomes;
(ii) complaints regarding staffing, including
complaints about a delay in direct care nursing or
an absence of direct care nursing;
(iii) the number of hours of nursing care
provided through an inpatient hospital unit
compared with the number of inpatients served by
the hospital unit during a 24-hour period;
(iv) the aggregate hours of overtime worked by
the nursing staff;
(v) the extent to which actual nurse staffing
for each hospital inpatient unit differs from the
staffing specified by the staffing plan; and
(vi) any other matter or change to the
staffing plan determined by the committee to
ensure that the hospital is staffed to meet the
health care needs of patients.
(4) A nursing care committee must issue a written
report addressing the items described in subparagraphs (A)
through (D) of paragraph (3) semi-annually. A written copy
of this report shall be made available to direct inpatient

SB2795 - 25 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
care nurses by making available a paper copy of the
report, distributing it electronically, or posting it on
the hospital's website.
(5) A nursing care committee must issue a written
report at least annually to the hospital governing board
that addresses items including, but not limited to: the
items described in paragraph (3); changes made based on
committee recommendations and the impact of such changes;
and recommendations for future changes related to nurse
staffing.
(e) Nothing in this Section 10.10 shall be construed to
limit, alter, or modify any of the terms, conditions, or
provisions of a collective bargaining agreement entered into
by the hospital.
(f) No hospital may discipline, discharge, or take any
other adverse employment action against an employee solely
because the employee expresses a concern or complaint
regarding an alleged violation of this Section or concerns
related to nurse staffing.
(g) Any employee of a hospital may file a complaint with
the Department regarding an alleged violation of this Section.
The Department must forward notification of the alleged
violation to the hospital in question within 10 business days
after the complaint is filed. Upon receiving a complaint of a
violation of this Section, the Department may take any action
authorized under Section Sections 7 or 9 of this Act.

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(Source: P.A. 102-4, eff. 4-27-21; 102-641, eff. 8-27-21;
102-813, eff. 5-13-22; revised 9-26-23.)
(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 103-211)
Sec. 10.10. Nurse staffing by patient acuity.
(a) Findings. The Legislature finds and declares all of
the following:
(1) The State of Illinois has a substantial interest
in promoting quality care and improving the delivery of
health care services.
(2) Evidence-based studies have shown that the basic
principles of staffing in the acute care setting should be
based on the complexity of patients' care needs aligned
with available nursing skills to promote quality patient
care consistent with professional nursing standards.
(3) Compliance with this Section promotes an
organizational climate that values registered nurses'
input in meeting the health care needs of hospital
patients.
(b) Definitions. As used in this Section:
"Acuity model" means an assessment tool selected and
implemented by a hospital, as recommended by a nursing care
committee, that assesses the complexity of patient care needs
requiring professional nursing care and skills and aligns
patient care needs and nursing skills consistent with
professional nursing standards.

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"Department" means the Department of Public Health.
"Direct patient care" means care provided in person by a
registered professional nurse with direct responsibility to
oversee or carry out medical regimens or nursing care for one
or more patients.
"Nursing care committee" means a hospital-wide committee
or committees of nurses whose functions, in part or in whole,
contribute to the development, recommendation, and review of
the hospital's nurse staffing plan established pursuant to
subsection (d).
"Registered professional nurse" means a person licensed as
a Registered Nurse under the Nurse Practice Act.
"Written staffing plan for nursing care services" means a
written plan for the assignment of patient care nursing staff
based on multiple nurse and patient considerations that
ensures the facility meets the maximum patient assignment
limits under Section 10 of the Safe Patient Limits Act and the
adopted method to adjust the staffing plan for each inpatient
care unit when additional staff are needed to fulfill the care
needs of each individual patient as determined by the
patient's assigned direct care registered professional nurse
yield minimum staffing levels for inpatient care units and the
adopted acuity model aligning patient care needs with nursing
skills required for quality patient care consistent with
professional nursing standards.
(c) Written staffing plan.

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(1) Every hospital shall implement a written
hospital-wide staffing plan, prepared by a nursing care
committee or committees, that provides for minimum direct
care professional registered nurse-to-patient staffing
needs for each inpatient care unit and , including
inpatient emergency department departments. If the
staffing plan prepared by the nursing care committee is
not adopted by the hospital, or if substantial changes are
proposed to it, the chief nursing officer shall either:
(i) provide a written explanation to the committee of the
reasons the plan was not adopted; or (ii) provide a
written explanation of any substantial changes made to the
proposed plan prior to it being adopted by the hospital.
The written hospital-wide staffing plan shall include, but
need not be limited to, the following considerations:
(A) The complexity of complete care, assessment on
patient admission, volume of patient admissions,
discharges and transfers, evaluation of the progress
of a patient's problems, ongoing physical assessments,
planning for a patient's discharge, assessment after a
change in patient condition, and assessment of the
need for patient referrals.
(B) The complexity of clinical professional
nursing judgment needed to design and implement a
patient's nursing care plan, the need for specialized
equipment and technology, the skill mix of other

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personnel providing or supporting direct patient care,
and involvement in quality improvement activities,
professional preparation, and experience.
(C) Patient acuity and the number of patients for
whom care is being provided.
(D) The ongoing assessments of a unit's patient
acuity levels, as determined by the direct care
registered professional nurse responsible for each
patient's care, and nursing staff needed shall be
routinely made by the unit nurse manager or the unit
nurse manager's his or her designee.
(E) The identification of additional registered
nurses available for direct patient care when
patients' unexpected needs exceed the planned workload
for direct care staff.
(F) Ensuring that patient limits under Section 10
of the Safe Patient Limits Act to a registered nurse
are not exceeded.
(2) In order to provide staffing flexibility to meet
patient needs, every hospital shall include in its
staffing plan a method to adjust the staffing plan for
each inpatient care unit when the maximum patient
assignment under Section 10 of the Safe Patient Limits Act
should be reduced or additional staff are needed to
fulfill the care needs of each individual patient as
determined by the patient's assigned direct care

SB2795 - 30 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
registered professional nurse identify an acuity model for
adjusting the staffing plan for each inpatient care unit.
(2.5) Each hospital shall implement the staffing plan
and assign nursing personnel to each inpatient care unit
and emergency department , including inpatient emergency
departments, in accordance with the staffing plan.
(A) A registered nurse may report to the nursing
care committee any variations where the nurse
personnel assignment in an inpatient care unit is not
in accordance with the adopted staffing plan and may
make a written report to the nursing care committee
based on the variations.
(B) Shift-to-shift adjustments in staffing levels
required by the staffing plan may be made by the
appropriate hospital personnel overseeing inpatient
care operations. If a registered nurse in an inpatient
care unit objects to a shift-to-shift adjustment, the
registered nurse may submit a written report to the
nursing care committee.
(C) The nursing care committee shall develop a
process to examine and respond to written reports
submitted under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this
paragraph (2.5), including the ability to determine if
a specific written report is resolved or should be
dismissed.
(3) The written staffing plan shall be posted, either

SB2795 - 31 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
by physical or electronic means, in a conspicuous and
accessible location for both patients and direct care
staff, as required under the Hospital Report Card Act. A
copy of the written staffing plan shall be provided to any
member of the general public upon request.
(4) The written staffing plan shall be updated on an
annual basis and submitted to the Department.
(5) Any acuity model, or other method, software, or
tool used to create or evaluate a staffing plan adopted by
a facility, shall be transparent in all respects,
including disclosure of detailed documentation of the
methodology used to determine nurse staffing and
identifying each factor, assumption, and value used in
applying the methodology. This documentation shall be
submitted to the Department and made available to facility
staff, facility staff's collective bargaining
representatives, and the public upon request. The patient
limits under Section 10 of the Safe Patient Limits Act
shall not be exceeded regardless of the use and
application of any acuity model.
(d) Nursing care committee.
(1) Every hospital shall have a nursing care committee
that meets at least 6 times per year. A hospital shall
appoint members of a committee whereby at least 55% of the
members are registered professional nurses providing
direct inpatient care, one of whom shall be selected

SB2795 - 32 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
annually by the direct inpatient care nurses to serve as
co-chair of the committee.
(2) (Blank).
(2.5) A nursing care committee shall prepare and
recommend to hospital administration the hospital's
written hospital-wide staffing plan. If the staffing plan
is not adopted by the hospital, the chief nursing officer
shall provide a written statement to the committee prior
to a staffing plan being adopted by the hospital that: (A)
explains the reasons the committee's proposed staffing
plan was not adopted; and (B) describes the changes to the
committee's proposed staffing or any alternative to the
committee's proposed staffing plan.
(3) A nursing care committee's or committees' written
staffing plan for the hospital shall be based on the
principles from the staffing components set forth in
subsection (c). In particular, a committee or committees
shall provide input and feedback on the following:
(A) Selection, implementation, and evaluation of
minimum staffing levels consistent with the maximum
patient limits under the Safe Patient Limits Act for
inpatient care units.
(B) Selection, implementation, and evaluation of a
method to increase staffing as needed to meet patient
care needs an acuity model to provide staffing
flexibility that aligns changing patient acuity with

SB2795 - 33 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
nursing skills required.
(C) Selection, implementation, and evaluation of a
written staffing plan incorporating the items
described in subdivisions (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this
Section.
(D) Review the nurse staffing plans for all
inpatient areas and current acuity tools and measures
in use. The nursing care committee's review shall
consider:
(i) patient outcomes;
(ii) complaints regarding staffing, including
complaints about a delay in direct care nursing or
an absence of direct care nursing;
(iii) the number of hours of nursing care
provided through an inpatient hospital unit
compared with the number of inpatients served by
the hospital unit during a 24-hour period;
(iv) the aggregate hours of overtime worked by
the nursing staff;
(v) the extent to which actual nurse staffing
for each hospital inpatient unit differs from the
staffing specified by the staffing plan; and
(vi) any other matter or change to the
staffing plan determined by the committee to
ensure that the hospital is staffed to meet the
health care needs of patients.

SB2795 - 34 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
(4) A nursing care committee must issue a written
report addressing the items described in subparagraphs (A)
through (D) of paragraph (3) semi-annually. A written copy
of this report shall be made available to direct inpatient
care nurses by making available a paper copy of the
report, distributing it electronically, or posting it on
the hospital's website.
(5) A nursing care committee must issue a written
report at least annually to the hospital governing board
that addresses items including, but not limited to: the
items described in paragraph (3); changes made based on
committee recommendations and the impact of such changes;
and recommendations for future changes related to nurse
staffing.
(6) A nursing care committee must annually notify the
hospital nursing staff of the staff's rights under this
Section. The annual notice must provide a phone number and
an email address for staff to report noncompliance with
the nursing staff's rights as described in this Section.
The notice must be provided by email or by regular mail in
a manner that effectively facilitates receipt of the
notice. The Department shall monitor and enforce the
requirements of this paragraph (6).
(e) Nothing in this Section 10.10 shall be construed to
limit, alter, or modify any of the terms, conditions, or
provisions of a collective bargaining agreement entered into

SB2795 - 35 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
by the hospital.
(f) No hospital may discipline, discharge, or take any
other adverse employment action against an employee solely
because the employee expresses a concern or complaint
regarding an alleged violation of this Section or concerns
related to nurse staffing.
(g) Any employee of a hospital may file a complaint with
the Department regarding an alleged violation of this Section.
The Department must forward notification of the alleged
violation to the hospital in question within 10 business days
after the complaint is filed. Upon receiving a complaint of a
violation of this Section, the Department may take any action
authorized under Section Sections 7 or 9 of this Act.
(h) Delegation of nursing interventions by a registered
professional nurse must be in accordance with the Nurse
Practice Act.
(i) A hospital shall not mandate that a registered
professional nurse delegate any element of the nursing
process, including, but not limited to, nursing interventions,
medication administration, nursing judgment, comprehensive
patient assessment, development of the plan of care, or
evaluation of care. A delegation of a nursing intervention by
a registered professional nurse shall not be delegated again
to another person.
(j) The Department shall establish procedures to ensure
that the documentation submitted under this Section is

SB2795 - 36 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
available for public inspection in its entirety.
(k) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to limit,
alter, or modify the requirements of the Safe Patient Limits
Act.
(Source: P.A. 102-4, eff. 4-27-21; 102-641, eff. 8-27-21;
102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-211, eff. 1-1-24; revised 9-26-23.)
Section 115. The Nurse Practice Act is amended by adding
Section 50-15.15 and Article 85 as follows:
(225 ILCS 65/50-15.15 new)
Sec. 50-15.15. Nursing judgment.
(a) The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Performance of the scope of practice of a direct
care registered professional nurse requires the exercise
of nursing judgment in the exclusive interests of the
patient.
(2) The exercise of nursing judgment, unencumbered by
the commercial or revenue-generation priorities of a
hospital, long-term acute care hospital, ambulatory
surgical treatment center, or other employing entity of a
direct care registered professional nurse is necessary to
ensure safe, therapeutic, effective, and competent
treatment of patients and is essential to protect the
health and safety of the people of Illinois.
(b) The exercise of nursing judgment by a direct care

SB2795 - 37 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
registered professional nurse in the performance of the scope
of practice of the registered professional nurse under Section
60-35 or the scope of practice of the advanced practice
registered nurse under Section 65-30 shall be provided in the
exclusive interests of the patient and shall not, for any
purpose, be considered, relied upon, or represented as a job
function, authority, responsibility, or activity undertaken in
any respect for the purpose of serving the business,
commercial, operational, or other institutional interests of
the employer.
(c) A hospital, long-term acute care hospital, ambulatory
surgical treatment center, or other health care facility shall
not adopt a policy that:
(1) limits a direct care registered professional nurse
in performing duties that are part of the nursing process,
including, but not limited to, full exercise of nursing
judgment in assessing, planning, implementing, and
evaluating care;
(2) substitutes recommendations, decisions, or outputs
of health information technology, algorithms used to
achieve a medical or nursing care objective at a facility,
systems based on artificial intelligence or machine
learning, or clinical practice guidelines for the
independent nursing judgment of a direct care registered
professional nurse or penalize a direct care registered
professional nurse for overriding the technology or

SB2795 - 38 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
guidelines if, in that registered nurse's judgment, and in
accordance with that registered nurse's scope of practice,
it is in the best interest of the patient to do so; or
(3) limits a direct care registered professional nurse
in acting as a patient advocate in the exclusive interests
of the patient.
(225 ILCS 65/Art. 85 heading new)
ARTICLE 85. NURSE LICENSURE COMPACT
(225 ILCS 65/85-5 new)
Sec. 85-5. Nurse Licensure Compact. The State of Illinois
ratifies and approves the following Compact:
ARTICLE I
Findings and Declaration of Purpose
a. The party states find that:
1. The health and safety of the public are affected by
the degree of compliance with and the effectiveness of
enforcement activities related to state nurse licensure
laws;
2. Violations of nurse licensure and other laws
regulating the practice of nursing may result in injury or
harm to the public;
3. The expanded mobility of nurses and the use of

SB2795 - 39 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
advanced communication technologies as part of our
nation's health care delivery system require greater
coordination and cooperation among states in the areas of
nurse licensure and regulation;
4. New practice modalities and technology make
compliance with individual state nurse licensure laws
difficult and complex;
5. The current system of duplicative licensure for
nurses practicing in multiple states is cumbersome and
redundant for both nurses and states; and
6. Uniformity of nurse licensure requirements
throughout the states promotes public safety and public
health benefits.
b. The general purposes of this Compact are to:
1. Facilitate the states' responsibility to protect
the public's health and safety;
2. Ensure and encourage the cooperation of party
states in the areas of nurse licensure and regulation;
3. Facilitate the exchange of information between
party states in the areas of nurse regulation,
investigation and adverse actions;
4. Promote compliance with the laws governing the
practice of nursing in each jurisdiction;
5. Invest all party states with the authority to hold
a nurse accountable for meeting all state practice laws in
the state in which the patient is located at the time care

SB2795 - 40 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
is rendered through the mutual recognition of party state
licenses;
6. Decrease redundancies in the consideration and
issuance of nurse licenses; and
7. Provide opportunities for interstate practice by
nurses who meet uniform licensure requirements.
ARTICLE II
Definitions
As used in this Compact:
a. "Adverse action" means any administrative, civil,
equitable or criminal action permitted by a state's laws
which is imposed by a licensing board or other authority
against a nurse, including actions against an individual's
license or multistate licensure privilege such as
revocation, suspension, probation, monitoring of the
licensee, limitation on the licensee's practice, or any
other encumbrance on licensure affecting a nurse's
authorization to practice, including issuance of a cease
and desist action.
b. "Alternative program" means a non-disciplinary
monitoring program approved by a licensing board.
c. "Coordinated licensure information system" means an
integrated process for collecting, storing and sharing
information on nurse licensure and enforcement activities

SB2795 - 41 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
related to nurse licensure laws that is administered by a
nonprofit organization composed of and controlled by
licensing boards.
d. "Current significant investigative information"
means:
1. Investigative information that a licensing
board, after a preliminary inquiry that includes
notification and an opportunity for the nurse to
respond, if required by state law, has reason to
believe is not groundless and, if proved true, would
indicate more than a minor infraction; or
2. Investigative information that indicates that
the nurse represents an immediate threat to public
health and safety regardless of whether the nurse has
been notified and had an opportunity to respond.
e. "Encumbrance" means a revocation or suspension of,
or any limitation on, the full and unrestricted practice
of nursing imposed by a licensing board.
f. "Home state" means the party state which is the
nurse's primary state of residence.
g. "Licensing board" means a party state's regulatory
body responsible for issuing nurse licenses.
h. "Multistate license" means a license to practice as
a registered or a licensed practical/vocational nurse
(LPN/VN) issued by a home state licensing board that
authorizes the licensed nurse to practice in all party

SB2795 - 42 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
states under a multistate licensure privilege.
i. "Multistate licensure privilege" means a legal
authorization associated with a multistate license
permitting the practice of nursing as either a registered
nurse (RN) or LPN/VN in a remote state.
j. "Nurse" means RN or LPN/VN, as those terms are
defined by each party state's practice laws.
k. "Party state" means any state that has adopted this
Compact.
l. "Remote state" means a party state, other than the
home state.
m. "Single-state license" means a nurse license issued
by a party state that authorizes practice only within the
issuing state and does not include a multistate licensure
privilege to practice in any other party state.
n. "State" means a state, territory or possession of
the United States and the District of Columbia.
o. "State practice laws" means a party state's laws,
rules and regulations that govern the practice of nursing,
define the scope of nursing practice, and create the
methods and grounds for imposing discipline. "State
practice laws" do not include requirements necessary to
obtain and retain a license, except for qualifications or
requirements of the home state.
ARTICLE III

SB2795 - 43 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
General Provisions and Jurisdiction
a. A multistate license to practice registered or licensed
practical/vocational nursing issued by a home state to a
resident in that state will be recognized by each party state
as authorizing a nurse to practice as a registered nurse (RN)
or as a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/VN), under a
multistate licensure privilege, in each party state.
b. A state must implement procedures for considering the
criminal history records of applicants for initial multistate
license or licensure by endorsement. Such procedures shall
include the submission of fingerprints or other
biometric-based information by applicants for the purpose of
obtaining an applicant's criminal history record information
from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the agency
responsible for retaining that state's criminal records.
c. Each party state shall require the following for an
applicant to obtain or retain a multistate license in the home
state:
1. Meets the home state's qualifications for licensure
or renewal of licensure, as well as, all other applicable
state laws;
2. i. Has graduated or is eligible to graduate from a
licensing board-approved RN or LPN/VN prelicensure
education program; or
ii. Has graduated from a foreign RN or LPN/VN

SB2795 - 44 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
prelicensure education program that (a) has been approved
by the authorized accrediting body in the applicable
country and (b) has been verified by an independent
credentials review agency to be comparable to a licensing
board-approved prelicensure education program;
3. Has, if a graduate of a foreign prelicensure
education program not taught in English or if English is
not the individual's native language, successfully passed
an English proficiency examination that includes the
components of reading, speaking, writing and listening;
4. Has successfully passed an NCLEX-RN® or NCLEX-PN®
Examination or recognized predecessor, as applicable;
5. Is eligible for or holds an active, unencumbered
license;
6. Has submitted, in connection with an application
for initial licensure or licensure by endorsement,
fingerprints or other biometric data for the purpose of
obtaining criminal history record information from the
Federal Bureau of Investigation and the agency responsible
for retaining that state's criminal records;
7. Has not been convicted or found guilty, or has
entered into an agreed disposition, of a felony offense
under applicable state or federal criminal law;
8. Has not been convicted or found guilty, or has
entered into an agreed disposition, of a misdemeanor
offense related to the practice of nursing as determined

SB2795 - 45 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
on a case-by-case basis;
9. Is not currently enrolled in an alternative
program;
10. Is subject to self-disclosure requirements
regarding current participation in an alternative program;
and
11. Has a valid United States Social Security number.
d. All party states shall be authorized, in accordance
with existing state due process law, to take adverse action
against a nurse's multistate licensure privilege such as
revocation, suspension, probation or any other action that
affects a nurse's authorization to practice under a multistate
licensure privilege, including cease and desist actions. If a
party state takes such action, it shall promptly notify the
administrator of the coordinated licensure information system.
The administrator of the coordinated licensure information
system shall promptly notify the home state of any such
actions by remote states.
e. A nurse practicing in a party state must comply with the
state practice laws of the state in which the client is located
at the time service is provided. The practice of nursing is not
limited to patient care, but shall include all nursing
practice as defined by the state practice laws of the party
state in which the client is located. The practice of nursing
in a party state under a multistate licensure privilege will
subject a nurse to the jurisdiction of the licensing board,

SB2795 - 46 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
the courts and the laws of the party state in which the client
is located at the time service is provided.
f. Individuals not residing in a party state shall
continue to be able to apply for a party state's single-state
license as provided under the laws of each party state.
However, the single-state license granted to these individuals
will not be recognized as granting the privilege to practice
nursing in any other party state. Nothing in this Compact
shall affect the requirements established by a party state for
the issuance of a single-state license.
g. Any nurse holding a home state multistate license, on
the effective date of this Compact, may retain and renew the
multistate license issued by the nurse's then-current home
state, provided that:
1. A nurse, who changes primary state of residence
after this Compact's effective date, must meet all
applicable Article III.c. requirements to obtain a
multistate license from a new home state.
2. A nurse who fails to satisfy the multistate
licensure requirements in Article III.c. due to a
disqualifying event occurring after this Compact's
effective date shall be ineligible to retain or renew a
multistate license, and the nurse's multistate license
shall be revoked or deactivated in accordance with
applicable rules adopted by the Interstate Commission of
Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators ("Commission").

SB2795 - 47 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
ARTICLE IV
Applications for Licensure in a Party State
a. Upon application for a multistate license, the
licensing board in the issuing party state shall ascertain,
through the coordinated licensure information system, whether
the applicant has ever held, or is the holder of, a license
issued by any other state, whether there are any encumbrances
on any license or multistate licensure privilege held by the
applicant, whether any adverse action has been taken against
any license or multistate licensure privilege held by the
applicant and whether the applicant is currently participating
in an alternative program.
b. A nurse may hold a multistate license, issued by the
home state, in only one party state at a time.
c. If a nurse changes primary state of residence by moving
between two party states, the nurse must apply for licensure
in the new home state, and the multistate license issued by the
prior home state will be deactivated in accordance with
applicable rules adopted by the Commission.
1. The nurse may apply for licensure in advance of a
change in primary state of residence.
2. A multistate license shall not be issued by the new
home state until the nurse provides satisfactory evidence
of a change in primary state of residence to the new home

SB2795 - 48 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
state and satisfies all applicable requirements to obtain
a multistate license from the new home state.
d. If a nurse changes primary state of residence by moving
from a party state to a non-party state, the multistate
license issued by the prior home state will convert to a
single-state license, valid only in the former home state.
ARTICLE V
Additional Authorities Invested in Party State Licensing
Boards
a. In addition to the other powers conferred by state law,
a licensing board shall have the authority to:
1. Take adverse action against a nurse's multistate
licensure privilege to practice within that party state.
i. Only the home state shall have the power to take
adverse action against a nurse's license issued by the
home state.
ii. For purposes of taking adverse action, the
home state licensing board shall give the same
priority and effect to reported conduct received from
a remote state as it would if such conduct had occurred
within the home state. In so doing, the home state
shall apply its own state laws to determine
appropriate action.
2. Issue cease and desist orders or impose an

SB2795 - 49 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
encumbrance on a nurse's authority to practice within that
party state.
3. Complete any pending investigations of a nurse who
changes primary state of residence during the course of
such investigations. The licensing board shall also have
the authority to take appropriate action(s) and shall
promptly report the conclusions of such investigations to
the administrator of the coordinated licensure information
system. The administrator of the coordinated licensure
information system shall promptly notify the new home
state of any such actions.
4. Issue subpoenas for both hearings and
investigations that require the attendance and testimony
of witnesses, as well as, the production of evidence.
Subpoenas issued by a licensing board in a party state for
the attendance and testimony of witnesses or the
production of evidence from another party state shall be
enforced in the latter state by any court of competent
jurisdiction, according to the practice and procedure of
that court applicable to subpoenas issued in proceedings
pending before it. The issuing authority shall pay any
witness fees, travel expenses, mileage and other fees
required by the service statutes of the state in which the
witnesses or evidence are located.
5. Obtain and submit, for each nurse licensure
applicant, fingerprint or other biometric-based

SB2795 - 50 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for
criminal background checks, receive the results of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation record search on criminal
background checks and use the results in making licensure
decisions.
6. If otherwise permitted by state law, recover from
the affected nurse the costs of investigations and
disposition of cases resulting from any adverse action
taken against that nurse.
7. Take adverse action based on the factual findings
of the remote state, provided that the licensing board
follows its own procedures for taking such adverse action.
b. If adverse action is taken by the home state against a
nurse's multistate license, the nurse's multistate licensure
privilege to practice in all other party states shall be
deactivated until all encumbrances have been removed from the
multistate license. All home state disciplinary orders that
impose adverse action against a nurse's multistate license
shall include a statement that the nurse's multistate
licensure privilege is deactivated in all party states during
the pendency of the order.
c. Nothing in this Compact shall override a party state's
decision that participation in an alternative program may be
used in lieu of adverse action. The home state licensing board
shall deactivate the multistate licensure privilege under the
multistate license of any nurse for the duration of the

SB2795 - 51 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
nurse's participation in an alternative program.
ARTICLE VI
Coordinated Licensure Information System and Exchange of
Information
a. All party states shall participate in a coordinated
licensure information system of all licensed registered nurses
(RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPNs/VNs).
This system will include information on the licensure and
disciplinary history of each nurse, as submitted by party
states, to assist in the coordination of nurse licensure and
enforcement efforts.
b. The Commission, in consultation with the administrator
of the coordinated licensure information system, shall
formulate necessary and proper procedures for the
identification, collection and exchange of information under
this Compact.
c. All licensing boards shall promptly report to the
coordinated licensure information system any adverse action,
any current significant investigative information, denials of
applications (with the reasons for such denials) and nurse
participation in alternative programs known to the licensing
board regardless of whether such participation is deemed
nonpublic or confidential under state law.
d. Current significant investigative information and

SB2795 - 52 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
participation in nonpublic or confidential alternative
programs shall be transmitted through the coordinated
licensure information system only to party state licensing
boards.
e. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all party
state licensing boards contributing information to the
coordinated licensure information system may designate
information that may not be shared with non-party states or
disclosed to other entities or individuals without the express
permission of the contributing state.
f. Any personally identifiable information obtained from
the coordinated licensure information system by a party state
licensing board shall not be shared with non-party states or
disclosed to other entities or individuals except to the
extent permitted by the laws of the party state contributing
the information.
g. Any information contributed to the coordinated
licensure information system that is subsequently required to
be expunged by the laws of the party state contributing that
information shall also be expunged from the coordinated
licensure information system.
h. The Compact administrator of each party state shall
furnish a uniform data set to the Compact administrator of
each other party state, which shall include, at a minimum:
1. Identifying information;
2. Licensure data;

SB2795 - 53 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
3. Information related to alternative program
participation; and
4. Other information that may facilitate the
administration of this Compact, as determined by
Commission rules.
i. The Compact administrator of a party state shall
provide all investigative documents and information requested
by another party state.
ARTICLE VII
Establishment of the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure
Compact Administrators
a. The party states hereby create and establish a joint
public entity known as the Interstate Commission of Nurse
Licensure Compact Administrators.
1. The Commission is an instrumentality of the party
states.
2. Venue is proper, and judicial proceedings by or
against the Commission shall be brought solely and
exclusively, in a court of competent jurisdiction where
the principal office of the Commission is located. The
Commission may waive venue and jurisdictional defenses to
the extent it adopts or consents to participate in
alternative dispute resolution proceedings.
3. Nothing in this Compact shall be construed to be a

SB2795 - 54 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
waiver of sovereign immunity.
b. Membership, Voting and Meetings
1. Each party state shall have and be limited to one
administrator. The head of the state licensing board or
designee shall be the administrator of this Compact for
each party state. Any administrator may be removed or
suspended from office as provided by the law of the state
from which the Administrator is appointed. Any vacancy
occurring in the Commission shall be filled in accordance
with the laws of the party state in which the vacancy
exists.
2. Each administrator shall be entitled to one (1)
vote with regard to the promulgation of rules and creation
of bylaws and shall otherwise have an opportunity to
participate in the business and affairs of the Commission.
An administrator shall vote in person or by such other
means as provided in the bylaws. The bylaws may provide
for an administrator's participation in meetings by
telephone or other means of communication.
3. The Commission shall meet at least once during each
calendar year. Additional meetings shall be held as set
forth in the bylaws or rules of the commission.
4. All meetings shall be open to the public, and
public notice of meetings shall be given in the same
manner as required under the rulemaking provisions in
Article VIII.

SB2795 - 55 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
5. The Commission may convene in a closed, nonpublic
meeting if the Commission must discuss:
i. Noncompliance of a party state with its
obligations under this Compact;
ii. The employment, compensation, discipline or
other personnel matters, practices or procedures
related to specific employees or other matters related
to the Commission's internal personnel practices and
procedures;
iii. Current, threatened or reasonably anticipated
litigation;
iv. Negotiation of contracts for the purchase or
sale of goods, services or real estate;
v. Accusing any person of a crime or formally
censuring any person;
vi. Disclosure of trade secrets or commercial or
financial information that is privileged or
confidential;
vii. Disclosure of information of a personal
nature where disclosure would constitute a clearly
unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;
viii. Disclosure of investigatory records compiled
for law enforcement purposes;
ix. Disclosure of information related to any
reports prepared by or on behalf of the Commission for
the purpose of investigation of compliance with this

SB2795 - 56 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
Compact; or
x. Matters specifically exempted from disclosure
by federal or state statute.
6. If a meeting, or portion of a meeting, is closed
pursuant to this provision, the Commission's legal counsel
or designee shall certify that the meeting may be closed
and shall reference each relevant exempting provision. The
Commission shall keep minutes that fully and clearly
describe all matters discussed in a meeting and shall
provide a full and accurate summary of actions taken, and
the reasons therefor, including a description of the views
expressed. All documents considered in connection with an
action shall be identified in such minutes. All minutes
and documents of a closed meeting shall remain under seal,
subject to release by a majority vote of the Commission or
order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
c. The Commission shall, by a majority vote of the
administrators, prescribe bylaws or rules to govern its
conduct as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the
purposes and exercise the powers of this Compact, including
but not limited to:
1. Establishing the fiscal year of the Commission;
2. Providing reasonable standards and procedures:
i. For the establishment and meetings of other
committees; and
ii. Governing any general or specific delegation

SB2795 - 57 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
of any authority or function of the Commission;
3. Providing reasonable procedures for calling and
conducting meetings of the Commission, ensuring reasonable
advance notice of all meetings and providing an
opportunity for attendance of such meetings by interested
parties, with enumerated exceptions designed to protect
the public's interest, the privacy of individuals, and
proprietary information, including trade secrets. The
Commission may meet in closed session only after a
majority of the administrators vote to close a meeting in
whole or in part. As soon as practicable, the Commission
must make public a copy of the vote to close the meeting
revealing the vote of each administrator, with no proxy
votes allowed;
4. Establishing the titles, duties and authority and
reasonable procedures for the election of the officers of
the Commission;
5. Providing reasonable standards and procedures for
the establishment of the personnel policies and programs
of the Commission. Notwithstanding any civil service or
other similar laws of any party state, the bylaws shall
exclusively govern the personnel policies and programs of
the Commission; and
6. Providing a mechanism for winding up the operations
of the Commission and the equitable disposition of any
surplus funds that may exist after the termination of this

SB2795 - 58 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
Compact after the payment or reserving of all of its debts
and obligations;
d. The Commission shall publish its bylaws and rules, and
any amendments thereto, in a convenient form on the website of
the Commission.
e. The Commission shall maintain its financial records in
accordance with the bylaws.
f. The Commission shall meet and take such actions as are
consistent with the provisions of this Compact and the bylaws.
g. The Commission shall have the following powers:
1. To promulgate uniform rules to facilitate and
coordinate implementation and administration of this
Compact. The rules shall have the force and effect of law
and shall be binding in all party states;
2. To bring and prosecute legal proceedings or actions
in the name of the Commission, provided that the standing
of any licensing board to sue or be sued under applicable
law shall not be affected;
3. To purchase and maintain insurance and bonds;
4. To borrow, accept or contract for services of
personnel, including, but not limited to, employees of a
party state or nonprofit organizations;
5. To cooperate with other organizations that
administer state compacts related to the regulation of
nursing, including but not limited to sharing
administrative or staff expenses, office space or other

SB2795 - 59 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
resources;
6. To hire employees, elect or appoint officers, fix
compensation, define duties, grant such individuals
appropriate authority to carry out the purposes of this
Compact, and to establish the Commission's personnel
policies and programs relating to conflicts of interest,
qualifications of personnel and other related personnel
matters;
7. To accept any and all appropriate donations, grants
and gifts of money, equipment, supplies, materials and
services, and to receive, utilize and dispose of the same;
provided that at all times the Commission shall avoid any
appearance of impropriety or conflict of interest;
8. To lease, purchase, accept appropriate gifts or
donations of, or otherwise to own, hold, improve or use,
any property, whether real, personal or mixed; provided
that at all times the Commission shall avoid any
appearance of impropriety;
9. To sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange,
abandon or otherwise dispose of any property, whether
real, personal or mixed;
10. To establish a budget and make expenditures;
11. To borrow money;
12. To appoint committees, including advisory
committees comprised of administrators, state nursing
regulators, state legislators or their representatives,

SB2795 - 60 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
and consumer representatives, and other such interested
persons;
13. To provide and receive information from, and to
cooperate with, law enforcement agencies;
14. To adopt and use an official seal; and
15. To perform such other functions as may be
necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this
Compact consistent with the state regulation of nurse
licensure and practice.
h. Financing of the Commission
1. The Commission shall pay, or provide for the
payment of, the reasonable expenses of its establishment,
organization and ongoing activities.
2. The Commission may also levy on and collect an
annual assessment from each party state to cover the cost
of its operations, activities and staff in its annual
budget as approved each year. The aggregate annual
assessment amount, if any, shall be allocated based upon a
formula to be determined by the Commission, which shall
promulgate a rule that is binding upon all party states.
3. The Commission shall not incur obligations of any
kind prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the
same; nor shall the Commission pledge the credit of any of
the party states, except by, and with the authority of,
such party state.
4. The Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all

SB2795 - 61 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements
of the Commission shall be subject to the audit and
accounting procedures established under its bylaws.
However, all receipts and disbursements of funds handled
by the Commission shall be audited yearly by a certified
or licensed public accountant, and the report of the audit
shall be included in and become part of the annual report
of the Commission.
i. Qualified Immunity, Defense and Indemnification
1. The administrators, officers, executive director,
employees and representatives of the Commission shall be
immune from suit and liability, either personally or in
their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or
loss of property or personal injury or other civil
liability caused by or arising out of any actual or
alleged act, error or omission that occurred, or that the
person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable
basis for believing occurred, within the scope of
Commission employment, duties or responsibilities;
provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed
to protect any such person from suit or liability for any
damage, loss, injury or liability caused by the
intentional, willful or wanton misconduct of that person.
2. The Commission shall defend any administrator,
officer, executive director, employee or representative of
the Commission in any civil action seeking to impose

SB2795 - 62 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
liability arising out of any actual or alleged act, error
or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission
employment, duties or responsibilities, or that the person
against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for
believing occurred within the scope of Commission
employment, duties or responsibilities; provided that
nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit that person
from retaining his or her own counsel; and provided
further that the actual or alleged act, error or omission
did not result from that person's intentional, willful or
wanton misconduct.
3. The Commission shall indemnify and hold harmless
any administrator, officer, executive director, employee
or representative of the Commission for the amount of any
settlement or judgment obtained against that person
arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or
omission that occurred within the scope of Commission
employment, duties or responsibilities, or that such
person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred
within the scope of Commission employment, duties or
responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act,
error or omission did not result from the intentional,
willful or wanton misconduct of that person.
ARTICLE VIII
Rulemaking

SB2795 - 63 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
a. The Commission shall exercise its rulemaking powers
pursuant to the criteria set forth in this Article and the
rules adopted thereunder. Rules and amendments shall become
binding as of the date specified in each rule or amendment and
shall have the same force and effect as provisions of this
Compact.
b. Rules or amendments to the rules shall be adopted at a
regular or special meeting of the Commission.
c. Prior to promulgation and adoption of a final rule or
rules by the Commission, and at least sixty (60) days in
advance of the meeting at which the rule will be considered and
voted upon, the Commission shall file a notice of proposed
rulemaking:
1. On the website of the Commission; and
2. On the website of each licensing board or the
publication in which each state would otherwise publish
proposed rules.
d. The notice of proposed rulemaking shall include:
1. The proposed time, date and location of the meeting
in which the rule will be considered and voted upon;
2. The text of the proposed rule or amendment, and the
reason for the proposed rule;
3. A request for comments on the proposed rule from
any interested person; and
4. The manner in which interested persons may submit

SB2795 - 64 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
notice to the Commission of their intention to attend the
public hearing and any written comments.
e. Prior to adoption of a proposed rule, the Commission
shall allow persons to submit written data, facts, opinions
and arguments, which shall be made available to the public.
f. The Commission shall grant an opportunity for a public
hearing before it adopts a rule or amendment.
g. The Commission shall publish the place, time and date
of the scheduled public hearing.
1. Hearings shall be conducted in a manner providing
each person who wishes to comment a fair and reasonable
opportunity to comment orally or in writing. All hearings
will be recorded, and a copy will be made available upon
request.
2. Nothing in this section shall be construed as
requiring a separate hearing on each rule. Rules may be
grouped for the convenience of the Commission at hearings
required by this section.
h. If no one appears at the public hearing, the Commission
may proceed with promulgation of the proposed rule.
i. Following the scheduled hearing date, or by the close
of business on the scheduled hearing date if the hearing was
not held, the Commission shall consider all written and oral
comments received.
j. The Commission shall, by majority vote of all
administrators, take final action on the proposed rule and

SB2795 - 65 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
shall determine the effective date of the rule, if any, based
on the rulemaking record and the full text of the rule.
k. Upon determination that an emergency exists, the
Commission may consider and adopt an emergency rule without
prior notice, opportunity for comment or hearing, provided
that the usual rulemaking procedures provided in this Compact
and in this section shall be retroactively applied to the rule
as soon as reasonably possible, in no event later than ninety
(90) days after the effective date of the rule. For the
purposes of this provision, an emergency rule is one that must
be adopted immediately in order to:
1. Meet an imminent threat to public health, safety or
welfare;
2. Prevent a loss of Commission or party state funds;
or
3. Meet a deadline for the promulgation of an
administrative rule that is required by federal law or
rule.
l. The Commission may direct revisions to a previously
adopted rule or amendment for purposes of correcting
typographical errors, errors in format, errors in consistency
or grammatical errors. Public notice of any revisions shall be
posted on the website of the Commission. The revision shall be
subject to challenge by any person for a period of thirty (30)
days after posting. The revision may be challenged only on
grounds that the revision results in a material change to a

SB2795 - 66 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
rule. A challenge shall be made in writing, and delivered to
the Commission, prior to the end of the notice period. If no
challenge is made, the revision will take effect without
further action. If the revision is challenged, the revision
may not take effect without the approval of the Commission.
ARTICLE IX
Oversight, Dispute Resolution and Enforcement
a. Oversight
1. Each party state shall enforce this Compact and
take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate
this Compact's purposes and intent.
2. The Commission shall be entitled to receive service
of process in any proceeding that may affect the powers,
responsibilities or actions of the Commission, and shall
have standing to intervene in such a proceeding for all
purposes. Failure to provide service of process in such
proceeding to the Commission shall render a judgment or
order void as to the Commission, this Compact or
promulgated rules.
b. Default, Technical Assistance and Termination
1. If the Commission determines that a party state has
defaulted in the performance of its obligations or
responsibilities under this Compact or the promulgated
rules, the Commission shall:

SB2795 - 67 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
i. Provide written notice to the defaulting state
and other party states of the nature of the default,
the proposed means of curing the default or any other
action to be taken by the Commission; and
ii. Provide remedial training and specific
technical assistance regarding the default.
2. If a state in default fails to cure the default, the
defaulting state's membership in this Compact may be
terminated upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the
administrators, and all rights, privileges and benefits
conferred by this Compact may be terminated on the
effective date of termination. A cure of the default does
not relieve the offending state of obligations or
liabilities incurred during the period of default.
3. Termination of membership in this Compact shall be
imposed only after all other means of securing compliance
have been exhausted. Notice of intent to suspend or
terminate shall be given by the Commission to the governor
of the defaulting state and to the executive officer of
the defaulting state's licensing board and each of the
party states.
4. A state whose membership in this Compact has been
terminated is responsible for all assessments, obligations
and liabilities incurred through the effective date of
termination, including obligations that extend beyond the
effective date of termination.

SB2795 - 68 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
5. The Commission shall not bear any costs related to
a state that is found to be in default or whose membership
in this Compact has been terminated unless agreed upon in
writing between the Commission and the defaulting state.
6. The defaulting state may appeal the action of the
Commission by petitioning the U.S. District Court for the
District of Columbia or the federal district in which the
Commission has its principal offices. The prevailing party
shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including
reasonable attorneys' fees.
c. Dispute Resolution
1. Upon request by a party state, the Commission shall
attempt to resolve disputes related to the Compact that
arise among party states and between party and non-party
states.
2. The Commission shall promulgate a rule providing
for both mediation and binding dispute resolution for
disputes, as appropriate.
3. In the event the Commission cannot resolve disputes
among party states arising under this Compact:
i. The party states may submit the issues in
dispute to an arbitration panel, which will be
comprised of individuals appointed by the Compact
administrator in each of the affected party states and
an individual mutually agreed upon by the Compact
administrators of all the party states involved in the

SB2795 - 69 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
dispute.
ii. The decision of a majority of the arbitrators
shall be final and binding.
d. Enforcement
1. The Commission, in the reasonable exercise of its
discretion, shall enforce the provisions and rules of this
Compact.
2. By majority vote, the Commission may initiate legal
action in the U.S. District Court for the District of
Columbia or the federal district in which the Commission
has its principal offices against a party state that is in
default to enforce compliance with the provisions of this
Compact and its promulgated rules and bylaws. The relief
sought may include both injunctive relief and damages. In
the event judicial enforcement is necessary, the
prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such
litigation, including reasonable attorneys' fees.
3. The remedies herein shall not be the exclusive
remedies of the Commission. The Commission may pursue any
other remedies available under federal or state law.
ARTICLE X
Effective Date, Withdrawal and Amendment
a. This Compact shall become effective and binding on the
earlier of the date of legislative enactment of this Compact

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into law by no less than twenty-six (26) states or December 31,
2018. All party states to this Compact, that also were parties
to the prior Nurse Licensure Compact, superseded by this
Compact, ("Prior Compact"), shall be deemed to have withdrawn
from said Prior Compact within six (6) months after the
effective date of this Compact.
b. Each party state to this Compact shall continue to
recognize a nurse's multistate licensure privilege to practice
in that party state issued under the Prior Compact until such
party state has withdrawn from the Prior Compact.
c. Any party state may withdraw from this Compact by
enacting a statute repealing the same. A party state's
withdrawal shall not take effect until six (6) months after
enactment of the repealing statute.
d. A party state's withdrawal or termination shall not
affect the continuing requirement of the withdrawing or
terminated state's licensing board to report adverse actions
and significant investigations occurring prior to the
effective date of such withdrawal or termination.
e. Nothing contained in this Compact shall be construed to
invalidate or prevent any nurse licensure agreement or other
cooperative arrangement between a party state and a non-party
state that is made in accordance with the other provisions of
this Compact.
f. This Compact may be amended by the party states. No
amendment to this Compact shall become effective and binding

SB2795 - 71 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
upon the party states unless and until it is enacted into the
laws of all party states.
g. Representatives of non-party states to this Compact
shall be invited to participate in the activities of the
Commission, on a nonvoting basis, prior to the adoption of
this Compact by all states.
ARTICLE XI
Construction and Severability
This Compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate
the purposes thereof. The provisions of this Compact shall be
severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of
this Compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of
any party state or of the United States, or if the
applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or
circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of
this Compact and the applicability thereof to any government,
agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.
If this Compact shall be held to be contrary to the
constitution of any party state, this Compact shall remain in
full force and effect as to the remaining party states and in
full force and effect as to the party state affected as to all
severable matters.
(225 ILCS 65/85-10 new)

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Sec. 85-10. State labor laws. The Nurse Licensure Compact
does not supersede existing State labor laws.
(225 ILCS 65/85-15 new)
Sec. 85-15. Criminal history record checks. The State may
not share with or disclose to the Interstate Commission of
Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators or any other state any
of the contents of a nationwide criminal history records check
conducted for the purpose of multistate licensure under the
Nurse Licensure Compact.
Section 995. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act
makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by
text that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a
Section represented by multiple versions), the use of that
text does not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the
changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any
other Public Act.
SB2795 - 73 - LRB103 34815 SPS 64670 b
INDEX
Statutes amended in order of appearance