Illinois expedites procurement process for professional licensing software

On December 8, 2023, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker approved Public Act 103-0568 or HB 2394, which requires the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, IDFPR, to identify and begin implementing a licensing software solution through an expedited procurement process by early June, 2024, to electronically process professional licenses and registrations.

The IDFPR and the Illinois General Assembly developed this legislation in response to historically long 2023 professional licensure wait times that the IDFPR attributed to inefficiencies resulting from an outdated licensing software system and an increase in applications for professional licensure. Illinois State Rep. Bob Morgan, a principal sponsor of this bill, has observed professional licensing delays of up to one year while waiting for IDFPR to process paperwork.

PA 103-0568 establishes a deadline of March 7, 2024 for execution of contracts for the new software and requires implementation to begin within 90 days after the contract execution date.

Potential contractors must be registered in the Illinois Procurement Gateway vendor portal prior to contract execution. IDFPR envisions onboarding professions and licensees to the new system in stages.

This legislation allows the Secretary of IDFPR to extend license expiration or renewal periods upon finding a significant operational need or undue hardship to licensed or registered individuals and requires the Secretary to waive late fees for extended expiration or renewal dates.

PA 103-0568 took effect on December 8, 2023.

For more information on PA 103-0568 or related issues, please contact Rick Hindmand of our national Healthcare Practice Group.