210 ILCS 85/8 — Illinois Code / Chapter 210 / Act 85 / Section 8
Section 8
Status: in_force

(210 ILCS 85/8) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 149) Sec. 8. Facility plan review; fees. (a) Before commencing construction of new facilities or specified types of alteration or additions to an existing hospital involving major construction, as defined by rule by the Department, with an estimated cost greater than $100,000, architectural plans and specifications therefor shall be submitted by the licensee to the Department for review and approval. A hospital may submit architectural drawings and specifications for other construction projects for Department review according to subsection (b) that shall not be subject to fees under subsection (d). The Department must give a hospital that is planning to submit a construction project for review the opportunity to discuss its plans and specifications with the Department before the hospital formally submits the plans and specifications for Department review. Review of drawings and specifications shall be conducted by an employee of the Department meeting the qualifications established by the Department of Central Management Services class specifications for such an individual's position or by a person contracting with the Department who meets those class specifications. Final approval of the plans and specifications for compliance with design and construction standards shall be obtained from the Department before the alteration, addition, or new construction is begun. Subject to this Section 8, and prior to January 1, 2012, the Department shall consider the re-licensing of an existing hospital structure according to the standards for an existing hospital, as set forth in the Department's rules. Re-licensing under this provision shall occur only if that facility operated as a licensed hospital on July 1, 2005, has had no intervening use as other than a hospital, and exists in a county with a population of less than 20,000 that does not have another licensed hospital on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly. (b) The Department shall inform an applicant in writing within 10 working days after receiving drawings and specifications and the required fee, if any, from the applicant whether the applicant's submission is complete or incomplete. Failure to provide the applicant with this notice within 10 working days shall result in the submission being deemed complete for purposes of initiating the 60-day review period under this Section. If the submission is incomplete, the Department shall inform the applicant of the deficiencies with the submission in writing. If the submission is complete and the required fee, if any, has been paid, the Department shall approve or disapprove drawings and specifications submitted to the Department no later than 60 days following receipt by the Department. The drawings and specifications shall be of sufficient detail, as provided by Department rule, to enable the Department to render a determination of compliance with design and construction standards under this Act. If the Department finds that the drawings are not of sufficient detail for it to render a determination of compliance, the plans shall be determined to be incomplete and shall not be considered for purposes of initiating the 60 day review period. If a submission of drawings and specifications is incomplete, the applicant may submit additional information. The 60-day review period shall not commence until the Department determines that a submission of drawings and specifications is complete or the submission is deemed complete. If the Department has not approved or disapproved the drawings and specifications within 60 days, the construction, major alteration, or addition shall be deemed approved. If the drawings and specifications are disapproved, the Department shall state in writing, with specificity, the reasons for the disapproval. The entity submitting the drawings and specifications may submit additional information in response to the written comments from the Department or request a reconsideration of the disapproval. A final decision of approval or disapproval shall be made within 45 days of the receipt of the additional information or reconsideration request. A final decision shall be subject to review under the Administrative Review Law. (c) The Department shall provide written approval for occupancy pursuant to subsection (g) and shall not issue a violation to a facility as a result of a licensure or complaint survey based upon the facility's physical structure if: (1) the Department reviewed and approved or deemed approved the drawing and