20 ILCS 5/5-715 — Illinois Code / Chapter 20 / Act 5 / Section 5-715
Section 5-715
Status: in_force

(20 ILCS 5/5-715) Sec. 5-715. Expedited licensure for service members and spouses. (a) In this Section: "Service member" means any person who, at the time of application under this Section, is an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces or any reserve component of the United States Armed Forces, the Coast Guard, or the National Guard of any state, commonwealth, or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia or whose active duty service concluded within the preceding 2 years before application. "Spouse" means a party to a marriage, civil union, or registered domestic partnership. (a-5) The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall within 180 days after January 1, 2020 (the effective date of Public Act 101-240) designate one staff member as the military liaison within the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to ensure proper enactment of the requirements of this Section. The military liaison's responsibilities shall also include, but are not limited to: (1) the management of all expedited applications to ensure processing within 30 days after receipt of a completed application; (2) the management and oversight of all military portability licenses issued under Section 5-717; (3) notification of federal assistance programs available to reimburse costs associated with applicable licensing fees and professional credentials for service members and their families pursuant to Section 556 of Public Law 115-91, or any related federal program; (4) coordination with all military installation military and family support center directors within this State, including virtual, phone, or in-person periodic meetings with each military installation military and family support center; and (5) training by the military liaison to all directors of each division that issues an occupational or professional license to ensure proper application of this Section. At the end of each calendar year, the military liaison shall provide an annual report documenting the expedited licensure program for service members and spouses, and shall deliver that report to the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Lieutenant Governor. (b) Each director of a department that issues an occupational or professional license is authorized to and shall issue an expedited license to a service member who meets the requirements under this Section and Section 2105-135 of the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois or a spouse of a service member who meets those requirements. Review and determination of an application for a license issued by the department shall be expedited by the department within 30 days after the date on which the department receives all necessary documentation required for licensure, including any required information from State and federal agencies. An expedited license shall be issued by the department to a service member who meets the application requirements of this Section or a spouse of a service member who meets those requirements, regardless of whether the service member or the service member's spouse currently resides in this State. The service member or the service member's spouse shall apply to the department on forms provided by the department. An application must include proof that: (1) the applicant is a service member or the spouse of a service member; (2) the applicant holds a valid license in good standing for the occupation or