In this case, the Department contends that the 1990 amendment of the Act was not retroactively applied to plaintiff because no vested right was affected. Plaintiff argues that she has a vested right in a registered nursing license. Furthermore, plaintiff contends that the three-year rule in section 15 has been applied to her in a retroactive manner thereby adversely impacting a vested right. In some cases, courts have focused on determining legislative intent. In yet other cases, the courts have simply applied a general rule providing that a court should apply the law as it exists at the time of the appeal unless such application would affect a vested right.
Vested rights are interests that are protected from legislative interference.
158 Ill. 2d at 215. The preferred approach in Illinois is to employ the law that applies by its terms at the time of the appeal, unless doing so would interfere with a vested right. Where an amendment does not reach back and interfere with vested rights, there is no retroactive impact. Moreover, the application of an amended statute is not retroactive unless that application impacts a vested right. 158 Ill. 2d 210 at 215.