(The Center Square) – Legislation allowing therapists and other professionals to temporarily practice without being licensed is back in the Illinois House.
State senators approved House Bill 1365 after it was amended to add occupational therapists to the list of those who could practice while awaiting licensure from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
The bill also includes clinical psychologists, marriage and family therapists, counselors and social workers.
State Sen. Julie Morrison, D-Lake Forest, explained that the professionals could temporarily work without licenses, but she did not specify time limits.
“The practice ends when the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation rejects the application, determines the applicant has engaged in conduct subject to discipline or issues full licensure,” Morrison said.
State Sen. Erica Harriss, R-Glen Carbon, said she appreciated the desire to speed up the licensing process but did not agree with lowering standards.
“Moral standards do matter and should not be removed as a qualification requirement. Removing good moral standards for jobs as important as social workers and therapists seems to be counterproductive to their work,” Harriss said.
Harriss explained why she voted, “No.”
“We don’t need another quick fix. We need structural change to increase IDFPR’s effectiveness, allowing those seeking licenses to be able to provide vital services to our communities without lowering the standards,” Harriss said.
HB 1365 passed, 39-16, and returned to the House for concurrence.
The General Assembly’s spring legislative session is scheduled to end May 31.
