Details: Friday, November 17, 2023 11:12 AM

Stadelman-supported measure will modernize state licensing process, address backlogs

Legislation passed during the recent fall veto session will require the agency responsible for issuing professional licenses in Illinois to modernize its system to avoid historic delays in recent years as soon as the governor signs the bill, which is expected.

State Senator Steve Stadelman said the delays most notably impacted health care as doctors and nurses waiting up to a year for their applications to be processed. But teachers, attorneys, building contractors and barbers also were caught up in the backlog, "harming their ability to provide for their families and negatively affecting the many people these professionals serve across Illinois."

Stadelman voted in favor of HB 2394 to mandate the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation implement a fully online professional licensing system through an expedited, competitive procurement process over the course of the next six months. While IDFPR updates the system, it is required to extend renewal deadlines and waive late fees so that no new applicants or renewing licensees have to worry about their licenses expiring solely because of department backlogs.

IDFPR received 104,000 applications for various state licenses last year, an increase of 15 percent since 2019. IDFPR struggles with 1990s technology that still requires applicants to send in paper applications and paper checks. The agency director called the situation a "crisis" during committee hearings on the legislation.

In case you missed me on Facebook ...

Steve Stadelman
Just now

Thank you to the Rockford Black Chamber Commerce and President Sheila Brown for the opportunity to speak about Illinois' economy and the many state resources available to small businesses including women- and Black-owned businesses.