SB1839 would amend the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation Law to create a fee waiver or refund remedy when the Division of Professional Regulation does not process a license application within 30 days of receiving it. If the application has not yet been paid, the applicant’s fee would be waived; if the fee has already been paid, it would be refunded. The bill applies to license applications handled by the Division of Professional Regulation within the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (DFPR).
In practical terms, the bill is designed to impose a processing-time consequence on the state licensing agency and provide financial relief to applicants whose applications are not acted on promptly. It does not change licensure qualifications or create new license types; instead, it targets administrative timeliness and fee handling for professional licensing applications.
Impact
The bill would add a new Section 2105-406 to the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, specifically within the Department of Professional Regulation Law. It would require DFPR’s Division of Professional Regulation to waive or refund application fees when it fails to process a license application within 30 days of receipt, potentially affecting agency procedures, revenue from application fees, and the handling of pending licensure applications across regulated professions.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to reflect a pro-applicant, accountability-focused approach aimed at speeding up licensing administration and reducing costs for delayed applicants.
Contention
The main likely point of contention is whether a strict 30-day deadline is realistic for the Division of Professional Regulation, given the volume and complexity of license applications and the possibility of incomplete submissions. Supporters would likely emphasize consumer and professional fairness, while critics may argue that automatic fee waivers or refunds could strain agency resources, reduce fee revenue, and create pressure to prioritize speed over thorough review.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8; Title 33; Title 36; Title 49; Title 52; Title 56; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to professional counselors.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8; Title 33; Title 36; Title 49; Title 52; Title 56; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to professional counselors.
Occupations: individual licensing and registration; licensure of professional guardians and conservators; require. Amends sec. 303a of 1980 PA 299 (MCL 339.303a) & adds art. 14A.