SPRINGFIELD — Illinois patients and health care workers will see a fairer, more effective oversight system for nurse agencies, thanks to a new law sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters. 

“Patients and nurse agencies alike need to be protected,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “By allowing proportional penalties for violations of the Nursing Agency Licensing Act, we’re helping agencies avoid excessive fines for minor infractions – supporting their operations while ensuring better patient care.” 

The Nursing Agency Licensing Act sets guidelines to ensure nurse agencies meet certain operational standards and holds them responsible for the actions of the nurses they dispatch to health care facilities. Currently, Illinois law imposes a flat $10,000 fine for every violation of NALA, only targeting licensees or applicants. These guidelines do not account for the severity of the violation, meaning minor mistakes can result in the same financial punishment as more serious issues.

Under Peters’ law, the scope of accountability will be expanded, holding all violators accountable and making penalties more proportional to the violation. This will improve patient safety and ensure nurse agencies can operate effectively without fear of disproportionate fines, creating a fairer system that is better equipped to protect the public and the health care professionals who serve them.

“Penalties against nursing agencies should fit the violation – plain and simple,” said Peters. “These violations range from operating without a license to engaging in unfair recruitment practices, and we should always be penalizing violations that directly endanger patients or are made willfully to a higher degree.”

Senate Bill 67 was signed into law Friday and goes into effect immediately.