Illinois Statutes Chapter 225. Professions,Occupations and Business Operations § 447/45-10. Complaints; investigations; hearings

(a) The Department may investigate the actions of any applicant or of any person or persons holding or claiming to hold a license or registration under this Act.

(b) The Department shall, before disciplining a licensee under Section 40-10 or refusing to issue or license, at least 30 days before the date set for the hearing, (i) notify the accused in writing of the charges made and the time and place for the hearing on the charges, (ii) direct the accused to file a written answer to the charges under oath within 20 days after service, and (iii) inform the applicant or licensee that failure to answer will result in a default being entered against the applicant or licensee.

(c) At the time and place fixed in the notice, the Board or the hearing officer appointed by the Secretary shall proceed to hear the charges, and the parties or their counsel shall be accorded ample opportunity to present any pertinent statements, testimony, evidence, and arguments. The Board or hearing officer may continue the hearing from time to time. In case the person, after receiving the notice, fails to file an answer, the person's license may, in the discretion of the Secretary, having first received the recommendation of the Board, be suspended, revoked, or placed on probationary status, or be subject to whatever disciplinary action the Secretary considers proper, including limiting the scope, nature, or extent of the person's practice or the imposition of a fine, without hearing, if the act or acts charged constitute sufficient grounds for that action under this Act.

(d) The written notice and any notice in the subsequent proceeding may be served by regular or certified mail to the licensee's address of record or electronically to the licensee's email address of record, or, if in the course of the administrative proceeding the party has previously designated a specific email address at which to accept electronic service for that specific proceeding, by sending a copy by email to the party's email address on record.

(e) The Secretary has the authority to appoint any attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois to serve as the hearing officer in any action for refusal to issue, restore, or renew a license or to discipline a licensee. The hearing officer has full authority to conduct the hearing.