Governor's budget calls for Professional Regulation to be funded entirely by license fees

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. - Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today proposed a $26 million fiscal year 2004 budget for the Department of Professional Regulation (DPR), an overall reduction of $1.7 million from the agency's FY03 appropriation.

For the first time, the agency's budget will contain no General Revenue funding. Instead, the department's operations will be supported by licensing fees paid by Illinois professionals. The agency's FY03 appropriation from the General Revenue Fund totaled $457,600.

Other savings were derived from a cut in the department's staffing levels, down from 319 in FY03 to 256 in FY04. Much of this decrease is the result of ongoing efforts to cut administrative costs and to increase efficiency. These efforts include—

• Reducing and restructuring middle management staff;

• Discontinuing contracts with three administrative law judges who hear cases against licensed professionals; and,

• Not filling a number of vacancies created by last year's early retirement incentive.

During fiscal year 2004, DPR will begin implementing two new licensing laws that call for the regulation of massage therapists and electrologists.

The Department of Professional Regulation is responsible for the licensing and enforcing regulations pertaining to more than 50 professional groups.