All final administrative decisions of the Department are subject to judicial review pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Review Law. The term "administrative decision" is defined as in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Proceedings for judicial review shall be commenced in the circuit court of the county in which the party applying for relief resides, but if the party is not a resident of this State, the venue shall be in Sangamon County.
The Department shall not be required to certify any record to the court or file any answer in court or otherwise appear in any court in a judicial review proceeding, unless and until the Department has received from the plaintiff payment of the costs of furnishing and certifying the record, which costs shall be determined by the Department. Exhibits shall be certified without cost. Failure on the part of the plaintiff to file a receipt in court shall be grounds for dismissal of the action. During the pendency and hearing of any and all judicial proceedings incident to a disciplinary action, any sanctions imposed upon the respondent by the Department because of acts or omissions related to the delivery of direct patient care as specified in the Department's final administrative decision shall, as a matter of public policy, remain in full force and effect in order to protect the public pending final resolution of any of the proceedings.
225 ILCS 51/150