Illinois General Assembly

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PROFESSIONS, OCCUPATIONS, AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS (225 ILCS 10/) Child Care Act of 1969.

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(225 ILCS 10/1) (from Ch. 23, par. 2211)

Sec. 1.

This Act shall be known and may be cited as the Child Care Act of 1969.

(Source: P.A. 76-63.)

(225 ILCS 10/2) (from Ch. 23, par. 2212)

Sec. 2.

Terms used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,
have the meanings ascribed to them in the Sections following this Section and preceding Section 3.

(Source: P.A. 98-756, eff. 7-16-14.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.01) (from Ch. 23, par. 2212.01)

Sec. 2.01.

Child.

"Child" means any person under 18 years of age.
For purposes of admission to and residence in child care institutions, group
homes,
and
maternity centers, the term also means any person under 21 years of age who
is referred by a parent or guardian, including an agency having legal
responsibility for the person pursuant to the Juvenile Court
Act or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.  Termination of care for such
persons under 21 years of age shall occur no later than 90 days following
completion of a public school secondary education program or the
individual's eligibility for such a program.

(Source: P.A. 91-60, eff. 6-30-99.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.01a) (from Ch. 23, par. 2212.01a)

Sec. 2.01a.

"Homeless youth" has the same meaning as in Section 5 of
"An Act creating the Department of Children and Family Services,
codifying its powers and duties, and repealing certain Acts and
Sections herein named", approved June 4, 1963, as amended.

(Source: P.A. 86-278; 86-386.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.01b)
Sec. 2.01b. Youth in care. "Youth in care" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 4d of the Children and Family Services Act.

(Source: P.A. 100-159, eff. 8-18-17.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.02) (from Ch. 23, par. 2212.02)

Sec. 2.02.

"Department" means the Illinois Department of Children and Family
Services.

(Source: P.A. 76-63.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.03) (from Ch. 23, par. 2212.03)

Sec. 2.03.

"Guardian" means the guardian of the person of a minor.

(Source: P.A. 76-63.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.04) (from Ch. 23, par. 2212.04)

Sec. 2.04.

"Related" means any of the following relationships by
blood, marriage, civil union, or adoption: parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, great-uncle,
great-aunt, brother, sister,
stepgrandparent, stepparent, stepbrother, stepsister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, fictive kin as defined in Section 7 of the Children and Family Services Act, or
first cousin or second cousin. A person is related to a child as a first cousin or a second cousin if they are both related to the same ancestor as either grandchild or great-grandchild. A child whose parent has executed a consent, a surrender, or a waiver pursuant to Section 10 of the Adoption Act, whose parent has signed a denial of paternity pursuant to Section 12 of the Vital Records Act or Section 12a of the Adoption Act, or whose parent has had his or her parental rights terminated is not a related child to that person, unless (1) the consent is determined to be void or is void pursuant to subsection O of Section 10 of the Adoption Act; or (2) the parent of the child executed a consent to adoption by a specified person or persons pursuant to subsection A-1 of Section 10 of the Adoption Act and a court finds that the consent is void; or (3) the order terminating the parental rights of the parent is vacated by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(Source: P.A. 98-804, eff. 1-1-15; 98-846, eff. 1-1-15; 99-78, eff. 7-20-15.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.05) (from Ch. 23, par. 2212.05)
Sec. 2.05.

"Facility for child care" or "child care facility" means any person, group of persons, agency, association, organization, corporation, institution, center, or group, whether established for gain or otherwise, who or which receives or arranges for care or placement of one or more children, unrelated to the operator of the facility, apart from the parents, with or without the transfer of the right of custody in any facility as defined in this Act, established and maintained for the care of children. "Child care facility" includes a relative, as defined in Section 2.36 of this Act, who is licensed as a foster family home under Section 4 of this Act or provides a certified relative caregiver home, as defined in Section 2.37 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 103-1061, eff. 7-1-25.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.06) (from Ch. 23, par. 2212.06)
Sec. 2.06.

"Child care institution" means a child care facility where more than 7 children are received and maintained for the purpose of providing them with care or training or both. The term "child care institution" includes residential schools, primarily serving ambulatory children with disabilities, and those operating a full calendar year, but does not include:

(a) any State-operated institution for child care

established by legislative action;

(b) any juvenile detention or shelter care home

established and operated by any county or child protection district established under the "Child Protection Act";

(c) any institution, home, place or facility

operating under a license pursuant to the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act;

(d) any bona fide boarding school in which children

are primarily taught branches of education corresponding to those taught in public schools, grades one through 12, or taught in public elementary schools, high schools, or both elementary and high schools, and which operates on a regular academic school year basis;

(e) any facility licensed as a "group home" as

defined in this Act;

(f) any qualified residential treatment program; or
(g) any psychiatric residential treatment facility

certified under the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTF) Act.

(Source: P.A. 103-564, eff. 11-17-23; 104-147, eff. 8-1-25.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.07) (from Ch. 23, par. 2212.07)

Sec. 2.07.

"Maternity center" means a facility in which any person, agency, or
corporation other than one licensed as a foster family home or group home
under this Act, receives, treats or cares for one or more unwed pregnant
girls under 18 years of age, except that the term does not include any
facility licensed under the "Hospital Licensing Act".

(Source: P.A. 76-63.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.08) (from Ch. 23, par. 2212.08)

Sec. 2.08.

"Child welfare agency" means a public or private child care facility,
receiving any child or children for the purpose of placing or arranging for
the  placement or free care of the child or children in foster family homes, unlicensed pre-adoptive and adoptive homes, adoption-only homes, or other
facilities for child care, apart from the custody of the child's or
children's parents. The term "child welfare agency" includes all agencies
established and maintained by a municipality or other political subdivision
of the State of Illinois to protect, guard, train or care for children
outside their own homes and all agencies, persons, groups of persons, associations, organizations, corporations, institutions, centers, or groups providing adoption services, but does not include any circuit court or duly
appointed juvenile probation officer or youth counselor of the court who
receives and places children under an order of the court.

(Source: P.A. 99-833, eff. 1-1-17.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.09)
Sec. 2.09.

"Early care and education center" means any early care and education provider that regularly provides early care and education for (1) more than 8 children in a family home, or (2) more than 3 children in a location other than a family home, including senior citizen buildings.

(Source: P.A. 103-153, eff. 6-30-23; 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 103-952, eff. 1-1-25; 104-45, eff. 1-1-26; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.10)
Sec. 2.10. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 87-724. Repealed by P.A. 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.11) (from Ch. 23, par. 2212.11)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2026)

Sec. 2.11.

"Day care agency" means any person, group of persons, public
or private agency, association or organization which undertakes to provide
one or more day care homes with
administrative
services including, but not limited to, consultation, technical assistance,
training, supervision, evaluation and provision of or referral to health
and social services under contractual arrangement.

(Source: P.A. 83-126. Repealed by P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.16) (from Ch. 23, par. 2212.16)

Sec. 2.16.

"Group home" means a child care facility which provides care for no more
than 10 children placed by and under the supervision of a licensed child
welfare agency with these homes being owned or rented, staffed, maintained
and otherwise operated by the agency.

(Source: P.A. 79-1016.)

    (225 ILCS 10/2.17) (from Ch. 23, par. 2212.17)
    Sec. 2.17. "Foster family home" means the home of an individual or family:

(1) that is licensed or approved by the state in which it is situated as a foster family home that meets the standards established for the licensing or approval; and

(2) in which a child in foster care has been placed in the care of an individual who resides with the child and who has been licensed or approved by the state to be a foster parent and:

(A) who the Department of Children and Family

Services deems capable of adhering to the reasonable and prudent parent standard;

(B) who provides 24-hour substitute care for children

placed away from their parents or other caretakers; and

(3) who provides the care for no more than 6 children, except the Director of Children and Family Services, pursuant to Department regulations, may waive the numerical limitation of foster children who may be cared for in a foster family home for any of the following reasons to allow: (i) a parenting youth in foster care to remain with the child of the parenting youth; (ii) siblings to remain together; (iii) a child with an established meaningful relationship with the family to remain with the family; or (iv) a family with special training or skills to provide care to a child who has a severe disability. The family's or relative's own children, under 18 years of age, shall be included in determining the maximum number of children served.

The term "foster family home" includes homes receiving children from any State-operated institution for child care; or from any agency established by a municipality or other political subdivision of the State of Illinois authorized to provide care for children outside their own homes. The term "foster family home" does not include an "adoption-only home" as defined in Section 2.23 or a "certified relative caregiver home" as defined in Section 2.37 of this Act. The types of foster family homes are defined as follows:

(a) "Boarding home" means a foster family home which

receives payment for regular full-time care of a child or children.

(b) "Free home" means a foster family home other than

an adoptive home which does not receive payments for the care of a child or children.

(c) "Adoptive home" means a foster family home which

receives a child or children for the purpose of adopting the child or children, but does not include an adoption-only home.

(d) "Work-wage home" means a foster family home which

receives a child or children who pay part or all of their board by rendering some services to the family not prohibited by the Child Labor Law of 2024 or by standards or regulations of the Department prescribed under this Act. The child or children may receive a wage in connection with the services rendered the foster family.

(e) "Agency-supervised home" means a foster family

home under the direct and regular supervision of a licensed child welfare agency, of the Department of Children and Family Services, of a circuit court, or of any other State agency which has authority to place children in child care facilities, and which receives no more than 8 children, unless of common parentage, who are placed and are regularly supervised by one of the specified agencies.

(f) "Independent home" means a foster family home,

other than an adoptive home, which receives no more than 4 children, unless of common parentage, directly from parents, or other legally responsible persons, by independent arrangement and which is not subject to direct and regular supervision of a specified agency except as such supervision pertains to licensing by the Department.

(g) "Host home" means an emergency foster family home

under the direction and regular supervision of a licensed child welfare agency, contracted to provide short-term crisis intervention services to youth served under the Comprehensive Community-Based Youth Services program, under the direction of the Department of Human Services. The youth shall not be under the custody or guardianship of the Department pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.

(Source: P.A. 102-688, eff. 7-1-22; 103-564, eff. 11-17-23; 103-721, eff. 1-1-25; 103-1061, eff. 7-1-25.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.18) (from Ch. 23, par. 2212.18)
Sec. 2.18.

"Early care and education homes" means family homes which receive more than 3 up to a maximum of 12 children for less than 24 hours per day. The number counted includes the family's natural or adopted children and all other persons under the age of 12. The term does not include locations that receive only children from a single household.

(Source: P.A. 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.20) (from Ch. 23, par. 2212.20)
Sec. 2.20.

"Group early care and education home" means a family home which receives more than 3 up to a maximum of 16 children for less than 24 hours per day. The number counted includes the family's natural or adopted children and all other persons under the age of 12.

(Source: P.A. 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.21) (from Ch. 23, par. 2212.21)

Sec. 2.21.

"Youth Emergency Shelter" means a child care facility
licensed by the Department to provide overnight shelter, and referral for
other services, to homeless youth under 18 years of age in accordance with
the requirements of this Act and applicable rules of the Department.

(Source: P.A. 86-278; 86-386.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.22)

Sec. 2.22.

"Secure child care facility" means any child care facility
licensed by the Department to provide secure living arrangements for children
under 18 years of age who are subject to placement in facilities under the
Children and Family Services Act and who are not subject to placement in
facilities for whom standards are established by the Department of Juvenile Justice
						
under Section 3-15-2 of the Unified Code of Corrections and which comply with
the requirements of this Act and applicable rules of the Department and which
shall be consistent with requirements established for child residents of mental
health facilities under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 and the Mental Health
and Developmental Disabilities Code.
"Secure child care facility" also means a
facility that is designed and operated to ensure that all entrances and exists
from the facility, a building, or a distinct part of the building are under the
exclusive control of the staff of the facility, whether or not the child has
the freedom of movement within the perimeter of the facility, building, or
distinct part of the building.

(Source: P.A. 94-696, eff. 6-1-06.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.22a)
Sec. 2.22a. Quality of care concerns applicant.

"Quality of care concerns applicant" means an applicant for a foster care license or renewal of a foster care license where the applicant or any person living in the applicant's household:

(1) has had a license issued under this Act revoked;
(2) has surrendered a license issued under this Act

for cause;

(3) has had a license issued under this Act expire or

has surrendered a license, while either an abuse or neglect investigation or licensing investigation was pending or an involuntary placement hold was placed on the home;

(4) has been the subject of allegations of abuse or

neglect;

(5) has an indicated report of abuse or neglect;
(6) has been the subject of certain types of

involuntary placement holds or has been involved in certain types of substantiated licensing complaints, as specified and defined by Department rule; or

(7) has requested a youth in care's removal from the

home, either orally or in writing, on 5 or more occasions.

(Source: P.A. 102-763, eff. 1-1-23.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.23)

Sec. 2.23.

"Adoption-only home" means a home that receives a child placed by an Illinois licensed child welfare agency providing adoption services for the sole purpose of adoption. The child shall not be under the custody or guardianship of the Department pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Such adoption-only home shall not be required to be licensed as a child care facility under this Act, but shall be required to meet the requirements set forth in Section 3.2 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 99-833, eff. 1-1-17.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.24)
Sec. 2.24.

"Adoption services" includes any one or more of the following services performed for any type of compensation or thing of value, directly or indirectly: (i) arranging for the placement of or placing out a child, (ii) identifying a child for adoption, (iii) matching adoptive parents with birth parents, (iv) arranging  or facilitating an adoption, (v) taking or acknowledging consents or surrenders for termination of parental rights for purposes of adoption, as defined in the Adoption Act, (vi) performing background studies on a child or adoptive parents, (vii) making determinations of the best interests of a child and the appropriateness of adoptive placement for the child, or (viii) post-placement monitoring of a child prior to adoption.  "Adoption services" does not include the following: (1) the provision of legal services by a licensed attorney for which the attorney must be licensed as an attorney under Illinois law, (2) adoption-related services performed by public governmental entities or entities or persons performing investigations by court appointment as described in subsection A of Section 6 of the Adoption Act, (3) prospective birth parents or adoptive parents operating on their own behalf,

(4) the provision of general education and training on adoption-related topics, or (5) post-adoption services, including supportive services to families to promote the well-being of members of adoptive families or birth families.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.25)
Sec. 2.25.

"Unlicensed pre-adoptive and adoptive home" means any home that is not licensed by the Department as a foster family home and that receives a child or children for the purpose of adopting the child or children, but does not include an adoption-only home.

(Source: P.A. 99-833, eff. 1-1-17.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.26)

Sec. 2.26.

"Eligible agency" means a licensed child welfare agency that (i) is currently fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services (COA) for adoption services and (ii) has had no Department substantiated licensing violations or COA accrediting violations that affect the health, safety, morals, or welfare of children served by that agency for the 4 years immediately preceding a determination of eligibility.

(Source: P.A. 94-586, eff. 8-15-05.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.27)

Sec. 2.27.

"Deemed compliant" means that an eligible agency is presumed to be in compliance with requirements, provided that the Department has determined that current COA standards are at least substantially equivalent to those requirements.  This presumption of compliance may be rebutted by Department substantiated evidence to the contrary.  The Department may require periodic certification of COA accreditation from eligible agencies.

(Source: P.A. 94-586, eff. 8-15-05.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.28)
Sec. 2.28. Non-licensed service provider.

"Non-licensed service provider" means an individual or entity that contracts with the Department to provide child welfare services that enable the Department to perform its duties under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, the Child Care Act of 1969, and the Children and Family Services Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-570, eff. 8-27-13.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.29)
Sec. 2.29. Volunteer. "Volunteer" means a person who performs a service willingly and without pay.

(Source: P.A. 98-570, eff. 8-27-13.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.30)
Sec. 2.30. Placement disruption.

"Placement disruption" means a circumstance  where the child is removed from an adoptive placement before the adoption is finalized.

(Source: P.A. 99-49, eff. 7-15-15.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.31)
Sec. 2.31. Secondary placement.

"Secondary placement" means a placement, including but not limited to the placement of a youth in care, that occurs after a placement disruption or adoption dissolution. "Secondary placement" does not mean secondary placements arising due to the death of the adoptive parent of the child.

(Source: P.A. 99-49, eff. 7-15-15; 100-159, eff. 8-18-17.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.32)
Sec. 2.32. Adoption dissolution.

"Adoption dissolution" means a circumstance where the child is removed from an adoptive placement after the adoption is finalized.

(Source: P.A. 99-49, eff. 7-15-15.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.33)
Sec. 2.33. Unregulated placement.

"Unregulated placement" means the secondary placement of a child that occurs without the oversight of the courts, the Department, or a licensed child welfare agency.

(Source: P.A. 99-49, eff. 7-15-15.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.34)
Sec. 2.34. Post-placement and post-adoption support services.

 "Post-placement and post-adoption support services" means support services for placed or adopted children and families that include, but are not limited to, counseling for emotional, behavioral, or developmental needs.

(Source: P.A. 99-49, eff. 7-15-15.)

    (225 ILCS 10/2.35)
    Sec. 2.35. Qualified residential treatment program. "Qualified residential treatment program" means a program that:
        (1) has a trauma-informed treatment model that is

designed to address the needs, including clinical needs as appropriate, of children with serious emotional or behavioral disorders or disturbances and, with respect to a child, is able to implement the treatment identified for the child by the assessment of the child required under 42 U.S.C. 675a(c);

(2) whether by acquisition of direct employment or

otherwise, has registered or licensed nursing staff and other licensed clinical staff who:

(A) provide care within the scope of their

practice as defined by law;

            (B) are located on-site; and
            (C) are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;
        (3) to the extent appropriate, and in accordance with

the child's best interests, facilitates participation of family members in the child's treatment program;

(4) facilitates outreach to the family members of the

child, including siblings, documents how the outreach is made, including contact information, and maintains contact information for any known biological family and fictive kin of the child;

(5) documents how family members are integrated into

the treatment process for the child, including post-discharge, and how sibling connections are maintained;

(6) provides discharge planning and family-based

aftercare support for at least 6 months post-discharge; and

(7) is licensed in accordance with this Act and is

accredited by any of the following independent, not-for-profit organizations:

(A) the Commission on Accreditation of

Rehabilitation Facilities;

            (B) the Joint Commission;
            (C) the Council on Accreditation; or
            (D) any other independent, not-for-profit

accrediting organization approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as described in 42 U.S.C. 672 (k)(4).

(Source: P.A. 103-564, eff. 11-17-23.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.36)
Sec. 2.36. Certified relative caregiver.

"Certified relative caregiver" means a person responsible for the care and supervision of a child placed in a certified relative caregiver home by the Department, other than the parent, who is a relative. As used in this definition, "relative" means a person who is: (i) related to a child by blood, marriage, tribal custom, adoption, or to a child's sibling in any of the foregoing ways, even though the person is not related to the child, when the child and the child's sibling are placed together with that person or (ii) fictive kin. For children who have been in the guardianship of the Department following the termination of their parents' parental rights, been adopted or placed in subsidized or unsubsidized guardianship, and are subsequently returned to the temporary custody or guardianship of the Department, a "relative" shall include any person who would have qualified as a relative under this Section prior to the termination of the parents' parental rights if the Department determines, and documents, or the court finds that it would be in the child's best interests to consider this person a relative, based upon the factors for determining best interests set forth in subsection (4.05) of Section 1-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.

(Source: P.A. 103-1061, eff. 7-1-25.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.37)
Sec. 2.37. Certified relative caregiver home.

"Certified relative caregiver home" means a placement resource meeting the standards for a certified relative caregiver home under Section 3.4 of this Act, which is eligible to receive payments from the Department under State or federal law for room and board for a child placed with a certified relative caregiver. A certified relative caregiver home is sufficient to comply with 45 CFR 1355.20.

(Source: P.A. 103-1061, eff. 7-1-25.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.38)
Sec. 2.38. Fictive kin. "Fictive kin" has the meaning ascribed to the term in Section 4d of the Children and Family Services Act.
(Source: P.A. 103-1061, eff. 7-1-25.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.39)
Sec. 2.39. Caregiver.

"Caregiver" means a certified relative caregiver, relative caregiver, or foster parent with whom a youth in care is placed.

(Source: P.A. 103-1061, eff. 7-1-25.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.40)
Sec. 2.40. National consortium recommendations.

"National consortium recommendations" means the preferred standards of national organizations with expertise in relative home care developed to establish requirements or criteria for relative homes that are no more or only minimally more restrictive than necessary to comply with the requirements under Sections 471 and 474 of the Social Security Act, Public Law 115-123. Consortium recommendations include criteria for assessing relative homes for safety, sanitation, protection of civil rights, use of the reasonable and prudent parenting standard, and background screening for caregivers and other residents in the caregiver home.

(Source: P.A. 103-1061, eff. 7-1-25.)

(225 ILCS 10/2.41)
Sec. 2.41. Supervisor of children.

"Supervisor of children" means an individual on site who is tasked with being aware of and being responsible for the ongoing safety and activity of each child, including requiring all children to be within the individual's vision and auditory range while also adapting to necessary privacy considerations, and who is close enough to the children to respond to a problem if necessary.

(Source: P.A. 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/3)
Sec. 3.

(a) No person, group of persons, or corporation may operate or conduct any early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home, as defined in this Act, without a license or permit issued by the Department of Children and Family Services before July 1, 2026 or issued by the Department of Early Childhood on and after July 1, 2026 or without being approved by the Department of Early Childhood as meeting the standards established for such licensing, with the exception of early care and education settings described in subsections (d-5) and (d-10).

(a-5) The Secretary of Early Childhood shall establish policies and coordinate activities relating to the licensing of early care and education homes, group early care and education homes, and early care and education centers, and the registration of Recognized Alternative Providers under subsection (d-15).

    (b) (Blank).
    (c) (Blank).
    (d) Any early care and education provider that is not required to be licensed may apply for a license under this Act.

(d-5) A provider of the programs described in this subsection (d-5) is exempt from registration requirements for Recognized Alternative Providers and licensure requirements under this Act.

(1) In-home early care and education provided for no

more than 3 children under the age of 12, including the provider's natural or adopted children and any other persons under the age of 12 whether related or unrelated to the operator of the early care and education home. A provider may care for up to 6 children if all such children are from the same household. A provider of non-licensed in-home early care and education must notify the parent or guardian of each child that the program is operating pursuant to an exemption from licensure.

For purposes of this subsection, "children from the

same household" means children that are blood-related, adopted, or stepchildren or children that were placed in a home through foster care that are under the age of 12 years and living in the same home.

(2) Supplementary early care and education operations

for facilities that provide activities, including, but not limited to, retail shopping, exercise, or religious activities, as long as children are in care for no longer than 2 hours per day and the provider does not refer to itself as an early care and education center or pre-school. The parent or guardian of the child must remain on the same premises as the child and be readily available. Providers must obtain emergency contact information for each parent or guardian. Providers must notify the parent or guardian that the program is operating pursuant to an exemption from licensure.

(3) For children 3 years of age or older,

extracurricular programs outside of school hours in music, dance, drama or art, library programs, scouting programs, academic tutoring programs, sports programs, or other classes that teach a single skill so long as children who are 3 years and 4 years of age are not participating in such programs for a cumulative total of greater than one hour per day. This subsection (d-5) does not place hour restrictions on extracurricular activities for children 5 years of age or older. Extracurricular activities shall not act as an alternative to full-day school or care. Extracurricular programs that use the exemption under this paragraph (3) are not eligible to receive Child Care Assistance Program payments.

(4)(A) Programs operated by (i) public or private

elementary school systems or secondary level school units or institutions of higher learning that serve children who are at least 3 years of age or (ii) public or private entities on the premises of public or private elementary or secondary schools recognized by the State Board of Education that serve children who are at least 3 years of age. This subparagraph (A) applies only to the facility and any personnel of the private entity operating the program must adhere to applicable background check and training requirements adopted by the Department of Early Childhood; or

(B) Educational programs serving children who are at

least 3 years of age that are operated on school premises by a school that is registered with the State Board of Education or that is recognized or accredited by a recognized national or multistate educational organization or association that regularly recognizes or accredits schools.

(5) Any type of early care and education that is

conducted on federal government premises, including early care and education centers, early care and education homes, and group early care and education homes serving children of military personnel. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, an early care and education home or group early care and education home may be exempt from licensure if it meets all of the following requirements: (i) it serves dependent children of military personnel, (ii) it is located on a military base or federal or government property, and (iii) it is certified as a child development program by a branch of the U.S. Department of Defense or the U.S. Coast Guard. The U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Coast Guard, or their agents, including an installation commander of a military base on which an early care and education home or group early care and education home is located, may assume responsibility for monitoring the early care and education homes or group early care and education homes that are exempt from licensure under this Section.

(6) Special activities programs, such as athletics,

recreation, crafts instruction, music, dance, drama, sports, or similar activities offered by a unit of local government, including special activities programs offered by 2 or more units of local government pursuant to the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, if all of the following are met:

(A) State law authorizes the unit of local

government to offer the program and an elected or appointed board of the unit of local government has adopted policies governing the operation of the program, pursuant to Section 8-10 of the Park District Code or other applicable law.

(B) The program is offered to the following

categories of children and the parent or legal guardian of each child has received written acknowledgement that the program is not licensed by the Department under this Act:

(i) children at least 5 years of age for no

more than 100 continuous days in any 12-month period when school is not in session;

(ii) children at least 3 years of age for no

more than 3.5 continuous hours at a time; or

(iii) children under 3 years of age for no

more than one hour at a time.

(C) The program does not advertise to the public

as a pre-school program, licensed early care and education provider, licensed child care, or licensed day care.

(D) The program conducts the following

investigations on all employees of the program no less than once every 5 years:

(i) background investigations pursuant to

Section 8-23 of the Park District Code, Section 16a-5 of the Chicago Park District Act, or other applicable law;

(ii) a name check against State and national

sex offender registries; and

(iii) a Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking

System (CANTS) name check through the Department at no cost to the unit of local government.

(E) The program conducts the following

investigations on all volunteers of the program no less than once every 5 years:

(i) background investigations pursuant to

Section 8-23 of the Park District Code, Section 16a-5 of the Chicago Park District Act, or other applicable law;

(ii) a name check against State and national

sex offender registries; and

(iii) a Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking

System (CANTS) name check through the Department at no cost to the unit of local government.

(F) The unit of local government has an emergency

preparedness and response plan for the location of the special activities program.

(G) The program does not participate in the Child

Care Assistance Program (CCAP) or receive funding pursuant to the Early Childhood Block Grant.

(7) A municipality, or 2 or more municipalities

pursuant to the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, if it meets the provisions of subparagraphs (B) through (G) of paragraph (6) of this subsection (d-5) when applicable.

(d-10) A provider of the programs described in this subsection (d-10) are exempt from licensure requirements under this Act and must register as Recognized Alternative Providers.

(1) Part day programs for children 3 years of age

until they reach 5 years of age or begin kindergarten, whichever is later, where the child is present for a maximum of 3 hours per day and the parent or guardian is not on site. Providers must obtain emergency contact information for parents or guardians.

(2) Programs or portions of programs that serve

children who have reached 3 years of age in full early care and education, are operated by a church or religious institution organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and that receives no governmental aid. The programs must be operated as a component of a religious elementary school and must operate to provide religious education. Schools that meet this paragraph (2) must comply with requirements for Recognized Alternative Providers and provide proof of meeting fire codes, health codes, and age-appropriate first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) requirements for supervisors of children.

(3) Nonresidential programs for children 5 years of

age to 12 years of age that have supervisors of children when school is not in session, that act as an alternative to full-day school or care, and that operate for no more than 100 days in any 12-month period, except that the provider may request a waiver for the 100 days limitation in instances of unexpected school closure days. This paragraph (3) includes providers operating summer day camps or summer programs that operate from May through September for children 5 years of age to 12 years of age unless such programs meet the requirements of subsection (d-5).

(4) Programs that provide care to children 5 years of

age to 12 years of age before or after school hours, as defined by the school district served by the provider. Children may not be on the premises for a cumulative total of greater than 6 hours per day, except for early dismissal days that are outlined by the school district in advance.

Recognized Alternative Providers under this subsection (d-10) must comply with all Child Care Assistance Program requirements to be eligible to receive payments from the Child Care Assistance Program.

(d-15) To register as a Recognized Alternative Provider, a provider shall:
(1) for home providers, submit a copy of the

provider's ID and Social Security Number or, for other types of providers, submit a W-9, an Employer Identification Number, or Articles of Incorporation;

(2) complete an attestation that the provider has a

current emergency preparedness and response plan in place;

(3) submit the current program guide or comparable

document; and

(4) complete an attestation that the provider is

complying with the background check requirements under Section 4.1.

Program guides shall include the following information: (i) the ages eligible to participate in the programs, (ii) the dates and times the programs take place, and (iii) the location of the programs.

Program guides may be submitted online periodically as needed, but not more than 4 times per year, via a link to the program guide, via a PDF file of the program from the provider's website, or in another electronic format that contains the required information. For programs described in subsection (d-10) that are operated by organizations that are organized under the Park District Code or the Chicago Park District Act, the requirements of Section 8-23 of the Park District Code or Section 16a-5 of the Chicago Park District Act, whichever is applicable, may be used to meet the fingerprint background check requirements under Section 4.1, except there is still a requirement to check the Child Abuse and Neglect Registry and the Illinois and National Sex Offender Registries for any employee or volunteer who is a supervisor of children.

The Department of Early Childhood shall adopt rules to implement this subsection (d-15) and subsection (d-10). When creating rules for this subsection (d-15) and subsection (d-10), the Department shall consult representatives from entities who are eligible to register as Recognized Alternative Providers, including, but not limited to, a statewide organization representing park districts; a non-profit charitable organization that is a place of public gathering, exercise, and recreation; a federally chartered program organized under 36 U.S.C. 311; programs providing services to children who are at least 5 years of age; and other providers of care who want to be involved in the rulemaking process.

Recognized Alternative Providers under this subsection (d-15) must comply with all Child Care Assistance Program requirements to be eligible to receive payments from the Child Care Assistance Program.

The Department of Early Childhood shall electronically provide written confirmation of Recognized Alternative Provider status. Recognized Alternative Providers may not advertise or hold themselves out to the public as pre-schools or licensed early care and education providers.

(e) (Blank).

(f) Registration as a Recognized Alternative Provider shall be valid for 2 years after the date the registration is issued. For early care and education providers who offer multiple programs at one or more sites, as described in subsection (d-10), the Department shall require only one application that outlines all programs the early care and education provider plans to offer. The Department shall evaluate the application and either approve the application or ask for clarification within 10 business days after receipt of the application. If the Department asks for clarification, the Department shall approve the application or seek further clarification within 5 business days after the clarification is provided to the Department. If the Department does not respond within 5 business days after the clarification is provided, the entity shall be deemed approved for programs that do not receive assistance from the Child Care Assistance Program or other State programs. The Department shall provide training and technical assistance to providers who intend to register as Recognized Alternative Providers.

(g) Providers that fail to comply with the applicable requirements under this Section shall receive written notice that details the provider's non-compliance and offers technical assistance to correct the non-compliance. Providers that refuse to register or correct the non-compliance shall be required to apply for full licensure under this Act and may be referred to the appropriate State's Attorney and the Attorney General in accordance with Section 11.

(h) Subsections (d-10) and (d-15) shall be operative on and after July 1, 2027 for all providers except those who are organized and operate under the Park District Code or Chicago Park District Act. Those providers organized and operating under the Park District Code or Chicago Park District Act shall have until July 1, 2028 to comply with the provisions of this Act. Programs operating under a current 2-year licensing exemption shall be allowed to continue to operate under that exemption until it expires or until July 1, 2028, whichever is later.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 103-821, eff. 8-9-24; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/3.01)
    Sec. 3.01. License or permit; Department of Early Childhood.

(a) No person, group of persons or corporation may operate or conduct any early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home without a license or permit issued by the Department of Early Childhood or without being approved by the Department of Early Childhood meeting the standards established for such licensing, with the exception of facilities for whom standards are established by the Department of Corrections under Section 3-15-2 of the Unified Code of Corrections and with the exception of part day programs described under paragraph (1) of subsection (d-10) of Section 3, and with the exception of programs or facilities licensed by the Department of Human Services under the Substance Use Disorder Act.

(b) No part day program as described in paragraph (1) of subsection (d-10) of Section 3 may operate without written notification to the Department of Early Childhood or without complying with Section 7.1. Notification shall include a notarized statement by the provider that the provider complies with state or local health standards and state fire safety standards, and shall be filed with the Department every 2 years.

(c) The Secretary of Early Childhood shall establish policies and coordinate activities relating to licensing of early care and education centers, group early care and education homes, and early care and education homes.

(d) Any provider or agency which is exempt from licensing may apply for licensing if licensing is required for some government benefit.

(e) A provider of early care and education described in subsection (d-5) or (d-10) of Section 3 is exempt from licensure. The Department of Early Childhood shall provide written verification of exemption and description of compliance with standards for the health, safety, and development of the children who receive the services upon submission by the provider of, in addition to any other documentation required by the Department of Early Childhood, a notarized statement that the provider complies with: (1) the standards of the Department of Public Health or local health department, (2) the fire safety standards of the State Fire Marshal, and (3) if operated in a public school building, the health and safety standards of the State Board of Education.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/3.1)

Sec. 3.1.

Licenses for secure child care facility.

The Department shall
establish standards for licensing secure child care facilities which comply
with the requirements of this Act, Section 2-27.1 of the Juvenile Court Act of
1987, applicable requirements of the Mental Health and Developmental
Disabilities Code, and applicable rules of the Department. On or before January
1, 1999, the Department shall develop rules that set standards and the degree
of need for licensed secure facilities.  Within 90 days after the effective
date
of this amendatory Act of 1998, the Director shall appoint an advisory
committee to assist the Department in the development of these rules.

(Source: P.A. 90-608, eff. 6-30-98.)

(225 ILCS 10/3.2)
Sec. 3.2. Requirements for adoption-only homes.

In addition to the other requirements contained in this Act, in order to approve an adoption-only home, a licensed child welfare agency shall:

(1) conduct a home study, which shall consist of a

thorough assessment of any prospective adoptive parent's physical, mental, financial, and emotional ability to successfully parent a child through adoption;

(2) obtain a criminal background check of all adult

residents in the home pursuant to Section 3.3 of this Act;

(3) obtain child abuse background checks of all

residents in the home who are 13 years of age or over;

(4) assess the health of all prospective adoptive

parents and family members living in the home, as well as any residents of the home;

(5) assess the finances of the prospective adoptive

parent or parents;

(6) obtain character references for the prospective

adoptive parent or parents;

(7) assess the safety of the adoptive home;
(8) provide adoption education and training to the

prospective adoptive parent or parents; and

(9) conduct a pre-placement home visit and

post-placement supervision.

The licensed child welfare agency may impose any other reasonable requirements that the agency deems appropriate in approving an adoption-only home. The Department shall adopt procedures necessary for the implementation of this Section no later than 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 99-833, eff. 1-1-17.)

(225 ILCS 10/3.3)
Sec. 3.3. Requirements for criminal background checks for adoption-only homes.

In approving an adoption-only home pursuant to Section 3.2 of this Act, if an adult resident has an arrest or conviction record, the licensed child welfare agency:

(1) shall thoroughly investigate and evaluate the

criminal history of the resident and, in so doing, include an assessment of the applicant's character and, in the case of the prospective adoptive parent, the impact that the criminal history has on the prospective adoptive parent's ability to parent the child; the investigation should consider the type of crime, the number of crimes, the nature of the offense, the age at time of crime, the length of time that has elapsed since the last conviction, the relationship of the crime to the ability to care for children, and any evidence of rehabilitation;

(2) shall not approve the home if the record reveals

a felony conviction for crimes against a child, including, but not limited to, child abuse or neglect, child sexual abuse material or child pornography, rape, sexual assault, or homicide;

(3) shall not approve the home if the record reveals

a felony conviction within the last 5 years, including, but not limited to, for physical assault, battery, drug-related offenses, or spousal abuse; and

(4) shall not approve the home if the record reveals

a felony conviction for homicide, rape, or sexual assault.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 104-245, eff. 1-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/3.4)
    Sec. 3.4. Standards for certified relative caregiver homes.

(a) No later than July 1, 2025, the Department shall adopt rules outlining the standards for certified relative caregiver homes, which are reasonably in accordance with the national consortium recommendations and federal law and rules, and consistent with the requirements of this Act. The standards for certified relative caregiver homes shall: (i) be different from licensing standards used for non-relative foster family homes under Section 4; (ii) align with the recommendation of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families for implementation of Section 471(a)(10), 471(a)(11), and 471(a)(20) and Section 474 of Title IV-E of the Social Security Act; (iii) be no more restrictive than, and reasonably in accordance with, national consortium recommendations; and (iv) address background screening for caregivers and other household residents and assessing home safety and caregiver capacity to meet the identified child's needs.

A guiding premise for certified relative caregiver home standards is that foster care maintenance payments for every relative, starting upon placement, regardless of federal reimbursement, are critical to ensure that the basic needs and well-being of all children in relative care are being met. If an agency places a child in the care of a relative, the relative must immediately be provided with adequate support to care for that child. The Department shall review foster care maintenance payments to ensure that children receive the same amount of foster care maintenance payments whether placed in a certified relative caregiver home or a licensed foster family home.

In developing rules, the Department shall solicit and incorporate feedback from relative caregivers. No later than 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, the Department shall begin soliciting input from relatives who are currently or have recently been caregivers to youth in care to develop the rules and procedures to implement the requirements of this Section. The Department shall solicit this input in a manner convenient for caregivers to participate, including without limitation, in-person convenings at after hours and weekend venues, locations that provide child care, and modalities that are accessible and welcoming to new and experienced relative caregivers from all regions of the State. The rules shall outline the essential elements of each form used in the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly.

(b) In order to assess whether standards are met for a certified relative caregiver home under this Section, the Department or a licensed child welfare agency shall:

(1) complete the home safety and needs assessment and

identify and provide any necessary concrete goods or safety modifications to assist the prospective certified relative caregiver in meeting the needs of the specific child or children being placed by the Department, in a manner consistent with Department rule;

(2) assess the ability of the prospective certified

relative caregiver to care for the physical, emotional, medical, and educational needs of the specific child or children being placed by the Department using the protocol and form provided through national consortium recommendations; and

(3) using the standard background check form

established by rule, complete a background check for each person seeking certified relative caregiver approval and any other adults living in the home as required under this Section.

(c) The Department or a licensed child welfare agency shall conduct the following background screening investigation for every prospective certified relative caregiver and adult resident living in the home:

(1) a name-based State, local, or tribal criminal

background check, and as soon as reasonably possible, initiate a fingerprint-based background check;

(2) a review of this State's Central Registry and

registries of any state in which an adult household member has resided in the last 5 years, if applicable to determine if the person has been determined to be a perpetrator in an indicated report of child abuse or neglect; and

(3) a review of the sex offender registry.

No home may be a certified relative caregiver home if any prospective caregivers or adult residents in the home refuse to authorize a background screening investigation as required by this Section. Only information and standards that bear a reasonable and rational relation to the caregiving capacity of the certified relative caregiver and adult member of the household and overall safety provided by residents of that home shall be used by the Department or licensed child welfare agency.

In approving a certified relative caregiver home in accordance with this Section, if an adult has a criminal record, the Department or licensed child welfare agency shall thoroughly investigate and evaluate the criminal history of the adult and, in so doing, include an assessment of the adult's character and, in the case of the prospective certified relative caregiver, the impact that the criminal history has on the prospective certified relative caregiver's ability to parent the child; the investigation should consider the type of crime, the number of crimes, the nature of the offense, the age of the person at the time of the crime, the length of time that has elapsed since the last conviction, the relationship of the crime to the ability to care for children, the role that adult will have with the child, and any evidence of rehabilitation. In accordance with federal law, a home shall not be approved if the record of the prospective certified relative caregiver's background screening reveals: (i) a felony conviction for child abuse or neglect, for spousal abuse, for a crime against children, including child pornography, or for a crime involving violence, including human trafficking, sex trafficking, rape, sexual assault, or homicide, but not including other physical assault or battery; or (ii) a felony conviction in the last 5 years for physical assault, battery, or a drug-related offense.

If the Department is contemplating denying approval of a certified relative caregiver home, the Department shall provide a written notice in the prospective certified relative caregiver's primary language to each prospective certified relative caregiver before the Department takes final action to deny approval of the home. This written notice shall include the specific reason or reasons the Department is considering denial, list actions prospective certified relative caregivers can take, if any, to remedy such conditions and the timeframes in which such actions would need to be completed, explain reasonable supports that the Department can provide to assist the prospective certified relative caregivers in taking remedial actions and how the prospective certified relative caregivers can request such assistance, and provide the recourse prospective certified relative caregivers can seek to resolve disputes about the Department's findings. The Department shall provide prospective certified relative caregivers reasonable opportunity pursuant to rulemaking to cure any remediable deficiencies that the Department identified before taking final action to deny approval of a certified relative caregiver home.

If conditions have not been remedied after a reasonable opportunity and assistance to cure identified deficiencies has been provided, the Department shall provide a final written notice explaining the reasons for denying the certified relative caregiver home approval and the reconsideration process to review the decision to deny certification. The Department shall not prohibit a prospective certified relative caregiver from being reconsidered for approval if the prospective certified relative caregivers are able to demonstrate a change in circumstances that improves deficient conditions.

Documentation that a certified relative caregiver home meets the required standards may be filed on behalf of such homes by a licensed child welfare agency, by a State agency authorized to place children in foster care, or by out-of-state agencies approved by the Department to place children in this State. For documentation on behalf of a home in which specific children are placed by and remain under supervision of the applicant agency, such agency shall document that the certified relative caregiver home, responsible for the care of related specific children therein, was found to be in reasonable compliance with standards prescribed by the Department for certified relative caregiver homes under this Section. Certification is applicable to one or more related children and documentation for certification shall indicate the specific child or children who would be eligible for placement in this certified relative caregiver home.

Information concerning criminal convictions of prospective certified relative caregivers and adult residents of a prospective certified relative caregiver home investigated under this Section, including the source of the information, State conviction information provided by the Illinois State Police, and any conclusions or recommendations derived from the information, shall be offered to the prospective certified relative caregivers and adult residents of a prospective certified relative caregiver home, and provided, upon request, to such persons prior to final action by the Department in the certified relative caregiver home approval process.

Any information concerning criminal charges or the disposition of such criminal charges obtained by the Department shall be confidential and may not be transmitted outside the Department, except as required or permitted by State or federal law, and may not be transmitted to anyone within the Department except as needed for the purpose of evaluating standards for a certified relative caregiver home or for evaluating the placement of a specific child in the home. Information concerning a prospective certified relative caregiver or an adult resident of a prospective certified relative caregiver home obtained by the Department for the purposes of this Section shall be confidential and exempt from public inspection and copying as provided under Section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act, and such information shall not be transmitted outside the Department, except as required or authorized by State or federal law, including applicable provisions in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, and shall not be transmitted to anyone within the Department except as provided in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, and shall not be transmitted to anyone within the Department except as needed for the purposes of evaluating homes. Any employee of the Department, the Illinois State Police, or a licensed child welfare agency receiving confidential information under this Section who gives or causes to be given any confidential information concerning any criminal convictions or child abuse or neglect reports involving a prospective certified relative caregiver or an adult resident of a prospective certified relative caregiver home shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor unless release of such information is authorized by this Section or Section 11.1 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

The Department shall permit, but shall not require, a prospective certified relative caregiver who does not yet have eligible children placed by the Department in the relative's home to commence the process to become a certified relative caregiver home for a particular identified child under this Section before a child is placed by the Department if the prospective certified relative caregiver prefers to begin this process in advance of the identified child being placed. No later than July 1, 2025, the Department shall adopt rules delineating the process for re-assessing a certified relative caregiver home if the identified child is not placed in that home within 6 months of the home becoming certified.

(d) The Department shall ensure that prospective certified relative caregivers are provided with assistance in completing the steps required for approval as a certified relative caregiver home, including, but not limited to, the following types of assistance:

(1) completing forms together with the relative or

for the relative, if possible;

(2) obtaining court records or dispositions related

to background checks;

(3) accessing translation services;
(4) using mobile fingerprinting devices in the home,

and if mobile devices are unavailable, providing assistance scheduling appointments that are accessible and available at times that fit the household members' schedules, providing transportation and child care to allow the household members to complete fingerprinting appointments, and contracting with community-based fingerprinting locations that offer evening and weekend appointments;

(5) reimbursement or advance payment for the

prospective certified relative caregiver to help with reasonable home maintenance to resolve critical safety issues in accordance with Department rulemaking; and

(6) purchasing required safety or comfort items such

as a car seat or mattress.

(e) Orientation provided to certified relative caregivers shall include information regarding:
(1) caregivers' right to be heard in juvenile court

proceedings;

(2) the availability of the advocacy hotline and

Office of the Inspector General that caregivers may use to report incidents of misconduct or violation of rules by Department employees, service providers, or contractors;

(3) the Department's expectations for caregiving

obligations including, but not limited to, specific requirements of court orders, critical incident notifications and timeframes, supervision for the child's age and needs, out-of-state travel, and consent procedures;

(4) assistance available to the certified relative

caregivers, including child care, respite care, transportation assistance, case management, training and support groups, kinship navigator services, financial assistance, and after hours and weekend 24 hours, 7 days a week emergency supports, and how to access such assistance;

        (5) reasonable and prudent parenting standards; and
        (6) permanency options.

Orientation shall be provided in a setting and modality convenient for the residents of the certified relative caregiver home, which shall include the option for one-on-one sessions at the residence, after business hours, and in the primary language of the caregivers. Training opportunities shall be offered to the residents of the certified relative caregiver home, but shall not be a requirement that delays the certified relative caregiver home approval process from being completed.

The Department or licensed child welfare agency may provide support groups and development opportunities for certified relative caregivers, and take other steps to support permanency, such as offering voluntary training, or concurrent assessments of multiple prospective certified relative caregivers to determine which may be best suited to provide long-term permanency for a particular child. However, these support groups and development opportunities shall not be requirements for prospective certified relative caregiver homes or delay immediate placement and support to a relative who satisfies the standards set forth in this Section.

(f) All child welfare agencies serving relative and certified relative caregiver homes shall be required by the Department to have complaint policies and procedures that shall be provided in writing to prospective and current certified relative caregivers and residents of prospective and current certified relative caregiver homes, at the earliest time possible. The complaint procedure shall allow residents of prospective and current certified relative caregiver homes to submit complaints 7 days a week and complaints shall be reviewed by the Department within 30 days of receipt. These complaint procedures must be filed with the Department within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory of the 103rd General Assembly.

No later than July 1, 2025, the Department shall revise any rules and procedures pertaining to eligibility of certified relative caregivers to qualify for State and federal subsidies and services under the guardianship and adoption assistance program and remove any requirements that exceed the federal requirements for participation in these programs or supports to ensure that certified relative caregiver homes are deemed eligible for permanency options, such as adoption or subsidized guardianship, if the child is unable to safely return to the child's parents. The rules shall outline the essential elements of each form used in the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly.

The Department shall submit any necessary State plan amendments necessary to comply with this Section and to ensure Title IV-E reimbursement eligibility under Section 671(a)(20)(A-B) of the Social Security Act can be achieved expediently. The Department shall differentiate expenditures related to certified relative caregivers from licensed care placements to provide clarity in expenditures of State and federal monies for certified relative caregiver supports.

(Source: P.A. 103-1061, eff. 7-1-25; 104-2, eff. 7-1-25; 104-165, eff. 8-15-25.)

    (225 ILCS 10/3.5)
    Sec. 3.5. Group homes for adolescents diagnosed with autism.

(a) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services, Developmental Disabilities Division,  shall provide for the establishment of 3 children's group homes for adolescents who have been diagnosed with autism and who are at least 15 years of age and not more than 18 years of age.  The homes shall be located in 3 separate geographical areas of the State. The homes shall operate 7 days per week and shall be staffed 24 hours per day.  The homes shall feature maximum family involvement based on a service and support agreement signed by the adolescent's family and the provider. An eligible service provider: (i) must have a minimum of 5 years experience serving individuals with autism residentially and have successfully supported individuals with challenging behaviors; (ii) must demonstrate that staff have equal experience in this regard; and (iii) must have a full-time Board-Certified Behavior Analyst on staff.

(b) The provider shall ensure that the staff at each home receives appropriate training in matters that include, but need not be limited to, the following: behavior analysis, skill training, and other methodologies of teaching such as discrete trial and picture exchange communication system.

(c) The homes shall provide therapeutic and other support services to the adolescents being served there.  The therapeutic curriculum shall be based on the principles of applied behavior analysis.

(d) An agreeable rate shall  be established by the Department of Children and Family Services and the Department of Human Services, Developmental Disabilities Division.

(Source: P.A. 98-463, eff. 8-16-13.)

(225 ILCS 10/3.6)
Sec. 3.6. Licenses for host homes.

The Department shall develop an appropriate licensing and monitoring system that recognizes the unique population and programming for youth served by the Comprehensive Community-Based Youth Services program. The Department shall maintain licensing staff who are knowledgeable of Comprehensive Community-Based Youth Services program standards, as set forth by the Department of Human Services. The Department of Human Services shall be solely responsible for the development and implementation of a training curriculum for host homes that recognizes the unique population and programming of youth served in Comprehensive Community-Based Youth Services. Host homes licensed by the Department shall not be utilized for a child who is a youth in care as defined in Section 4d of the Children and Family Services Act.

(Source: P.A. 102-688, eff. 7-1-22.)

(225 ILCS 10/3.7)
Sec. 3.7. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 104-308, eff. 8-15-25. Repealed by P.A. 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/3.8)
    Sec. 3.8. Licensed day care centers; immigration enforcement.
    (a) As used in this Section:

"Immigration enforcement action" includes any arrests or detentions conducted by agents or officers of the United States Department of Homeland Security, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or United States Customs and Border Protection or any other individual or entity with the power to arrest or detain individuals or manage custody of detained individuals for the purposes of civil immigration enforcement.

"Law enforcement agent" means an agent of federal, State, or local law enforcement authorized with the power to arrest or detain individuals, or manage the custody of detained individuals, for civil immigration enforcement.

(b) A licensed day care center shall not disclose or threaten to disclose to any other person, entity, or agency information regarding or relating to the actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status of a child or an associated person, unless disclosure is required by State or federal law.

Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prohibit or restrict an entity from sending to or receiving from the United States Department of Homeland Security or any other federal, State, or local governmental entity information regarding the citizenship or immigration status of an individual under 8 U.S.C. 1373 and 8 U.S.C. 1644.

(c) This Section does not affect a licensed day care center's obligation as a mandated reporter or to otherwise respond to instances of suspected crime on the premises. This Section does not prohibit licensed day care centers from interacting with law enforcement agents for the purposes of hotline emergency calls or incidents arising out of mandated reporting.

(d) The Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood, whichever is applicable, shall make available on its website resources for families, including, but not limited to, resources regarding the constitutional rights of families, family preparedness plans, and a copy of the Department of Children and Family Services' appointment of short-term guardian form (Form CFS 444-2 or its predecessor or successor form).

(e) If a child's parent or guardian directly faces immigration enforcement action, a licensed day care center shall use the child's emergency contact information and release the child to the persons designated as the child's emergency contacts or into the custody of an individual who presents a properly executed appointment of short-term guardian form on behalf of the child.

(f) A licensed day care center shall adopt policies by January 1, 2026 to comply with this Section and shall ensure that all staff members are trained on the adopted policies. The policies shall not have the effect of excluding or discouraging a child from any program at the licensed day care center because of the child's or the child's parent or guardian's actual or perceived immigration status shall require the following:

(1) a written plan of action for interacting with law

enforcement agents that shall be shared with a child's parent or guardian and includes the following:

(A) designation of spaces deemed to be private

within the facility;

(B) designation of the licensed day care center

director or the center director's designee to serve as the primary point of contact for interacting with law enforcement agents; and

(C) procedures that a licensed day care center's

primary point of contact shall follow to respond and review any request for entry by law enforcement, including judicial warrants, orders, and subpoenas.

(2) procedures for notifying and seeking written

consent from a child's parents or guardian if a law enforcement agent requests access to personally identifiable information from the child's records, unless such access is in compliance with a judicial warrant or order or a subpoena that restricts the disclosure of the information to the child's parents or guardian;

(3) families enrolled at the licensed day care center

to update their emergency contact list biannually; and

(4) notification to be given, within a reasonable

time period, to parents or guardians and the Department if immigration enforcement action occurs at the licensed day care center or its environs.

A licensed day care center's late pick-up policy shall be updated to include the degree of diligence the licensed day care center will use to reach a child's emergency contacts, including the number of attempted phone calls to parents and emergency contacts and any requests for police assistance in finding a child's emergency contact.

(g) Failure to comply with subsection (b) of this Section shall result in a formal licensing violation. Failure to comply with any other provision of this Section may result in a licensing violation.

(Source: P.A. 104-440, eff. 12-9-25.)

    (225 ILCS 10/4) (from Ch. 23, par. 2214)
    Sec. 4. License requirement; application; notice; Department of Children and Family Services.

(a) Any person, group of persons or corporation who or which receives children or arranges for care or placement of one or more children unrelated to the operator must apply for a license to operate as one of the types of providers defined in Sections 2.05 through 2.19 (other than an early care and education center or early care and education home) and in Section 2.22 of this Act. Any relative, as defined in Section 2.38 of this Act, who receives a child or children for placement by the Department on a full-time basis may apply for a license to operate a foster family home as defined in Section 2.17 of this Act or may apply to be a certified relative caregiver home as defined in Section 2.37 of this Act.

(a-5) Any agency, person, group of persons, association, organization, corporation, institution, center, or group providing adoption services must be licensed by the Department as a child welfare agency as defined in Section 2.08 of this Act. "Providing adoption services", as used in this Act, includes facilitating or engaging in adoption services.

(b) Application for a license to operate an early care and education (other than an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home) must be made to the Department in the manner and on forms prescribed by it. An application to operate a foster family home shall include, at a minimum: a completed written form; written authorization by the applicant and all adult members of the applicant's household to conduct a criminal background investigation; medical evidence in the form of a medical report, on forms prescribed by the Department, that the applicant and all members of the household are free from communicable diseases or physical and mental conditions that affect their ability to provide care for the child or children; the names and addresses of at least 3 persons not related to the applicant who can attest to the applicant's moral character; the name and address of at least one relative who can attest to the applicant's capability to care for the child or children; and fingerprints submitted by the applicant and all adult members of the applicant's household.

(b-5) Prior to submitting an application for a foster family home license, a quality of care concerns applicant as defined in Section 2.22a of this Act must submit a preliminary application to the Department in the manner and on forms prescribed by it. The Department shall explain to the quality of care concerns applicant the grounds for requiring a preliminary application. The preliminary application shall include a list of (i) all children placed in the home by the Department who were removed by the Department for reasons other than returning to a parent and the circumstances under which they were removed and (ii) all children placed by the Department who were subsequently adopted by or placed in the private guardianship of the quality of care concerns applicant who are currently under 18 and who no longer reside in the home and the reasons why they no longer reside in the home. The preliminary application shall also include, if the quality of care concerns applicant chooses to submit, (1) a response to the quality of care concerns, including any reason the concerns are invalid, have been addressed or ameliorated, or no longer apply and (2) affirmative documentation demonstrating that the quality of care concerns applicant's home does not pose a risk to children and that the family will be able to meet the physical and emotional needs of children. The Department shall verify the information in the preliminary application and review (i) information regarding any prior licensing complaints, (ii) information regarding any prior child abuse or neglect investigations, (iii) information regarding any involuntary foster home holds placed on the home by the Department, and (iv) information regarding all child exit interviews, as provided in Section 5.26 of the Children and Family Services Act, regarding the home. Foster home applicants with quality of care concerns are presumed unsuitable for future licensure.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (b-5), the Department may make an exception and issue a foster family license to a quality of care concerns applicant if the Department is satisfied that the foster family home does not pose a risk to children and that the foster family will be able to meet the physical and emotional needs of children. In making this determination, the Department must obtain and carefully review all relevant documents and shall obtain consultation from its Clinical Division as appropriate and as prescribed by Department rule and procedure. The Department has the authority to deny a preliminary application based on the record of quality of care concerns of the foster family home. In the alternative, the Department may (i) approve the preliminary application, (ii) approve the preliminary application subject to obtaining additional information or assessments, or (iii) approve the preliminary application for purposes of placing a particular child or children only in the foster family home. If the Department approves a preliminary application, the foster family shall submit an application for licensure as described in subsection (b) of this Section. The Department shall notify the quality of care concerns applicant of its decision and the basis for its decision in writing.

(c) The Department shall notify the public when a child care institution, maternity center, or group home licensed by the Department undergoes a change in (i) the range of care or services offered at the facility or (ii) the type of children served. The Department shall notify the public of the change in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or municipality in which the applicant's facility is or is proposed to be located.

(c-5) When an early care and education institution, maternity center, or a group home licensed by the Department undergoes a change in (i) the age of children served or (ii) the area within the facility used by children, the Department shall post information regarding proposed changes on its website as required by rule.

(d) If, upon examination of the facility and investigation of persons responsible for care of children and, in the case of a foster home, taking into account information obtained for purposes of evaluating a preliminary application, if applicable, the Department is satisfied that the facility and responsible persons reasonably meet standards prescribed for the type of facility for which application is made, it shall issue a license in proper form, designating on that license the type of child care facility and, except for a child welfare agency, the number of children to be served at any one time.

(e) The Department shall not issue or renew the license of any child welfare agency providing adoption services, unless the agency (i) is officially recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or any successor provision of federal tax law) and (ii) is in compliance with all of the standards necessary to maintain its status as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or any successor provision of federal tax law). The Department shall grant a grace period of 24 months from August 15, 2005 (the effective date of Public Act 94-586) for existing child welfare agencies providing adoption services to obtain 501(c)(3) status. The Department shall permit an existing child welfare agency that converts from its current structure in order to be recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization as required by this Section to either retain its current license or transfer its current license to a newly formed entity, if the creation of a new entity is required in order to comply with this Section, provided that the child welfare agency demonstrates that it continues to meet all other licensing requirements and that the principal officers and directors and programs of the converted child welfare agency or newly organized child welfare agency are substantially the same as the original. The Department shall have the sole discretion to grant a one-year extension to any agency unable to obtain 501(c)(3) status within the timeframe specified in this subsection (e), provided that such agency has filed an application for 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service within the 2-year timeframe specified in this subsection (e).

(f) The Department shall adopt rules to implement the changes to this Section made by Public Act 103-770 no later than January 1, 2025.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 103-770, eff. 1-1-25; 103-1061, eff. 7-1-25; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/4.01)
    Sec. 4.01. License requirement; application; notice; Department of Early Childhood.

(a) Any early care and education provider who provides care and education services must apply for a license to operate one of the types of early care and education providers defined in Sections 2.09, 2.18, and 2.20 or, for providers that offer programs described in subsection (d-10) of Section 3, must comply with the requirements to be registered as a Recognized Alternative Provider.

(b) Application for a license to operate an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home must be made to the Department of Early Childhood in the manner and on forms prescribed by it.

(c) If, upon examination of the early care and education provider and investigation of persons responsible for care of children, the Department of Early Childhood is satisfied that the provider and responsible persons reasonably meet standards prescribed for the type of provider for which application is made, including health and safety standards, facility standards, staffing standards, nutrition standards, and other standards prescribed by the Department of Early Childhood, it shall issue a license in proper form, designating on that license the type of early care and education provider and the number of children to be served at any one time.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/4.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 2214.1)
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-1072)
    Sec. 4.1. Criminal background investigations.

(a) In this Section, "third-party vendor" means a third-party fingerprinting vendor who is licensed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and regulated by 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1240.600.

(b) The Department shall require that each child care facility license applicant as part of the application process, and each employee and volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider, as a condition of employment, authorize an investigation to determine if such applicant, employee, or volunteer has ever been charged with a crime and if so, the disposition of those charges; this authorization shall indicate the scope of the inquiry and the agencies which may be contacted. A child care facility, non-licensed service provider, day care center, group day care home, or day care home may authorize the Department or a third-party vendor to collect fingerprints for the investigation. If a third-party vendor is used for fingerprinting, then the child care facility, non-licensed service provider, day care center, group day care home, or day care home shall pay the third-party vendor for that service directly. If a child care facility, non-licensed service provider, day care center, group day care home, or day care home authorizes the Department or a third-party vendor to collect fingerprints for the investigation, the Director shall request and receive information and assistance from any federal, State, or local governmental agency as part of the authorized investigation. Each applicant, employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider shall submit the applicant's, employee's, or volunteer's fingerprints to the Illinois State Police in the form and manner prescribed by the Illinois State Police. These fingerprints shall be checked against the fingerprint records now and hereafter filed in the Illinois State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history records databases. The Illinois State Police shall charge a fee for conducting the criminal history records check, which shall be deposited in the State Police Services Fund and shall not exceed the actual cost of the records check. The Illinois State Police shall provide information concerning any criminal charges, and their disposition, now or hereafter filed, against an applicant, employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider upon request of the Department of Children and Family Services when the request is made in the form and manner required by the Illinois State Police.

Information concerning convictions of a license applicant, employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider investigated under this Section, including the source of the information and any conclusions or recommendations derived from the information, shall be provided, upon request, to such applicant, employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider prior to final action by the Department on the application. State conviction information provided by the Illinois State Police regarding employees, prospective employees, or volunteers of non-licensed service providers and child care facilities licensed under this Act shall be provided to the operator of such facility, and, upon request, to the employee, prospective employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider. Any information concerning criminal charges and the disposition of such charges obtained by the Department shall be confidential and may not be transmitted outside the Department, except as required herein, and may not be transmitted to anyone within the Department except as needed for the purpose of evaluating an application or an employee or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider. Only information and standards which bear a reasonable and rational relation to the performance of a child care facility shall be used by the Department or any licensee. Any employee of the Department of Children and Family Services, Illinois State Police, or a child care facility receiving confidential information under this Section who gives or causes to be given any confidential information concerning any criminal convictions of an applicant, employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider, shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor unless release of such information is authorized by this Section.

A child care facility may hire, on a probationary basis, any employee or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider authorizing a criminal background investigation under this Section, pending the result of such investigation. Employees and volunteers of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider shall be notified prior to hiring that such employment may be terminated on the basis of criminal background information obtained by the facility.

(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 103-1072, eff. 1-1-26.)

    (Text of Section from P.A. 104-307)
    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 103-594)
    Sec. 4.1. Criminal background investigations.

The Department shall require that each child care facility license applicant as part of the application process, and each employee and volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider, as a condition of employment, authorize an investigation to determine if such applicant, employee, or volunteer has ever been charged with a crime and if so, the disposition of those charges; this authorization shall indicate the scope of the inquiry and the agencies which may be contacted. An employee or volunteer of a day care center, day care home, or group day care home shall authorize an investigation every 5 years, as required under the Child Care and Development Block Grant. Upon this authorization, the Director shall request and receive information and assistance from any federal, State or local governmental agency as part of the authorized investigation. Each applicant, employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider shall submit the applicant's, employee's, or volunteer's fingerprints to the Illinois State Police in the form and manner prescribed by the Illinois State Police. These fingerprints shall be checked against the fingerprint records now and hereafter filed in the Illinois State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history records databases. The Illinois State Police shall charge a fee for conducting the criminal history records check, which shall be deposited in the State Police Services Fund and shall not exceed the actual cost of the records check. The Illinois State Police shall provide information concerning any criminal charges, and their disposition, now or hereafter filed, against an applicant, employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider upon request of the Department of Children and Family Services when the request is made in the form and manner required by the Illinois State Police.

Information concerning convictions of a license applicant, employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider investigated under this Section, including the source of the information and any conclusions or recommendations derived from the information, shall be provided, upon request, to such applicant, employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider prior to final action by the Department on the application. State conviction information provided by the Illinois State Police regarding employees, prospective employees, or volunteers of non-licensed service providers and child care facilities licensed under this Act shall be provided to the operator of such facility, and, upon request, to the employee, prospective employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider. Any information concerning criminal charges and the disposition of such charges obtained by the Department shall be confidential and may not be transmitted outside the Department, except as required herein, and may not be transmitted to anyone within the Department except as needed for the purpose of evaluating an application or an employee or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider. Only information and standards which bear a reasonable and rational relation to the performance of a child care facility shall be used by the Department or any licensee. Any employee of the Department of Children and Family Services, Illinois State Police, or a child care facility receiving confidential information under this Section who gives or causes to be given any confidential information concerning any criminal convictions of an applicant, employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider, shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor unless release of such information is authorized by this Section.

The Department of Children and Family Services, through June 30, 2026, or the Department of Early Childhood, on and after July 1, 2026, shall allow day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes to hire, on a probationary basis, any employee or volunteer authorizing a criminal background investigation under this Section after receiving a qualifying result, as determined by the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood, whichever is applicable, pursuant to this Act, from either:

(1) the Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint

criminal background check; or

(2) the Illinois State Police fingerprint criminal

background check and a criminal record check of the criminal repository of each state in which the employee or volunteer resided during the preceding 5 years.

Pending full clearance of all background check requirements, the prospective employee or volunteer must be supervised at all times by an individual who received a qualifying result on all background check components. Employees and volunteers of a day care center, day care home, or group day care home shall be notified prior to hiring that such employment may be terminated on the basis of criminal background information obtained by the facility.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 104-307, eff. 1-1-26.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 103-594)
Sec. 4.1. Criminal background investigations.

The Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood shall require that each child care facility license applicant under the agencies' respective authority as part of the application process, and each employee and volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider, as a condition of employment, authorize an investigation to determine if such applicant, employee, or volunteer has ever been charged with a crime and if so, the disposition of those charges; this authorization shall indicate the scope of the inquiry and the agencies which may be contacted. An employee or volunteer of a day care center, day care home, or group day care home shall authorize an investigation every 5 years, as required under the Child Care and Development Block Grant. Upon this authorization, the Director shall request and receive information and assistance from any federal, State or local governmental agency as part of the authorized investigation. Each applicant, employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider shall submit the applicant's, employee's, or volunteer's fingerprints to the Illinois State Police in the form and manner prescribed by the Illinois State Police. These fingerprints shall be checked against the fingerprint records now and hereafter filed in the Illinois State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history records databases. The Illinois State Police shall charge a fee for conducting the criminal history records check, which shall be deposited in the State Police Services Fund and shall not exceed the actual cost of the records check. The Illinois State Police shall provide information concerning any criminal charges, and their disposition, now or hereafter filed, against an applicant, employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider upon request of the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood when the request is made in the form and manner required by the Illinois State Police.

Information concerning convictions of a license applicant, employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider investigated under this Section, including the source of the information and any conclusions or recommendations derived from the information, shall be provided, upon request, to such applicant, employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider prior to final action by the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood under the agencies' respective authority on the application. State conviction information provided by the Illinois State Police regarding employees, prospective employees, or volunteers of non-licensed service providers and child care facilities licensed under this Act shall be provided to the operator of such facility, and, upon request, to the employee, prospective employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider. Any information concerning criminal charges and the disposition of such charges obtained by the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood shall be confidential and may not be transmitted outside the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood, except as required herein, and may not be transmitted to anyone within the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood except as needed for the purpose of evaluating an application or an employee or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider. Only information and standards which bear a reasonable and rational relation to the performance of a child care facility shall be used by the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood or any licensee. Any employee of the Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Early Childhood, Illinois State Police, or a child care facility receiving confidential information under this Section who gives or causes to be given any confidential information concerning any criminal convictions of an applicant, employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service provider, shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor unless release of such information is authorized by this Section.

The Department of Children and Family Services, through June 30, 2026, or the Department of Early Childhood, on and after July 1, 2026, shall allow day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes to hire, on a probationary basis, any employee or volunteer authorizing a criminal background investigation under this Section after receiving a qualifying result, as determined by the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood, whichever is applicable, pursuant to this Act, from either:

(1) the Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint

criminal background check; or

(2) the Illinois State Police fingerprint criminal

background check and a criminal record check of the criminal repository of each state in which the employee or volunteer resided during the preceding 5 years.

Pending full clearance of all background check requirements, the prospective employee or volunteer must be supervised at all times by an individual who received a qualifying result on all background check components. Employees and volunteers of a day care center, day care home, or group day care home shall be notified prior to hiring that such employment may be terminated on the basis of criminal background information obtained by the facility.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-307, eff. 1-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/4.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 2214.2)
Sec. 4.2.

(a) No applicant may receive a license from the Department and no person may be employed by a licensed early care and education provider who refuses to authorize an investigation as required by Section 4.1.

(b) In addition to the other provisions of this Section, no applicant may receive a license from the Department and no person may be employed by an early care and education provider licensed by the Department who has been declared a sexually dangerous person under the Sexually Dangerous Persons Act, or convicted of committing or attempting to commit any of the following offenses stipulated under the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012:

        (1) murder;
        (1.1) solicitation of murder;
        (1.2) solicitation of murder for hire;
        (1.3) intentional homicide of an unborn child;
        (1.4) voluntary manslaughter of an unborn child;
        (1.5) involuntary manslaughter;
        (1.6) reckless homicide;
        (1.7) concealment of a homicidal death;
        (1.8) involuntary manslaughter of an unborn child;
        (1.9) reckless homicide of an unborn child;
        (1.10) drug-induced homicide;
        (2) a sex offense under Article 11, except offenses

described in Sections 11-7, 11-8, 11-12, 11-13, 11-35, 11-40, and 11-45;

        (3) kidnapping;
        (3.1) aggravated unlawful restraint;
        (3.2) forcible detention;
        (3.3) harboring a runaway;
        (3.4) aiding and abetting child abduction;
        (4) aggravated kidnapping;
        (5) child abduction;
        (6) aggravated battery of a child as described in

Section 12-4.3 or subdivision (b)(1) of Section 12-3.05;

        (7) criminal sexual assault;
        (8) aggravated criminal sexual assault;
        (8.1) predatory criminal sexual assault of a child;
        (9) criminal sexual abuse;
        (10) aggravated sexual abuse;
        (11) heinous battery as described in Section 12-4.1

or subdivision (a)(2) of Section 12-3.05;

(12) aggravated battery with a firearm as described

in Section 12-4.2 or subdivision (e)(1), (e)(2), (e)(3), or (e)(4) of Section 12-3.05;

(13) tampering with food, drugs, or cosmetics;
(14) drug induced infliction of great bodily harm as

described in Section 12-4.7 or subdivision (g)(1) of Section 12-3.05;

        (15) hate crime;
        (16) stalking;
        (17) aggravated stalking;
        (18) threatening public officials;
        (19) home invasion;
        (20) vehicular invasion;
        (21) criminal transmission of HIV;
        (22) criminal abuse or neglect of an elderly person

or person with a disability as described in Section 12-21 or subsection (e) of Section 12-4.4a;

        (23) child abandonment;
        (24) endangering the life or health of a child;
        (25) ritual mutilation;
        (26) ritualized abuse of a child;
        (27) an offense in any other jurisdiction the

elements of which are similar and bear a substantial relationship to any of the foregoing offenses.

(b-1) In addition to the other provisions of this Section, beginning January 1, 2004, no new applicant and, on the date of licensure renewal, no current licensee may operate or receive a license from the Department to operate, no person may be employed by, and no adult person may reside in an early care and education provider's location licensed by the Department who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit any of the following offenses or an offense in any other jurisdiction the elements of which are similar and bear a substantial relationship to any of the following offenses:

(I) BODILY HARM
        (1) Felony aggravated assault.
        (2) Vehicular endangerment.
        (3) Felony domestic battery.
        (4) Aggravated battery.
        (5) Heinous battery.
        (6) Aggravated battery with a firearm.
        (7) Aggravated battery of an unborn child.
        (8) Aggravated battery of a senior citizen.
        (9) Intimidation.
        (10) Compelling organization membership of persons.
        (11) Abuse and criminal neglect of a long term care

facility resident.

        (12) Felony violation of an order of protection.
(II) OFFENSES AFFECTING PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND DECENCY
        (1) Felony unlawful possession of weapons.
        (2) Aggravated discharge of a firearm.
        (3) Reckless discharge of a firearm.
        (4) Unlawful use of metal piercing bullets.
        (5) Unlawful sale or delivery of firearms on the

premises of any school.

        (6) Disarming a police officer.
        (7) Obstructing justice.
        (8) Concealing or aiding a fugitive.
        (9) Armed violence.
        (10) Felony contributing to the criminal delinquency

of a juvenile.

(III) DRUG OFFENSES
        (1) Possession of more than 30 grams of cannabis.
        (2) Manufacture of more than 10 grams of cannabis.
        (3) Cannabis trafficking.
        (4) Delivery of cannabis on school grounds.
        (5) Unauthorized production of more than 5 cannabis

sativa plants.

(6) Calculated criminal cannabis conspiracy.
(7) Unauthorized manufacture or delivery of

controlled substances.

(8) Controlled substance trafficking.
(9) Manufacture, distribution, or advertisement of

look-alike substances.

        (10) Calculated criminal drug conspiracy.
        (11) Street gang criminal drug conspiracy.
        (12) Permitting unlawful use of a building.
        (13) Delivery of controlled, counterfeit, or

look-alike substances to persons under age 18, or at truck stops, rest stops, or safety rest areas, or on school property.

(14) Using, engaging, or employing persons under 18

to deliver controlled, counterfeit, or look-alike substances.

        (15) Delivery of controlled substances.
        (16) Sale or delivery of drug paraphernalia.
        (17) Felony possession, sale, or exchange of

instruments adapted for use of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, or cannabis by subcutaneous injection.

(18) Felony possession of a controlled substance.
(19) Any violation of the Methamphetamine Control and

Community Protection Act.

(b-1.5) In addition to any other provision of this Section, for applicants with access to confidential financial information or who submit documentation to support billing, the Department may, in its discretion, deny or refuse to renew a license to an applicant who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit any of the following felony offenses:

(1) financial institution fraud under Section 17-10.6

of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(2) identity theft under Section 16-30 of the

Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(3) financial exploitation of an elderly person or a

person with a disability under Section 17-56 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(4) computer tampering under Section 17-51 of the

Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(5) aggravated computer tampering under Section 17-52

of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(6) computer fraud under Section 17-50 of the

Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(7) deceptive practices under Section 17-1 of the

Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(8) forgery under Section 17-3 of the Criminal Code

of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(9) State benefits fraud under Section 17-6 of the

Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(10) mail fraud and wire fraud under Section 17-24 of

the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(11) theft under paragraphs (1.1) through (11) of

subsection (b) of Section 16-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012.

(b-2) Notwithstanding subsection (b-1), the Department may make an exception and, for early care and education providers other than foster family homes, issue a new early care and education provider license to or renew the existing early care and education provider license of an applicant, a person employed by an early care and education provider, or an applicant who has an adult residing in a home early care and education provider who was convicted of an offense described in subsection (b-1), provided that all of the following requirements are met:

(1) The relevant criminal offense occurred more than

5 years prior to the date of application or renewal, except for drug offenses. The relevant drug offense must have occurred more than 10 years prior to the date of application or renewal, unless the applicant passed a drug test, arranged and paid for by the early care and education provider, no less than 5 years after the offense.

(2) The Department must conduct a background check

and assess all convictions and recommendations of the early care and education provider to determine if hiring or licensing the applicant is in accordance with Department administrative rules and procedures.

(3) The applicant meets all other requirements and

qualifications to be licensed as the pertinent type of early care and education provider under this Act and the Department's administrative rules.

(c) In addition to the other provisions of this Section, no applicant may receive a license from the Department to operate a foster family home, and no adult person may reside in a foster family home licensed by the Department, who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit any of the following offenses stipulated under the Criminal Code of 1961, the Criminal Code of 2012, the Cannabis Control Act, the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, and the Illinois Controlled Substances Act:

(I) OFFENSES DIRECTED AGAINST THE PERSON
    (A) KIDNAPPING AND RELATED OFFENSES
        (1) Unlawful restraint.

    (B) BODILY HARM
        (2) Felony aggravated assault.
        (3) Vehicular endangerment.
        (4) Felony domestic battery.
        (5) Aggravated battery.
        (6) Heinous battery.
        (7) Aggravated battery with a firearm.
        (8) Aggravated battery of an unborn child.
        (9) Aggravated battery of a senior citizen.
        (10) Intimidation.
        (11) Compelling organization membership of persons.
        (12) Abuse and criminal neglect of a long term care

facility resident.

        (13) Felony violation of an order of protection.
(II) OFFENSES DIRECTED AGAINST PROPERTY
        (14) Felony theft.
        (15) Robbery.
        (16) Armed robbery.
        (17) Aggravated robbery.
        (18) Vehicular hijacking.
        (19) Aggravated vehicular hijacking.
        (20) Burglary.
        (21) Possession of burglary tools.
        (22) Residential burglary.
        (23) Criminal fortification of a residence or

building.

        (24) Arson.
        (25) Aggravated arson.
        (26) Possession of explosive or explosive incendiary

devices.

(III) OFFENSES AFFECTING PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND DECENCY
        (27) Felony unlawful possession of weapons.
        (28) Aggravated discharge of a firearm.
        (29) Reckless discharge of a firearm.
        (30) Unlawful use of metal piercing bullets.
        (31) Unlawful sale or delivery of firearms on the

premises of any school.

        (32) Disarming a police officer.
        (33) Obstructing justice.
        (34) Concealing or aiding a fugitive.
        (35) Armed violence.
        (36) Felony contributing to the criminal delinquency

of a juvenile.

(IV) DRUG OFFENSES
        (37) Possession of more than 30 grams of cannabis.
        (38) Manufacture of more than 10 grams of cannabis.
        (39) Cannabis trafficking.
        (40) Delivery of cannabis on school grounds.
        (41) Unauthorized production of more than 5 cannabis

sativa plants.

(42) Calculated criminal cannabis conspiracy.
(43) Unauthorized manufacture or delivery of

controlled substances.

(44) Controlled substance trafficking.
(45) Manufacture, distribution, or advertisement of

look-alike substances.

        (46) Calculated criminal drug conspiracy.
        (46.5) Streetgang criminal drug conspiracy.
        (47) Permitting unlawful use of a building.
        (48) Delivery of controlled, counterfeit, or

look-alike substances to persons under age 18, or at truck stops, rest stops, or safety rest areas, or on school property.

(49) Using, engaging, or employing persons under 18

to deliver controlled, counterfeit, or look-alike substances.

        (50) Delivery of controlled substances.
        (51) Sale or delivery of drug paraphernalia.
        (52) Felony possession, sale, or exchange of

instruments adapted for use of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, or cannabis by subcutaneous injection.

(53) Any violation of the Methamphetamine Control and

Community Protection Act.

(d) Notwithstanding subsection (c), the Department may make an exception and issue a new foster family home license or may renew an existing foster family home license of an applicant who was convicted of an offense described in subsection (c), provided all of the following requirements are met:

(1) The relevant criminal offense or offenses

occurred more than 10 years prior to the date of application or renewal.

(2) The applicant had previously disclosed the

conviction or convictions to the Department for purposes of a background check.

(3) After the disclosure, the Department either

placed a child in the home or the foster family home license was issued.

(4) During the background check, the Department had

assessed and waived the conviction in compliance with the existing statutes and rules in effect at the time of the hire or licensure.

(5) The applicant meets all other requirements and

qualifications to be licensed as a foster family home under this Act and the Department's administrative rules.

(6) The applicant has a history of providing a safe,

stable home environment and appears able to continue to provide a safe, stable home environment.

(e) In evaluating the exception pursuant to subsections (b-2) and (d), the Department must carefully review any relevant documents to determine whether the applicant, despite the disqualifying convictions, poses a substantial risk to State resources or clients. In making such a determination, the following guidelines shall be used:

(1) the age of the applicant when the offense was

committed;

        (2) the circumstances surrounding the offense;
        (3) the length of time since the conviction;
        (4) the specific duties and responsibilities

necessarily related to the license being applied for and the bearing, if any, that the applicant's conviction history may have on the applicant's fitness to perform these duties and responsibilities;

(5) the applicant's employment references;
(6) the applicant's character references and any

certificates of achievement;

(7) an academic transcript showing educational

attainment since the disqualifying conviction;

(8) a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities or

Certificate of Good Conduct; and

(9) anything else that speaks to the applicant's

character.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 103-822, eff. 1-1-25; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/4.2a)
    (This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)
    Sec. 4.2a. License eligibility; Department of Early Childhood.

(a) No applicant may receive a license or recognition as a Recognized Alternative Provider from the Department of Early Childhood and no person may be employed by a licensed early care and education provider or Recognized Alternative Provider who refuses to authorize an investigation as required by Section 4.1.

(b) In addition to the other provisions of this Section, no applicant may receive a license or registration as a Recognized Alternative Provider from the Department of Early Childhood and no person may be employed by a licensed early care and education provider or Recognized Alternative Provider who has been declared a sexually dangerous person under the Sexually Dangerous Persons Act, or convicted of committing or attempting to commit any of the following offenses stipulated under the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012:

described in Sections 11-7, 11-8, 11-12, 11-13, 11-35, 11-40, and 11-45;

Section 12-4.3 or subdivision (b)(1) of Section 12-3.05;

or subdivision (a)(2) of Section 12-3.05;

(12) aggravated battery with a firearm as described

in Section 12-4.2 or subdivision (e)(1), (e)(2), (e)(3), or (e)(4) of Section 12-3.05;

(13) tampering with food, drugs, or cosmetics;
(14) drug induced infliction of great bodily harm as

described in Section 12-4.7 or subdivision (g)(1) of Section 12-3.05;

or person with a disability as described in Section 12-21 or subsection (e) of Section 12-4.4a;

elements of which are similar and bear a substantial relationship to any of the foregoing offenses.

(b-1) In addition to the other provisions of this Section, beginning January 1, 2004, no new applicant and, on the date of licensure renewal, no current licensee may operate or receive a license from the Department of Early Childhood to operate, no person may be employed by, and no adult person may reside in an early care and education provider's location licensed by the Department of Early Childhood who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit any of the following offenses or an offense in any other jurisdiction the elements of which are similar and bear a substantial relationship to any of the following offenses:

facility resident.

        (12) Felony violation of an order of protection.

    (II) OFFENSES AFFECTING PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND DECENCY
        (1) Felony unlawful use of weapons.
        (2) Aggravated discharge of a firearm.
        (3) Reckless discharge of a firearm.
        (4) Unlawful use of metal piercing bullets.
        (5) Unlawful sale or delivery of firearms on the

premises of any school.

of a juvenile.

sativa plants.

(6) Calculated criminal cannabis conspiracy.
(7) Unauthorized manufacture or delivery of

controlled substances.

(8) Controlled substance trafficking.
(9) Manufacture, distribution, or advertisement of

look-alike substances.

look-alike substances to persons under age 18, or at truck stops, rest stops, or safety rest areas, or on school property.

(14) Using, engaging, or employing persons under 18

to deliver controlled, counterfeit, or look-alike substances.

        (15) Delivery of controlled substances.
        (16) Sale or delivery of drug paraphernalia.
        (17) Felony possession, sale, or exchange of

instruments adapted for use of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, or cannabis by subcutaneous injection.

(18) Felony possession of a controlled substance.
(19) Any violation of the Methamphetamine Control and

Community Protection Act.

(b-1.5) In addition to any other provision of this Section, for applicants with access to confidential financial information or who submit documentation to support billing, the Department of Early Childhood may, in its discretion, deny or refuse to renew a license to an applicant who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit any of the following felony offenses:

(1) financial institution fraud under Section 17-10.6

of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(2) identity theft under Section 16-30 of the

Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(3) financial exploitation of an elderly person or a

person with a disability under Section 17-56 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(4) computer tampering under Section 17-51 of the

Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(5) aggravated computer tampering under Section 17-52

of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(6) computer fraud under Section 17-50 of the

Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(7) deceptive practices under Section 17-1 of the

Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(8) forgery under Section 17-3 of the Criminal Code

of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(9) State benefits fraud under Section 17-6 of the

Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(10) mail fraud and wire fraud under Section 17-24 of

the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012;

(11) theft under paragraphs (1.1) through (11) of

subsection (b) of Section 16-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012.

(b-2) Notwithstanding subsection (b-1), the Department of Early Childhood may make an exception and, for an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home, issue a new early care and education provider license to or renew the existing early care and education provider license of an applicant, a person employed by an early care and education provider, or an applicant who has an adult residing in a home early care and education provider who was convicted of an offense described in subsection (b-1), provided that all of the following requirements are met:

(1) The relevant criminal offense occurred more than

5 years prior to the date of application or renewal, except for drug offenses. The relevant drug offense must have occurred more than 10 years prior to the date of application or renewal, unless the applicant passed a drug test, arranged and paid for by the early care and education provider, no less than 5 years after the offense.

(2) The Department of Early Childhood must conduct a

background check and assess all convictions and recommendations of the early care and education provider to determine if hiring or licensing the applicant is in accordance with Department of Early Childhood administrative rules and procedures.

(3) The applicant meets all other requirements and

qualifications to be licensed as the pertinent type of early care and education provider under this Act and the Department of Early Childhood administrative rules.

(c) Except for programs operating under subsection (d-10) of Section 3 that are organized under the Park District Code or the Chicago Park District Act, beginning July 1, 2027, the Department of Early Childhood shall have the sole responsibility for evaluating criminal history for early care and education provider applicants and their employees and volunteers and determining whether to issue a license, issue a registration as a Recognized Alternative Provider, or approve an individual to work in an early care and education setting based on the early care and education provider's, employee's, or volunteer's criminal history record. In evaluating the background check requirements under this Section and Section 4.1, the Department shall associate the record with the individual. In evaluating the exception pursuant to subsection (b-2), the Department of Early Childhood must carefully review any relevant documents to determine whether the applicant, despite the disqualifying convictions, poses a substantial risk to State resources or clients. In making such a determination, the following guidelines shall be used:

(1) the age of the applicant when the offense was

committed;

        (2) the circumstances surrounding the offense;
        (3) the length of time since the conviction;
        (4) the specific duties and responsibilities

necessarily related to the license being applied for and the bearing, if any, that the applicant's conviction history may have on the applicant's fitness to perform these duties and responsibilities;

(5) the applicant's employment references;
(6) the applicant's character references and any

certificates of achievement;

(7) an academic transcript showing educational

attainment since the disqualifying conviction;

(8) a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities or

Certificate of Good Conduct; and

(9) anything else that speaks to the applicant's

character.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/4.3) (from Ch. 23, par. 2214.3)
Sec. 4.3. Child abuse and neglect reports.

All early care and education provider license applicants (other than an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home) and all current and prospective employees of an early care and education provider (other than an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home) who have any possible contact with children in the course of their duties, as a condition of such licensure or employment, shall authorize in writing on a form prescribed by the Department an investigation of the Central Register, as defined in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, to ascertain if such applicant or employee has been determined to be a perpetrator in an indicated report of child abuse or neglect.

All early care and education providers (other than an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home) as a condition of licensure pursuant to this Act shall maintain such information which demonstrates that all current employees and other applicants for employment who have any possible contact with children in the course of their duties have authorized an investigation of the Central Register as hereinabove required. Only those current or prospective employees who will have no possible contact with children as part of their present or prospective employment may be excluded from provisions requiring authorization of an investigation.

Such information concerning a license applicant, employee or prospective employee obtained by the Department shall be confidential and exempt from public inspection and copying as provided under Section 7 of The Freedom of Information Act, and such information shall not be transmitted outside the Department, except as provided in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, and shall not be transmitted to anyone within the Department except as provided in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, and shall not be transmitted to anyone within the Department except as needed for the purposes of evaluation of an application for licensure or for consideration by an early care and education provider of an employee. Any employee of the Department of Children and Family Services under this Section who gives or causes to be given any confidential information concerning any child abuse or neglect reports about an early care and education provider applicant, early care and education provider employee, shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, unless release of such information is authorized by Section 11.1 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

Additionally, any licensee who is informed by the Department of Children and Family Services, pursuant to Section 7.4 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, approved June 26, 1975, as amended, that a formal investigation has commenced relating to an employee of the early care and education provider or any other person in frequent contact with children at the provider, shall take reasonable action necessary to insure that the employee or other person is restricted during the pendency of the investigation from contact with children whose care has been entrusted to the provider.

When a foster family home is the subject of an indicated report under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, the Department of Children and Family Services must immediately conduct a re-examination of the foster family home to evaluate whether it continues to meet the minimum standards for licensure. The re-examination is separate and apart from the formal investigation of the report. The Department must establish a schedule for re-examination of the foster family home mentioned in the report at least once a year.

When a certified relative caregiver home is the subject of an indicated report under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, the Department shall immediately conduct a re-examination of the certified relative caregiver home to evaluate whether the home remains an appropriate placement or the certified relative caregiver home continues to meet the minimum standards for certification required under Section 3.4 of this Act. The re-examination is separate and apart from the formal investigation of the report and shall be completed in the timeframes established by rule.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 103-1061, eff. 7-1-25; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/4.3a)
Sec. 4.3a. Child Abuse and Neglect Reports; Department of Early Childhood.

All early care and education provider license applicants and all current and prospective employees of an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home who have any possible contact with children in the course of their duties, as a condition of such licensure or employment, shall authorize in writing on a form prescribed by the Department of Early Childhood an investigation of the Central Register, as defined in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, to ascertain if such applicant or employee has been determined to be a perpetrator in an indicated report of child abuse or neglect. All early care and education providers as a condition of licensure pursuant to this Act shall maintain such information which demonstrates that all current employees and other applicants for employment who have any possible contact with children in the course of their duties have authorized an investigation of the Central Register as hereinabove required. Only those current or prospective employees who will have no possible contact with children as part of their present or prospective employment may be excluded from provisions requiring authorization of an investigation. Such information concerning a license applicant, employee or prospective employee obtained by the Department of Early Childhood shall be confidential and exempt from public inspection and copying as provided under Section 7 of The Freedom of Information Act, and such information shall not be transmitted outside the Department of Early Childhood, except as provided in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, and shall not be transmitted to anyone within the Department of Early Childhood except as provided in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, and shall not be transmitted to anyone within the Department of Early Childhood except as needed for the purposes of evaluation of an application for licensure or for consideration by an early care and education provider of an employee. Any employee of the Department of Early Childhood under this Section who gives or causes to be given any confidential information concerning any child abuse or neglect reports about an early care and education provider applicant or early care and education provider employee shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, unless release of such information is authorized by Section 11.1 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Additionally, any licensee who is informed by the Department of Children and Family Services, pursuant to Section 7.4 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act that a formal investigation has commenced relating to an employee of the early care and education provider or any other person in frequent contact with children at the provider shall take reasonable action necessary to ensure that the employee or other person is restricted during the pendency of the investigation from contact with children whose care has been entrusted to the provider.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/4.4) (from Ch. 23, par. 2214.4)
Sec. 4.4.

This Section does not apply to any early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home. For the purposes of background investigations authorized in this Act, "license applicant" means the operator or person with direct responsibility for daily operation of the provider to be licensed. In the case of providers to be operated in a family home, the Department may, by rule, require that other adult residents of that home also authorize such investigations with the exception of early care and education homes and group early care and education homes.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/4.4a)
Sec. 4.4a. Background investigations; Department of Early Childhood.

For the purposes of background investigations authorized in this Act, "license applicant" means the operator or person with direct responsibility for daily operation of the early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home to be licensed. In the case of providers to be operated in a family home, as related to early care and education homes and group early care and education homes, the Department of Early Childhood may, by rule, require that other adult residents of that home also authorize such investigations.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/4.5)
    Sec. 4.5. Children with disabilities; training.

(a) An owner or operator of a licensed early care and education home or group early care and education home or the onsite executive director of a licensed early care and education center must successfully complete a basic training course in providing care to children with disabilities. The basic training course will also be made available on a voluntary basis to those providers who are exempt from the licensure requirements of this Act.

(b) The Department of Early Childhood shall promulgate rules establishing the requirements for basic training in providing care to children with disabilities.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/4.6)
Sec. 4.6. Vaccination requirements for employees.

No person may be employed by a child care facility that cares for children ages 6 and under unless that person shows proof of having received: (i) one dose of the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccine; and (ii) 2 doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine or shows proof of immunity to MMR.

(Source: P.A. 99-267, eff. 1-1-16.)

(225 ILCS 10/5) (from Ch. 23, par. 2215)
Sec. 5.

(a) This Section does not apply to any early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home.

In respect to early care and education institutions, maternity centers, child welfare agencies, and group homes, the Department, upon receiving application filed in proper order, shall examine the providers and persons responsible for care of children therein.

(b) In respect to foster family homes, applications may be filed on behalf of such homes by a licensed child welfare agency, by a State agency authorized to place children in foster care or by out-of-State agencies approved by the Department to place children in this State. In applying for license in behalf of a home in which children are placed by and remain under supervision of the applicant agency, such agency shall certify that the home and persons responsible for care of unrelated children therein, or the home and relatives, as defined in Section 2.36 of this Act, responsible for the care of related children therein, were found to be in reasonable compliance with standards prescribed by the Department for the type of care indicated.

(c) The Department shall not allow any person to examine providers under a provision of this Act who has not passed an examination demonstrating that such person is familiar with this Act and with the appropriate standards and regulations of the Department.

(d) Licenses shall be issued in such form and manner as prescribed by the Department and are valid for 4 years from the date issued, unless revoked by the Department or voluntarily surrendered by the licensee. When a licensee has made timely and sufficient application for the renewal of a license or a new license with reference to any activity of a continuing nature, the existing license shall continue in full force and effect for up to 30 days until the final agency decision on the application has been made. The Department may further extend the period in which such decision must be made in individual cases for up to 30 days, but such extensions shall be only upon good cause shown.

(e) The Department may issue one 6-month permit to a newly established provider for early care and education to allow that provider reasonable time to become eligible for a full license. If the provider for early care and education is a foster family home, the Department may issue one 2-month permit only.

(f) The Department may issue an emergency permit to an early care and education provider taking in children as a result of the temporary closure for more than 2 weeks of a licensed early care and education provider's location due to a natural disaster. An emergency permit under this subsection shall be issued to a provider only if the persons providing early care and education services at the provider were employees of the temporarily closed provider at the time it was closed. No investigation of an employee of an early care and education provider receiving an emergency permit under this subsection shall be required if that employee has previously been investigated at another early care and education provider. No emergency permit issued under this subsection shall be valid for more than 90 days after the date of issuance.

(g) During the hours of operation of any licensed early care and education provider's location, authorized representatives of the Department may without notice visit the provider's location for the purpose of determining its continuing compliance with this Act or regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

(h) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 103-1061, eff. 7-1-25; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/5.01)
    Sec. 5.01. Licenses; permits; Department of Early Childhood.

(a) In respect to early care and education centers, the Department of Early Childhood, upon receiving application filed in proper order, shall examine the providers and persons responsible for care of children therein.

(b) In respect to early care and education homes, applications may be filed on behalf of such homes by the Department of Early Childhood.

(c) The Department of Early Childhood shall not allow any person to examine providers under a provision of this Act who has not passed an examination demonstrating that such person is familiar with this Act and with the appropriate standards and regulations of the Department of Early Childhood.

(d) Licenses issued for early care and education centers, early care and education homes, and group early care and education homes shall be valid for 3 years from the date issued, unless revoked by the Department of Early Childhood or voluntarily surrendered by the licensee. When a licensee has made timely and sufficient application for the renewal of a license or a new license with reference to any activity of a continuing nature, the existing license shall continue in full force and effect for up to 30 days until the final agency decision on the application has been made. The Department of Early Childhood may further extend the period in which such decision must be made in individual cases for up to 30 days, but such extensions shall be only upon good cause shown.

(e) The Department of Early Childhood may issue one 6-month permit to a newly established provider for early care and education to allow that provider reasonable time to become eligible for a full license. If the provider for early care and education is an early care and education home, the Department of Early Childhood may issue one 2-month permit only.

(f) The Department of Early Childhood may issue an emergency permit to an early care and education center taking in children as a result of the temporary closure for more than 2 weeks of a licensed early care and education provider's location due to a natural disaster. An emergency permit under this subsection shall be issued to a provider only if the persons providing early care and education services at the provider were employees of the temporarily closed early care and education center at the time it was closed. No investigation of an employee of an early care and education provider receiving an emergency permit under this subsection shall be required if that employee has previously been investigated at another early care and education provider. No emergency permit issued under this subsection shall be valid for more than 90 days after the date of issuance.

(g) During the hours of operation of any licensed early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home, authorized representatives of the Department of Early Childhood may without notice visit the provider's location for the purpose of determining its continuing compliance with this Act or rules adopted pursuant thereto.

(h) Early care and education centers, early care and education homes, and group early care and education homes shall be monitored at least annually by a licensing representative from the Department of Early Childhood that recommended licensure.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/5.1)
Sec. 5.1.

(a) The Department shall ensure that no group home or early care and education institution as defined in this Act shall on a regular basis transport a child or children with any motor vehicle unless such vehicle is operated by a person who complies with the following requirements:

1. is 21 years of age or older;
2. currently holds a valid driver's license, which

has not been revoked or suspended for one or more traffic violations during the 3 years immediately prior to the date of application;

3. demonstrates physical fitness to operate vehicles

by submitting the results of a medical examination conducted by a licensed physician;

4. has not been convicted of more than 2 offenses

against traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles within a 12-month period;

5. has not been convicted of reckless driving or

driving under the influence or manslaughter or reckless homicide resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle within the past 3 years;

6. has signed and submitted a written statement

certifying that the person has not, through the unlawful operation of a motor vehicle, caused a crash which resulted in the death of any person within the 5 years immediately prior to the date of application.

However, such group homes and early care and education institutions may provide for transportation of a child or children for special outings, functions, or purposes that are not scheduled on a regular basis without verification that drivers for such purposes meet the requirements of this Section.

(a-5) As a means of ensuring compliance with the requirements set forth in subsection (a), the Department shall implement appropriate measures to verify that every individual who is employed at a group home or early care and education institution meets those requirements.

For every person employed at a group home or early care and education institution who regularly transports children in the course of performing the person's duties, the Department must make the verification every 2 years. Upon the Department's request, the Secretary of State shall provide the Department with the information necessary to enable the Department to make the verifications required under subsection (a).

In the case of an individual employed at a group home or early care and education institution who becomes subject to subsection (a) for the first time after January 1, 2007 (the effective date of Public Act 94-943), the Department must make that verification with the Secretary of State before the individual operates a motor vehicle to transport a child or children under the circumstances described in subsection (a).

In the case of an individual employed at a group home or early care and education institution who is subject to subsection (a) on January 1, 2007 (the effective date of Public Act 94-943), the Department must make that verification with the Secretary of State within 30 days after January 1, 2007.

If the Department discovers that an individual fails to meet the requirements set forth in subsection (a), the Department shall promptly notify the appropriate group home or early care and education institution.

(b) Any individual who holds a valid Illinois school bus driver permit issued by the Secretary of State pursuant to the Illinois Vehicle Code, and who is currently employed by a school district or parochial school, or by a contractor with a school district or parochial school, to drive a school bus transporting children to and from school, shall be deemed in compliance with the requirements of subsection (a).

(c) The Department may, pursuant to Section 8 of this Act, revoke the license of any group home or early care and education institution that fails to meet the requirements of this Section.

(d) A group home or early care and education institution that fails to meet the requirements of this Section is guilty of a petty offense and is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000. Each day that a group home or early care and education institution fails to meet the requirements of this Section is a separate offense.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/5.1a)
Sec. 5.1a. Transportation of children; early care and education centers.

The Department of Early Childhood shall ensure that no early care and education center shall on a regular basis transport a child or children with any motor vehicle unless such vehicle is operated by a person who complies with the following requirements:

(1) is 21 years of age or older;
(2) currently holds a valid driver's license, which

has not been revoked or suspended for one or more traffic violations during the 3 years immediately prior to the date of application;

(3) demonstrates physical fitness to operate vehicles

by submitting the results of a medical examination conducted by a licensed physician;

(4) has not been convicted of more than 2 offenses

against traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles within a 12-month period;

(5) has not been convicted of reckless driving or

driving under the influence or manslaughter or reckless homicide resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle within the past 3 years;

(6) has signed and submitted a written statement

certifying that the person has not, through the unlawful operation of a motor vehicle, caused a crash which resulted in the death of any person within the 5 years immediately prior to the date of application.

However, such early care and education centers may provide for transportation of a child or children for special outings, functions or purposes that are not scheduled on a regular basis without verification that drivers for such purposes meet the requirements of this Section.

(b) Any individual who holds a valid Illinois school bus driver permit issued by the Secretary of State pursuant to the Illinois Vehicle Code, and who is currently employed by a school district or parochial school, or by a contractor with a school district or parochial school, to drive a school bus transporting children to and from school, shall be deemed in compliance with the requirements of subsection (a).

(c) The Department of Early Childhood may, pursuant to Section 8a of this Act, revoke the license of any early care and education center that fails to meet the requirements of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/5.2)
    Sec. 5.2. Unsafe children's products; Department of Children and Family Services.

(a) An early care and education provider may not use or have on its premises, on or after July 1, 2000, an unsafe children's product as described in Section 15 of the Children's Product Safety Act. This subsection (a) does not apply to an antique or collectible children's product if it is not used by, or accessible to, any child on the early care and education provider's premises.

(b) The Department of Children and Family Services shall notify early care and education providers (other than an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home), on an ongoing basis, including during the license application provider examination and during annual license monitoring visits, of the provisions of this Section and the Children's Product Safety Act and of the comprehensive list of unsafe children's products as provided and maintained by the Department of Public Health available on the Internet, as determined in accordance with that Act, in plain, non-technical language that will enable each early care and education provider to effectively inspect children's products and identify unsafe children's products. Subject to availability of appropriations, the Department of Children and Family Services, in accordance with the requirements of this Section, shall establish and maintain a database on the safety of consumer products and other products or substances regulated by the Department that is: (i) publicly available; (ii) searchable; and (iii) accessible through the Internet website of the Department. Early care and education providers must maintain all written information provided pursuant to this subsection in a file accessible to both provider staff and parents of children attending the provider. Early care and education providers must post in prominent locations regularly visited by parents written notification of the existence of the comprehensive list of unsafe children's products available on the Internet. The Department of Children and Family Services shall adopt rules to carry out this Section.

(Source: P.A. 103-44, eff. 1-1-24; 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/5.2a)
    Sec. 5.2a. Unsafe children's products; Department of Early Childhood.

(a) An early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home may not use or have on the premises an unsafe children's product as described in Section 15 of the Children's Product Safety Act. This subsection (a) does not apply to an antique or collectible children's product if it is not used by, or accessible to, any child in the early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home.

(b) The Department of Early Childhood shall notify early care and education centers, early care and education homes, and group early care and education homes, on an ongoing basis, including during the license application provider examination and during annual license monitoring visits, of the provisions of this Section and the Children's Product Safety Act and of the comprehensive list of unsafe children's products as provided and maintained by the Department of Public Health available on the Internet, as determined in accordance with that Act, in plain, non-technical language that will enable each early care and education provider to effectively inspect children's products and identify unsafe children's products. Subject to availability of appropriations, the Department of Early Childhood, in accordance with the requirements of this Section, shall establish and maintain a database on the safety of consumer products and other products or substances regulated by the Department of Early Childhood that is: (i) publicly available; (ii) searchable; and (iii) accessible through the Internet website of the Department of Early Childhood. Early care and education providers must maintain all written information provided pursuant to this subsection in a file accessible to both provider staff and parents of children attending the provider. Early care and education centers, early care and education homes, and group early care and education homes must post in prominent locations regularly visited by parents written notification of the existence of the comprehensive list of unsafe children's products available on the Internet. The Department of Early Childhood shall adopt rules to carry out this Section.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/5.3)
Sec. 5.3. Lunches in early care and education homes.

In order to increase the affordability and availability of early care and education care, an early care and education home licensed under this Act may allow any child it receives to bring the child's lunch for consumption instead of or in addition to the lunch provided by the early care and education home.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/5.5)
    Sec. 5.5. Smoking in early care and education providers.
    (a) The General Assembly finds and declares that:
        (1) The U.S. government has determined that

secondhand tobacco smoke is a major threat to public health for which there is no safe level of exposure.

(2) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently

classified secondhand tobacco smoke a Class A carcinogen, ranking it with substances such as asbestos and benzene.

(3) According to U.S. government figures, secondhand

tobacco smoke is linked to the lung-cancer deaths of an estimated 3,000 nonsmokers per year.

(4) Cigarette smoke is a special risk to children,

causing between 150,000 and 300,000 respiratory infections each year in children under 18 months old, and endangering between 200,000 and one million children with asthma.

(5) The health of the children of this State should

not be compromised by needless exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke.

(b) It is a violation of this Act for any person to smoke tobacco in any area of an early care and education center.

(c) It is a violation of this Act for any person to smoke tobacco in any area of an early care and education home or group early care and education home.

(d) It is a violation of this Act for any person responsible for the operation of an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home to knowingly allow or encourage any violation of subsection (b) or (c) of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/5.6)
    Sec. 5.6. Pesticide and lawn care product application at early care and education centers.

(a) Licensed early care and education centers shall abide by the requirements of Sections 10.2 and 10.3 of the Structural Pest Control Act.

(b) Notification required pursuant to Section 10.3 of the Structural Pest Control Act may not be given more than 30 days before the application of the pesticide.

(c) Each licensed early care and education center, subject to the requirements of Section 10.3 of the Structural Pest Control Act, must ensure that pesticides will not be applied when children are present at the center. Toys and other items mouthed or handled by the children must be removed from the area before pesticides are applied. Children must not return to the treated area within 2 hours after a pesticide application or as specified on the pesticide label, whichever time is greater.

(d) The owners and operators of licensed early care and education centers must ensure that lawn care products will not be applied to early care and education center grounds when children are present at the center or on its grounds. For the purpose of this Section, "lawn care product" has the same meaning as that term is defined in the Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act.

(Source: P.A. 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/5.7)
    Sec. 5.7. Fire inspections; authority.

(a) Per the requirements of Public Act 96-1141, on January 1, 2011 a report titled "Streamlined Auditing and Monitoring for Community Based Services: First Steps Toward a More Efficient System for Providers, State Government, and the Community" was provided for members of the General Assembly.  The report, which was developed by a steering committee of community providers, trade associations, and designated representatives from the Departments of Children and Family Services, Healthcare and Family Services, Human Services, and Public Health, issued a series of recommendations, including recommended changes to Administrative Rules and Illinois statutes, on the categories of deemed status for accreditation, fiscal audits, centralized repository of information, Medicaid, technology, contracting, and streamlined monitoring procedures.  It is the intent of the 97th General Assembly to pursue implementation of those recommendations that have been determined to require Acts of the General Assembly.

(b) For child care facilities licensed under this Act, the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall provide the necessary fire inspection to comply with licensing requirements. The Office of the State Fire Marshal may enter into an agreement with another State agency to conduct this inspection if qualified personnel are employed by that agency. Code enforcement inspection of the facility by the local authority shall only occur if the local authority  having jurisdiction enforces code requirements that are more stringent than those enforced by the State Fire Marshal. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a local fire authority from conducting fire incident planning activities.

(Source: P.A. 97-321, eff. 8-12-11.)

(225 ILCS 10/5.8)
Sec. 5.8.

Radon testing of licensed early care and education centers, licensed early care and education homes, and licensed group early care and education homes.

(a) Licensed early care and education centers, licensed early care and education homes, and licensed group early care and education homes shall have the provider tested for radon at least once every 3 years pursuant to rules established by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

(b) As part of an initial application or application for renewal of a license for early care and education centers, early care and education homes, and group early care and education homes, the Department of Early Childhood shall require proof the provider has been tested within the last 3 years for radon pursuant to rules established by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

(c) The report of the most current radon measurement shall be posted in the location next to the license issued by the Department of Early Childhood. Copies of the report shall be provided to parents or guardians upon request.

(d) Included with the report referenced in subsection (c) shall be the following statement:
"Every parent or guardian is notified that this

facility has performed radon measurements to ensure the health and safety of the occupants. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) recommends that all residential homes be tested and that corrective actions be taken at levels equal to or greater than 4.0 pCi/L. Radon is a Class A human carcinogen, the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall. For additional information about this facility contact the licensee and for additional information regarding radon contact the IEMA Radon Program at 800-325-1245 or on the Internet at www.radon.illinois.gov.".

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/5.9)
Sec. 5.9.

Lead testing of water in licensed early care and education centers, early care and education homes and group early care and education homes.

(a) The Department of Early Childhood, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, shall adopt rules that prescribe the procedures and standards to be used by the Department of Early Childhood in assessing levels of lead in water in licensed early care and education centers, early care and education homes, and group early care and education homes constructed on or before January 1, 2000 that serve children under the age of 6. Such rules shall, at a minimum, include provisions regarding testing parameters, the notification of sampling results, training requirements for lead exposure and mitigation.

(b) After adoption of the rules required by subsection (a), and as part of an initial application or application for renewal of a license for early care and education centers, early care and education homes, and group early care and education homes, the Department shall require proof that the applicant has complied with all such rules.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/5.10)
Sec. 5.10. Early care and education limitation on expulsions.

Consistent with the purposes of Public Act 100-105 and the requirements therein under paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Section 2-3.71 of the School Code, the Department of Early Childhood, in consultation with the State Board of Education, shall adopt rules prohibiting the use of expulsion due to a child's persistent and serious challenging behaviors in licensed early care and education centers, early care and education homes, and group early care and education homes. The rulemaking shall address, at a minimum, requirements for licensees to establish intervention and transition policies, notify parents of policies, document intervention steps, and collect and report data on children transitioning out of the program.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/5.11)
Sec. 5.11. Plan for anaphylactic shock.

The Department of Early Childhood shall require each licensed early care and education center, early care and education home, and group early care and education home to have a plan for anaphylactic shock to be followed for the prevention of anaphylaxis and during a medical emergency resulting from anaphylaxis. The plan should be based on the guidance and recommendations provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics relating to the management of food allergies or other allergies. The plan should be shared with parents or guardians upon enrollment at each licensed early care and education center, early care and education home, and group early care and education home. If a child requires specific specialized treatment during an episode of anaphylaxis, that child's treatment plan should be kept by the staff of the early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home and followed in the event of an emergency. Each licensed early care and education center, early care and education home, and group early care and education home shall have at least one staff member present at all times who has taken a training course in recognizing and responding to anaphylaxis.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/5.12)
Sec. 5.12. Early care and education centers operating hours.

An early care and education center may operate for 24 hours or longer and may provide care for a child for a period of up to 12 hours if the parent or guardian of the child is employed in a position that requires regularly scheduled shifts and an 8-hour period elapses between early care and education visits. The Department shall adopt rules necessary to implement and administer this Section.

(Source: P.A. 103-952, eff. 1-1-25; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/6) (from Ch. 23, par. 2216)
Sec. 6.

(a) A licensed provider operating as an "early care and education institution", "maternity center", or "child welfare agency", must apply for renewal of its license held, the application to be made to the Department on forms prescribed by it.

(b) The Department, a duly licensed child welfare agency or a suitable agency or person designated by the Department as its agent to do so, must re-examine every early care and education provider for renewal of license, including in that process the examination of the premises and records of the provider as the Department considers necessary to determine that minimum standards for licensing continue to be met, and random surveys of parents or legal guardians who are consumers of such providers' services to assess the quality of care at such providers. In the case of foster family homes, the examination shall be made by the Department, or agency supervising such homes. If the Department is satisfied that the provider continues to maintain minimum standards which it prescribes and publishes, it shall renew the license to operate the provider.

(b-5) In the case of a quality of care concerns applicant as defined in Section 2.22a of this Act, in addition to the examination required in subsection (b) of this Section, the Department shall not renew the license of a quality of care concerns applicant unless the Department is satisfied that the foster family home does not pose a risk to children and that the foster family home will be able to meet the physical and emotional needs of children. In making this determination, the Department must obtain and carefully review all relevant documents and shall obtain consultation from its Clinical Division as appropriate and as prescribed by Department rule and procedure. The Department has the authority to deny an application for renewal based on a record of quality of care concerns. In the alternative, the Department may (i) approve the application for renewal subject to obtaining additional information or assessments, (ii) approve the application for renewal for purposes of placing or maintaining only a particular child or children only in the foster home, or (iii) approve the application for renewal. The Department shall notify the quality of care concerns applicant of its decision and the basis for its decision in writing.

(c) If an early care and education provider's (other than an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home) license, other than a license for a foster family home, is revoked, or if the Department refuses to renew a provider's license, the provider may not reapply for a license before the expiration of 12 months following the Department's action; provided, however, that the denial of a reapplication for a license pursuant to this subsection must be supported by evidence that the prior revocation renders the applicant unqualified or incapable of satisfying the standards and rules promulgated by the Department pursuant to this Act or maintaining a provider which adheres to such standards and rules.

(d) If a foster family home license (i) is revoked, (ii) is surrendered for cause, or (iii) expires or is surrendered with either certain types of involuntary placement holds in place or while a licensing or child abuse or neglect investigation is pending, or if the Department refuses to renew a foster home license, the foster home may not reapply for a license before the expiration of 5 years following the Department's action or following the expiration or surrender of the license.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/6.1)
    Sec. 6.1. License renewal; Department of Early Childhood.

(a) A licensed facility operating as a day care center must apply for renewal of its license held, the application to be made to the Department of Early Childhood on forms prescribed by it.

(b) The Department of Early Childhood must re-examine every day care center, day care home, and group day care home for renewal of license, including in that process the examination of the premises and records of the facility as the Department of Early Childhood considers necessary to determine that minimum standards for licensing continue to be met, and random surveys of parents or legal guardians who are consumers of such facilities' services to assess the quality of care at such facilities. In the case of day care homes under the supervision of or otherwise required to be licensed by the Department of Early Childhood, the examination shall be made by the Department of Early Childhood. If the Department of Early Childhood is satisfied that the facility continues to maintain minimum standards which it prescribes and publishes, it shall renew the license to operate the facility.

(c) If a day care center's, day care home's, or group day care home's license is revoked, or if the Department of Early Childhood refuses to renew a day care center's, day care home's, or group day care home's license, the facility may not reapply for a license before the expiration of 12 months following the Department of Early Childhood's action; provided, however, that the denial of a reapplication for a license pursuant to this subsection must be supported by evidence that the prior revocation renders the applicant unqualified or incapable of satisfying the standards and rules promulgated by the Department of Early Childhood pursuant to this Act or maintaining a facility which adheres to such standards and rules.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/7) (from Ch. 23, par. 2217)
    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 103-594)
    Sec. 7.

(a) The Department must prescribe and publish minimum standards for licensing that apply to the various types of facilities for child care defined in this Act and that are equally applicable to like institutions under the control of the Department and to foster family homes used by and under the direct supervision of the Department. The Department shall seek the advice and assistance of persons representative of the various types of child care facilities in establishing such standards. The standards prescribed and published under this Act take effect as provided in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, and are restricted to regulations pertaining to the following matters and to any rules and regulations required or permitted by any other Section of this Act:

(1) The operation and conduct of the facility and

responsibility it assumes for child care;

(2) The character, suitability and qualifications of

the applicant and other persons directly responsible for the care and welfare of children served. All child day care center licensees and employees who are required to report child abuse or neglect under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act shall be required to attend training on recognizing child abuse and neglect, as prescribed by Department rules;

(3) The general financial ability and competence of

the applicant to provide necessary care for children and to maintain prescribed standards;

(4) The number of individuals or staff required to

insure adequate supervision and care of the children received. The standards shall provide that each child care institution, maternity center, day care center, group home, day care home, and group day care home shall have on its premises during its hours of operation at least one staff member certified in first aid, in the Heimlich maneuver and in cardiopulmonary resuscitation by the American Red Cross or other organization approved by rule of the Department. Child welfare agencies shall not be subject to such a staffing requirement. The Department may offer, or arrange for the offering, on a periodic basis in each community in this State in cooperation with the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association or other appropriate organization, voluntary programs to train operators of foster family homes and day care homes in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

(5) The appropriateness, safety, cleanliness, and

general adequacy of the premises, including maintenance of adequate fire prevention and health standards conforming to State laws and municipal codes to provide for the physical comfort, care, and well-being of children received;

(6) Provisions for food, clothing, educational

opportunities, program, equipment and individual supplies to assure the healthy physical, mental, and spiritual development of children served;

(7) Provisions to safeguard the legal rights of

children served;

(8) Maintenance of records pertaining to the

admission, progress, health, and discharge of children, including, for day care centers and day care homes, records indicating each child has been immunized as required by State regulations. The Department shall require proof that children enrolled in a facility have been immunized against Haemophilus Influenzae B (HIB);

        (9) Filing of reports with the Department;
        (10) Discipline of children;
        (11) Protection and fostering of the particular

religious faith of the children served;

(12) Provisions prohibiting firearms on day care

center premises except in the possession of peace officers;

(13) Provisions prohibiting handguns on day care home

premises except in the possession of peace officers or other adults who must possess a handgun as a condition of employment and who reside on the premises of a day care home;

(14) Provisions requiring that any firearm permitted

on day care home premises, except handguns in the possession of peace officers, shall be kept in a disassembled state, without ammunition, in locked storage, inaccessible to children and that ammunition permitted on day care home premises shall be kept in locked storage separate from that of disassembled firearms, inaccessible to children;

(15) Provisions requiring notification of parents or

guardians enrolling children at a day care home of the presence in the day care home of any firearms and ammunition and of the arrangements for the separate, locked storage of such firearms and ammunition;

(16) Provisions requiring all licensed child care

facility employees who care for newborns and infants to complete training every 3 years on the nature of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and the safe sleep recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics; and

(17) With respect to foster family homes, provisions

requiring the Department to review quality of care concerns and to consider those concerns in determining whether a foster family home is qualified to care for children.

By July 1, 2022, all licensed day care home providers, licensed group day care home providers, and licensed day care center directors and classroom staff shall participate in at least one training that includes the topics of early childhood social emotional learning, infant and early childhood mental health, early childhood trauma, or adverse childhood experiences. Current licensed providers, directors, and classroom staff shall complete training by July 1, 2022 and shall participate in training that includes the above topics at least once every 3 years.

(b) If, in a facility for general child care, there are children diagnosed as mentally ill or children diagnosed as having an intellectual or physical disability, who are determined to be in need of special mental treatment or of nursing care, or both mental treatment and nursing care, the Department shall seek the advice and recommendation of the Department of Human Services, the Department of Public Health, or both Departments regarding the residential treatment and nursing care provided by the institution.

(c) The Department shall investigate any person applying to be licensed as a foster parent to determine whether there is any evidence of current drug or alcohol abuse in the prospective foster family. The Department shall not license a person as a foster parent if drug or alcohol abuse has been identified in the foster family or if a reasonable suspicion of such abuse exists, except that the Department may grant a foster parent license to an applicant identified with an alcohol or drug problem if the applicant has successfully participated in an alcohol or drug treatment program, self-help group, or other suitable activities and if the Department determines that the foster family home can provide a safe, appropriate environment and meet the physical and emotional needs of children.

(d) The Department, in applying standards prescribed and published, as herein provided, shall offer consultation through employed staff or other qualified persons to assist applicants and licensees in meeting and maintaining minimum requirements for a license and to help them otherwise to achieve programs of excellence related to the care of children served. Such consultation shall include providing information concerning education and training in early childhood development to providers of day care home services. The Department may provide or arrange for such education and training for those providers who request such assistance.

(e) The Department shall distribute copies of licensing standards to all licensees and applicants for a license. Each licensee or holder of a permit shall distribute copies of the appropriate licensing standards and any other information required by the Department to child care facilities under its supervision. Each licensee or holder of a permit shall maintain appropriate documentation of the distribution of the standards. Such documentation shall be part of the records of the facility and subject to inspection by authorized representatives of the Department.

(f) The Department shall prepare summaries of day care licensing standards. Each licensee or holder of a permit for a day care facility shall distribute a copy of the appropriate summary and any other information required by the Department, to the legal guardian of each child cared for in that facility at the time when the child is enrolled or initially placed in the facility. The licensee or holder of a permit for a day care facility shall secure appropriate documentation of the distribution of the summary and brochure. Such documentation shall be a part of the records of the facility and subject to inspection by an authorized representative of the Department.

(g) The Department shall distribute to each licensee and holder of a permit copies of the licensing or permit standards applicable to such person's facility. Each licensee or holder of a permit shall make available by posting at all times in a common or otherwise accessible area a complete and current set of licensing standards in order that all employees of the facility may have unrestricted access to such standards. All employees of the facility shall have reviewed the standards and any subsequent changes. Each licensee or holder of a permit shall maintain appropriate documentation of the current review of licensing standards by all employees. Such records shall be part of the records of the facility and subject to inspection by authorized representatives of the Department.

(h) Any standards involving physical examinations, immunization, or medical treatment shall include appropriate exemptions for children whose parents object thereto on the grounds that they conflict with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious organization, of which the parent is an adherent or member, and for children who should not be subjected to immunization for clinical reasons.

(i) The Department, in cooperation with the Department of Public Health, shall work to increase immunization awareness and participation among parents of children enrolled in day care centers and day care homes by publishing on the Department's website information about the benefits of immunization against vaccine preventable diseases, including influenza and pertussis. The information for vaccine preventable diseases shall include the incidence and severity of the diseases, the availability of vaccines, and the importance of immunizing children and persons who frequently have close contact with children. The website content shall be reviewed annually in collaboration with the Department of Public Health to reflect the most current recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The Department shall work with day care centers and day care homes licensed under this Act to ensure that the information is annually distributed to parents in August or September.

(j) Any standard adopted by the Department that requires an applicant for a license to operate a day care home to include a copy of a high school diploma or equivalent certificate with the person's application shall be deemed to be satisfied if the applicant includes a copy of a high school diploma or equivalent certificate or a copy of a degree from an accredited institution of higher education or vocational institution or equivalent certificate.

(Source: P.A. 102-4, eff. 4-27-21; 103-22, eff. 8-8-23.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 103-594)
Sec. 7.

(a) The Department must prescribe and publish minimum standards for licensing that apply to the various types of facilities for child care defined in this Act (other than a day care center, day care home, or group day care home) and that are equally applicable to like institutions under the control of the Department and to foster family homes used by and under the direct supervision of the Department. The Department shall seek the advice and assistance of persons representative of the various types of child care facilities in establishing such standards. The standards prescribed and published under this Act take effect as provided in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, and are restricted to regulations pertaining to the following matters and to any rules and regulations required or permitted by any other Section of this Act:

(1) The operation and conduct of the facility and

responsibility it assumes for child care;

(2) The character, suitability and qualifications of

the applicant and other persons directly responsible for the care and welfare of children served.;

(3) The general financial ability and competence of

the applicant to provide necessary care for children and to maintain prescribed standards;

(4) The number of individuals or staff required to

insure adequate supervision and care of the children received. The standards shall provide that each child care institution, maternity center, and group home shall have on its premises during its hours of operation at least one staff member certified in first aid, in the Heimlich maneuver and in cardiopulmonary resuscitation by the American Red Cross or other organization approved by rule of the Department. Child welfare agencies shall not be subject to such a staffing requirement. The Department may offer, or arrange for the offering, on a periodic basis in each community in this State in cooperation with the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association or other appropriate organization, voluntary programs to train operators of foster family homes and day care homes in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

(5) The appropriateness, safety, cleanliness, and

general adequacy of the premises, including maintenance of adequate fire prevention and health standards conforming to State laws and municipal codes to provide for the physical comfort, care, and well-being of children received;

(6) Provisions for food, clothing, educational

opportunities, program, equipment and individual supplies to assure the healthy physical, mental, and spiritual development of children served;

(7) Provisions to safeguard the legal rights of

children served;

(8) Maintenance of records pertaining to the

admission, progress, health, and discharge of children. The Department shall require proof that children enrolled in a facility (other than a day care center, day care home, or group day care home) have been immunized against Haemophilus Influenzae B (HIB);

        (9) Filing of reports with the Department;
        (10) Discipline of children;
        (11) Protection and fostering of the particular

religious faith of the children served;

        (12) (Blank);
        (13) (Blank);
        (14) (Blank);
        (15) (Blank);
        (16) Provisions requiring all licensed child care

facility employees who care for newborns and infants to complete training every 3 years on the nature of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and the safe sleep recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (other than employees of a day care center, day care home, or group day care home); and

(17) With respect to foster family homes, provisions

requiring the Department to review quality of care concerns and to consider those concerns in determining whether a foster family home is qualified to care for children.

(b) If, in a facility for general child care (other than a day care center, day care home, or group day care home), there are children diagnosed as mentally ill or children diagnosed as having an intellectual or physical disability, who are determined to be in need of special mental treatment or of nursing care, or both mental treatment and nursing care, the Department shall seek the advice and recommendation of the Department of Human Services, the Department of Public Health, or both Departments regarding the residential treatment and nursing care provided by the institution.

(c) The Department shall investigate any person applying to be licensed as a foster parent to determine whether there is any evidence of current drug or alcohol abuse in the prospective foster family. The Department shall not license a person as a foster parent if drug or alcohol abuse has been identified in the foster family or if a reasonable suspicion of such abuse exists, except that the Department may grant a foster parent license to an applicant identified with an alcohol or drug problem if the applicant has successfully participated in an alcohol or drug treatment program, self-help group, or other suitable activities and if the Department determines that the foster family home can provide a safe, appropriate environment and meet the physical and emotional needs of children.

(d) The Department, in applying standards prescribed and published, as herein provided, shall offer consultation through employed staff or other qualified persons to assist applicants and licensees (other than applicants and licensees of a day care center, day care home, or group day care home) in meeting and maintaining minimum requirements for a license and to help them otherwise to achieve programs of excellence related to the care of children served. Such consultation shall include providing information concerning education and training in early childhood development to providers of day care home services. The Department may provide or arrange for such education and training for those providers who request such assistance (other than providers at a day care center, day care home, or group day care home).

(e) The Department shall distribute copies of licensing standards to all licensees and applicants for a license (other than licensees and applicants of a day care center, day care home, or group day care home). Each licensee or holder of a permit shall distribute copies of the appropriate licensing standards and any other information required by the Department to child care facilities under its supervision. Each licensee or holder of a permit shall maintain appropriate documentation of the distribution of the standards. Such documentation shall be part of the records of the facility and subject to inspection by authorized representatives of the Department.

(f) (Blank).

(g) The Department shall distribute to each licensee and holder of a permit copies of the licensing or permit standards applicable to such person's facility (other than a day care center, day care home, or group day care home). Each licensee or holder of a permit shall make available by posting at all times in a common or otherwise accessible area a complete and current set of licensing standards in order that all employees of the facility may have unrestricted access to such standards. All employees of the facility shall have reviewed the standards and any subsequent changes. Each licensee or holder of a permit shall maintain appropriate documentation of the current review of licensing standards by all employees. Such records shall be part of the records of the facility and subject to inspection by authorized representatives of the Department.

(h) Any standards (other than standards of a day care center, day care home, or group day care home) involving physical examinations, immunization, or medical treatment shall include appropriate exemptions for children whose parents object thereto on the grounds that they conflict with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious organization, of which the parent is an adherent or member, and for children who should not be subjected to immunization for clinical reasons.

(i) (Blank).
(j) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 102-4, eff. 4-27-21; 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 103-594, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/7.01)
    (This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)
    Sec. 7.01. Minimum standards for licensing; Department of Early Childhood.

(a) The Department of Early Childhood must prescribe and publish minimum standards for licensing that apply to day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes. The Department of Early Childhood shall seek the advice and assistance of persons representative of day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes in establishing such standards. The standards prescribed and published under this Act take effect as provided in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, and are restricted to rules pertaining to the following matters and to any rules required or permitted by any other Section of this Act:

(1) The operation and conduct of the facility and

responsibility it assumes for child care;

(2) The character, suitability and qualifications of

the applicant and other persons directly responsible for the care and welfare of children served. All child day care center licensees and employees who are required to report child abuse or neglect under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act shall be required to attend training on recognizing child abuse and neglect, as prescribed by Department of Early Childhood rules;

(3) The general financial ability and competence of

the applicant to provide necessary care for children and to maintain prescribed standards;

(4) The number of individuals or staff required to

ensure adequate supervision and care of the children received. The standards shall provide that each day care center, day care home, and group day care home shall have on its premises during its hours of operation at least one staff member certified in first aid, in the Heimlich maneuver and in cardiopulmonary resuscitation by the American Red Cross or other organization approved by rule of the Department of Early Childhood. The Department of Early Childhood may offer, or arrange for the offering, on a periodic basis in each community in this State in cooperation with the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association or other appropriate organization, voluntary programs to train operators of day care homes in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

(5) The appropriateness, safety, cleanliness, and

general adequacy of the premises, including maintenance of adequate fire prevention and health standards conforming to State laws and municipal codes to provide for the physical comfort, care, and well-being of children received;

(6) Provisions for food, clothing, educational

opportunities, program, equipment and individual supplies to ensure the healthy physical, mental, and spiritual development of children served;

(7) Provisions to safeguard the legal rights of

children served;

(8) Maintenance of records pertaining to the

admission, progress, health, and discharge of children, including, for day care centers and day care homes, records indicating each child has been immunized as required by State regulations. The Department of Early Childhood shall require proof that children enrolled in a facility have been immunized against Haemophilus Influenzae B (HIB);

(9) Filing of reports with the Department of Early

Childhood;

(10) Discipline of children;
(11) Protection and fostering of the particular

religious faith of the children served;

(12) Provisions prohibiting firearms on day care

center premises except in the possession of peace officers;

(13) Provisions prohibiting handguns on day care home

premises except in the possession of peace officers or other adults who must possess a handgun as a condition of employment and who reside on the premises of a day care home;

(14) Provisions requiring that any firearm permitted

on day care home premises, except handguns in the possession of peace officers, shall be kept in a disassembled state, without ammunition, in locked storage, inaccessible to children and that ammunition permitted on day care home premises shall be kept in locked storage separate from that of disassembled firearms, inaccessible to children;

(15) Provisions requiring notification of parents or

guardians enrolling children at a day care home of the presence in the day care home of any firearms and ammunition and of the arrangements for the separate, locked storage of such firearms and ammunition; and

(16) Provisions requiring all licensed child care

facility employees who care for newborns and infants to complete training every 3 years on the nature of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and the safe sleep recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

All licensed day care home providers, licensed group day care home providers, and licensed day care center directors and classroom staff shall participate in at least one training that includes the topics of early childhood social emotional learning, infant and early childhood mental health, early childhood trauma, or adverse childhood experiences. Current licensed providers, directors, and classroom staff shall complete training and shall participate in training that includes the above topics at least once every 3 years.

(b) The Department of Early Childhood, in applying standards prescribed and published, as herein provided, shall offer consultation through employed staff or other qualified persons to assist applicants and licensees in meeting and maintaining minimum requirements for a license and to help them otherwise to achieve programs of excellence related to the care of children served. Such consultation shall include providing information concerning education and training in early childhood development to providers of day care home services. The Department of Early Childhood may provide or arrange for such education and training for those providers who request such assistance.

(c) The Department of Early Childhood shall distribute copies of licensing standards to all licensees and applicants for a license. Each licensee or holder of a permit shall distribute copies of the appropriate licensing standards and any other information required by the Department of Early Childhood to child care facilities under its supervision. Each licensee or holder of a permit shall maintain appropriate documentation of the distribution of the standards. Such documentation shall be part of the records of the facility and subject to inspection by authorized representatives of the Department of Early Childhood.

(d) The Department of Early Childhood shall prepare summaries of day care licensing standards. Each licensee or holder of a permit for a day care facility shall distribute a copy of the appropriate summary and any other information required by the Department of Early Childhood, to the legal guardian of each child cared for in that facility at the time when the child is enrolled or initially placed in the facility. The licensee or holder of a permit for a day care facility shall secure appropriate documentation of the distribution of the summary and brochure. Such documentation shall be a part of the records of the facility and subject to inspection by an authorized representative of the Department of Early Childhood.

(e) The Department of Early Childhood shall distribute to each licensee and holder of a permit copies of the licensing or permit standards applicable to such person's facility. Each licensee or holder of a permit shall make available by posting at all times in a common or otherwise accessible area a complete and current set of licensing standards in order that all employees of the facility may have unrestricted access to such standards. All employees of the facility shall have reviewed the standards and any subsequent changes. Each licensee or holder of a permit shall maintain appropriate documentation of the current review of licensing standards by all employees. Such records shall be part of the records of the facility and subject to inspection by authorized representatives of the Department of Early Childhood.

(f) Any standards involving physical examinations, immunization, or medical treatment shall include appropriate exemptions for children whose parents object thereto on the grounds that they conflict with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious organization, of which the parent is an adherent or member, and for children who should not be subjected to immunization for clinical reasons.

(g) The Department of Early Childhood, in cooperation with the Department of Public Health, shall work to increase immunization awareness and participation among parents of children enrolled in day care centers and day care homes by publishing on the Department of Early Childhood's website information about the benefits of immunization against vaccine preventable diseases, including influenza and pertussis. The information for vaccine preventable diseases shall include the incidence and severity of the diseases, the availability of vaccines, and the importance of immunizing children and persons who frequently have close contact with children. The website content shall be reviewed annually in collaboration with the Department of Public Health to reflect the most current recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The Department of Early Childhood shall work with day care centers and day care homes licensed under this Act to ensure that the information is annually distributed to parents in August or September.

(h) Any standard adopted by the Department of Early Childhood that requires an applicant for a license to operate a day care home to include a copy of a high school diploma or equivalent certificate with the person's application shall be deemed to be satisfied if the applicant includes a copy of a high school diploma or equivalent certificate or a copy of a degree from an accredited institution of higher education or vocational institution or equivalent certificate.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/7.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 2217.1)

Sec. 7.1.

(a) (1) A facility described in Section 2.09, 2.10, or 2.18
shall retain on file a list provided by the legal guardian of each child
under its care, designating persons to whom it may release custody of such
child, including:

(A) a primary list containing the names of persons to whom the facility
can expect to usually release custody of the child, and

(B) a contingency list containing the names of persons to whom the facility
can expect to occasionally release custody of the child, and
setting forth the manner in which such child may leave the facility in
the custody of any such person.

(2) No such facility shall release custody of any child under its care
in any manner not authorized by the child's guardian, or to any person who
is not known to the operators of the facility as, or cannot present sufficient
identification proving himself to be, an individual listed by the child's
guardian as one to whom custody of the child may be released.

(b) Each such facility shall keep a daily departure record for each child
under its care who leaves the facility with a person included on the
contingency list, and record thereon the times the child leaves the facility, the manner
of departure and the persons with whom such child leaves.

(Source: P.A. 84-1358.)

    (225 ILCS 10/7.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 2217.2)
    Sec. 7.2. Employer discrimination.
    (a) For purposes of this Section:
    "Employer" means a licensee or holder of a permit subject to this Act.
    "Employee" means an employee of such an employer.

(b) No employer shall discharge, demote, or suspend, or threaten to discharge, demote, or suspend, or in any manner discriminate against any employee who:

(1) Makes any good faith oral or written complaint of

any employer's violation of any licensing or other laws (including, but not limited to, laws concerning child abuse or the transportation of children) which may result in closure of the facility pursuant to Section 11.2 or 11.3 of this Act to the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood or other agency having statutory responsibility for the enforcement of such laws or to the employer or representative of the employer;

(2) Institutes or causes to be instituted against any

employer any proceeding concerning the violation of any licensing or other laws, including a proceeding to revoke or to refuse to renew a license under Section 9 or 9.01 of this Act;

(3) Is or will be a witness or testify in any

proceeding concerning the violation of any licensing or other laws, including a proceeding to revoke or to refuse to renew a license under Section 9 or 9.01 of this Act; or

(4) Refuses to perform work in violation of a

licensing or other law or regulation after notifying the employer of the violation.

(c)(1) A claim by an employee alleging an employer's violation of subsection (b) of this Section shall be presented to the employer within 30 days after the date of the action complained of and shall be filed with the Department of Labor within 60 days after the date of the action complained of.

(2) Upon receipt of the complaint, the Department of Labor shall conduct whatever investigation it deems appropriate, and may hold a hearing. After investigation or hearing, the Department of Labor shall determine whether the employer has violated subsection (b) of this Section and it shall notify the employer and the employee of its determination.

(3) If the Department of Labor determines that the employer has violated subsection (b) of this Section, and the employer refuses to take remedial action to comply with the determination, the Department of Labor shall so notify the Attorney General, who shall bring an action against the employer in the circuit court seeking enforcement of its determination. The court may order any appropriate relief, including rehiring and reinstatement of the employee to the person's former position with backpay and other benefits.

(d) Except for any grievance procedure, arbitration, or hearing which is available to the employee pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement, this Section shall be the exclusive remedy for an employee complaining of any action described in subsection (b).

(e) Any employer who willfully refuses to rehire, promote, or otherwise restore an employee or former employee who has been determined eligible for rehiring or promotion as a result of any grievance procedure, arbitration, or hearing authorized by law shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

    (225 ILCS 10/7.3)
    Sec. 7.3. Children placed by private child welfare agency.

(a) Before placing a child who is a youth in care in a foster family home, a private child welfare agency must ascertain (i) whether any other children who are youth in care have been placed in that home and (ii) whether every such child who has been placed in that home continues to reside in that home, unless the child has been transferred to another placement or is no longer a youth in care. The agency must keep a record of every other child welfare agency that has placed such a child in that foster family home; the record must include the name and telephone number of a contact person at each such agency.

(b) At least once every 30 days, a private child welfare agency that places youth in care in certified relative caregiver or foster family homes must make a site visit to every such home where it has placed a youth in care. The purpose of the site visit is to verify that the child continues to reside in that home and to verify the child's safety and well-being. The agency must document the verification in its records. If a private child welfare agency fails to comply with the requirements of this subsection, the Department must suspend all payments to the agency until the agency complies.

(c) The Department must periodically (but no less often than once every 6 months) review the child placement records of each private child welfare agency that places youth in care.

(d) If a child placed in a foster family home is missing, the foster parent must promptly report that fact to the Department or to the child welfare agency that placed the child in the home. If the foster parent fails to make such a report, the Department shall put the home on hold for the placement of other children and initiate corrective action that may include revocation of the foster parent's license to operate the foster family home. A foster parent who knowingly and willfully fails to report a missing foster child under this subsection is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(e) If a private child welfare agency determines that a youth in care whom it has placed in a certified relative caregiver or foster family home no longer resides in that home, the agency must promptly report that fact to the Department. If the agency fails to make such a report, the Department shall put the agency on hold for the placement of other children and initiate corrective action that may include revocation of the agency's license.

(f) When a child is missing from a certified relative caregiver or foster home, the Department or private agency in charge of case management shall report regularly to the certified relative caregiver or foster parent concerning efforts to locate the missing child.

(g) The Department must strive to account for the status and whereabouts of every one of its youth in care who it determines is not residing in the authorized placement in which the youth was placed.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 103-1061, eff. 7-1-25.)

    (225 ILCS 10/7.4)
    Sec. 7.4. Disclosures.

(a) Every licensed child welfare agency providing adoption services shall provide to all prospective clients and to the public written disclosures with respect to its adoption services, policies, and practices, including general eligibility criteria, fees, and the mutual rights and responsibilities of clients, including birth parents and adoptive parents. The written disclosure shall be posted on any website maintained by the child welfare agency that relates to adoption services. The Department shall adopt rules relating to the contents of the written disclosures. Eligible agencies may be deemed compliant with this subsection (a).

(b) Every licensed child welfare agency providing adoption services shall provide to all applicants, prior to application, a written schedule of estimated fees, expenses, and refund policies. Every child welfare agency providing adoption services shall have a written policy that shall be part of its standard adoption contract and state that it will not charge additional fees and expenses beyond those disclosed in the adoption contract unless additional fees are reasonably required by the circumstances and are disclosed to the adoptive parents or parent before they are incurred. The Department shall adopt rules relating to the contents of the written schedule and policy. Eligible agencies may be deemed compliant with this subsection (b).

(c) Every licensed child welfare agency providing adoption services must make full and fair disclosure to its clients, including birth parents and adoptive parents, of all circumstances material to the placement of a child for adoption. The Department shall adopt rules necessary for the implementation and regulation of the requirements of this subsection (c).

(c-5) Whenever a licensed child welfare agency places a child in a certified relative caregiver or licensed foster family home or an adoption-only home, the agency shall provide the following to the caregiver or prospective adoptive parent:

(1) Available detailed information concerning the

child's educational and health history, copies of immunization records (including insurance and medical card information), a history of the child's previous placements, if any, and reasons for placement changes, excluding any information that identifies or reveals the location of any previous caretaker.

(2) A copy of the child's portion of the client

service plan, including any visitation arrangement, and all amendments or revisions to it as related to the child.

(3) Information containing details of the child's

individualized educational plan when the child is receiving special education services.

(4) Any known social or behavioral information

(including, but not limited to, criminal background, fire setting, perpetration of sexual abuse, destructive behavior, and substance abuse) necessary to care for and safeguard the child.

The agency may prepare a written summary of the information required by this subsection, which may be provided to the certified relative caregiver or foster or prospective adoptive parent in advance of a placement. The certified relative caregiver or foster or prospective adoptive parent may review the supporting documents in the child's file in the presence of casework staff. In the case of an emergency placement, casework staff shall at least provide information verbally, if necessary, and must subsequently provide the information in writing as required by this subsection. In the case of emergency placements when time does not allow prior review, preparation, and collection of written information, the agency shall provide such information as it becomes available.

The Department shall adopt rules necessary for the implementation and regulation of the requirements of this subsection (c-5).

(d) Every licensed child welfare agency providing adoption services shall meet minimum standards set forth by the Department concerning the taking or acknowledging of a consent prior to taking or acknowledging a consent from a prospective birth parent. The Department shall adopt rules concerning the minimum standards required by agencies under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 103-1061, eff. 7-1-25.)

(225 ILCS 10/7.5)
Sec. 7.5. Adoptive parent training program.

Every licensed child welfare agency providing adoption services shall provide prospective adoptive parents with a training program that includes counseling and guidance for the purpose of promoting a successful adoption in conjunction with placing a child for adoption with the prospective adoptive parents and which must be completed to the satisfaction of the licensed child welfare agency prior to the finalization of the

adoption. The training may be provided by an agent or independent contractor of the child welfare agency or by a Department-approved training individual or entity.

The Department shall adopt rules concerning minimum hours, content, and agency documentation of the training and rules concerning the approval of individuals or entities conducting training under this Section. Eligible agencies may be deemed compliant with this Section.

(Source: P.A. 94-586, eff. 8-15-05.)

(225 ILCS 10/7.6)
Sec. 7.6. Annual report.

Every licensed child welfare agency providing adoption services shall file an annual report with the Department and with the Attorney General on forms and on a date prescribed by the Department. The annual reports for the preceding 2 years must be made available, upon request, to the public by the Department and every licensed agency and must be included on the website of the Department.  Each licensed agency that maintains a website shall provide the reports on its website. The annual report shall include all of the following matters and all other matters required by the Department:

(1) a balance sheet and a statement of income and

expenses for the year, certified by an independent public accountant; for purposes of this item (1), the audit report filed by an agency with the Department may be included in the annual report and, if so, shall be sufficient to comply with the requirement of this item (1);

(2) non-identifying information concerning the

placements made by the agency during the year, consisting of the number of adoptive families in the process of obtaining approval for an adoption-only home, the number of adoptive families that are approved and awaiting placement, the number of birth parents that the agency is actively working with, the number of placements, and the number of adoptions initiated during the year and the status of each matter at the end of the year;

(3) any instance during the year in which the agency

lost the right to provide adoption services in any State or country, had its license suspended for cause, or was the subject of other sanctions by any court, governmental agency, or governmental regulatory body relating to the provision of adoption services;

(4) any actions related to licensure that were

initiated against the agency during the year by a licensing or accrediting body;

(5) any pending investigations by federal or State

authorities;

(6) any criminal charges, child abuse charges,

malpractice complaints, or lawsuits against the agency or any of its employees, officers, or directors related to the provision of adoption services and the basis or disposition of the actions;

(7) any instance in the year where the agency was

found guilty of, or pled guilty to, any criminal or civil or administrative violation under federal, State, or foreign law that relates to the provision of adoption services;

(8) any instance in the year where any employee,

officer, or director of the agency was found guilty of any crime or was determined to have violated a civil law or administrative rule  under federal, State, or foreign law relating to the provision of adoption services; and

(9) any civil or administrative proceeding instituted

by the agency during the year and relating to adoption services, excluding uncontested adoption proceedings and proceedings filed pursuant to Section 12a of the Adoption Act.

Failure to disclose information required under this Section may result in the suspension of the agency's  license for a period of 90 days. Subsequent violations may result in revocation of the license.

Information disclosed in accordance with this Section shall be subject to the applicable confidentiality requirements of this Act and the Adoption Act.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23.)

(225 ILCS 10/7.7)
Sec. 7.7. Certain waivers prohibited.

Licensed child welfare agencies providing adoption services shall not require birth or adoptive parents to sign any document that purports to waive claims against an agency for intentional or reckless acts or omissions or for gross negligence. Nothing in this Section shall require an agency to assume risks that are not within the reasonable control of the agency.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23.)

(225 ILCS 10/7.8)
Sec. 7.8. Preferential treatment in child placement prohibited.

No licensed child welfare agency providing adoption services may give preferential treatment to its board members, contributors, volunteers, employees, agents, consultants, or independent contractors or to their relatives with respect to the placement of a child or any matters relating to adoption services. The Department shall define "preferential treatment" by rule and shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section. Eligible agencies may be deemed compliant with this Section.

(Source: P.A. 94-586, eff. 8-15-05.)

(225 ILCS 10/7.9)

Sec. 7.9. Excessive fees in adoption services prohibited.

Adoption services fees must be based on the costs associated with service delivery, and clients may be charged fees only for services provided. The Department shall define "excessive fees" by rule and shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section. Eligible agencies may be deemed compliant with this Section.

(Source: P.A. 94-586, eff. 8-15-05.)

    (225 ILCS 10/7.10)
    Sec. 7.10. Licensing orientation program and progress report.

(a) For the purposes of this Section, "early care and education licensing" means licensing of early care and education centers, early care and education homes, and group early care and education homes.

(a-5) In addition to current early care and education training and subject to appropriations, the Department or any State agency that assumes early care and education center licensing responsibilities shall host licensing orientation programs to help educate potential early care and education center, early care and education home, and group early care and education home providers about the early care and education licensing process. The programs shall be made available in person and virtually. The Department or its successor shall offer to host licensing orientation programs at least twice annually in each Representative District in the State. Additionally, if one or more persons request that a program be offered in a language other than English, then the Department or its successor must accommodate the request.

(b) No later than September 30th of each year, the Department of Early Childhood shall provide the General Assembly with a comprehensive report on its progress in meeting performance measures and goals related to early care and education licensing.

(c) The report shall include:
(1) details on the funding for child care licensing,

including:

(A) the total number of full-time employees

working on early care and education licensing;

(B) the names of all sources of revenue used to

support early care and education licensing;

(C) the amount of expenditures that is claimed

against federal funding sources;

(D) the identity of federal funding sources; and
(E) how funds are appropriated, including

appropriations for line staff, support staff, supervisory staff, and training and other expenses and the funding history of such licensing since fiscal year 2010;

(2) current staffing qualifications of early care and

education licensing representatives and early care and education licensing supervisors in comparison with staffing qualifications specified in the job description;

(3) data history for fiscal year 2010 to the current

fiscal year on early care and education licensing representative caseloads and staffing levels in all areas of the State;

(4) per the Early Care and Education Licensing

Advisory Council's work plan, quarterly data on the following measures:

(A) the number and percentage of new applications

disposed of within 90 days;

(B) the percentage of licenses renewed on time;
(C) the percentage of early care and education

centers receiving timely annual monitoring visits;

(D) the percentage of early care and education

homes receiving timely annual monitoring visits;

(E) the percentage of group early care and

education homes receiving timely annual monitoring visits;

(F) the percentage of provider requests for

supervisory review;

(G) the progress on adopting a key indicator

system;

(H) the percentage of complaints disposed of

within 30 days;

(I) the average number of days an early care and

education center applicant must wait to attend a licensing orientation;

(J) the number of licensing orientation sessions

available per region in the past year; and

(K) the number of Department of Early Childhood

trainings related to licensing and child development available to providers in the past year; and

(5) efforts to coordinate with the Department of

Human Services and the State Board of Education on professional development, credentialing issues, and child developers, including training registry, child developers, and Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS).

(d) The Department of Early Childhood shall work with the Governor's appointed Early Learning Council on issues related to and concerning early care and education.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 103-805, eff. 1-1-25; 104-307, eff. 1-1-26; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/8) (from Ch. 23, par. 2218)
Sec. 8.

The Department may revoke or refuse to renew the license of any early care and education provider (other than an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home) or child welfare agency or refuse to issue full license to the holder of a permit should the licensee or holder of a permit:

(1) fail to maintain standards prescribed and

published by the Department;

(2) violate any of the provisions of the license

issued;

(3) furnish or make any misleading or any false

statement or report to the Department;

(4) refuse to submit to the Department any reports or

refuse to make available to the Department any records required by the Department in making investigation of the provider for licensing purposes;

(5) fail or refuse to submit to an investigation by

the Department;

(6) fail or refuse to admit authorized

representatives of the Department at any reasonable time for the purpose of investigation;

(7) fail to provide, maintain, equip and keep in safe

and sanitary condition premises established or used for early care and education as required under standards prescribed by the Department, or as otherwise required by any law, regulation or ordinance applicable to the location of such provider;

(8) refuse to display its license or permit;
(9) be the subject of an indicated report under

Section 3 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act or fail to discharge or sever affiliation with the child care provider of an employee or volunteer at the provider with direct contact with children who is the subject of an indicated report under Section 3 of that Act;

(10) fail to comply with the provisions of Section

7.1;

(11) fail to exercise reasonable care in the hiring,

training and supervision of provider personnel;

(12) fail to report suspected abuse or neglect of

children within the provider, as required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act;

(12.5) fail to comply with subsection (c-5) of

Section 7.4;

(13) fail to comply with Section 5.1 or 5.2 of this

Act; or

(14) be identified in an investigation by the

Department as a person with a substance use disorder, as defined in the Substance Use Disorder Act, or be a person whom the Department knows has abused alcohol or drugs, and has not successfully participated in treatment, self-help groups or other suitable activities, and the Department determines that because of such abuse the licensee, holder of the permit, or any other person directly responsible for the care and welfare of the children served, does not comply with standards relating to character, suitability or other qualifications established under Section 7 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/8a)
Sec. 8a. Grounds for revocation or refusal to renew license; Department of Early Childhood.

The Department of Early Childhood may revoke or refuse to renew the license of any early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home or refuse to issue full license to the holder of a permit should the licensee or holder of a permit:

(1) fail to maintain standards prescribed and

published by the Department of Early Childhood;

(2) violate any of the provisions of the license

issued;

(3) furnish or make any misleading or any false

statement or report to the Department of Early Childhood;

(4) refuse to submit to the Department of Early

Childhood any reports or refuse to make available to the Department of Early Childhood any records required by the Department of Early Childhood in making investigation of the provider for licensing purposes;

(5) fail or refuse to submit to an investigation by

the Department of Early Childhood;

(6) fail or refuse to admit authorized

representatives of the Department of Early Childhood at any reasonable time for the purpose of investigation;

(7) fail to provide, maintain, equip and keep in safe

and sanitary condition premises established or used for early care and education as required under standards prescribed by the Department of Early Childhood or as otherwise required by any law, regulation or ordinance applicable to the location of such provider;

(8) refuse to display its license or permit;
(9) be the subject of an indicated report under

Section 3 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act or fail to discharge or sever affiliation with the early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home of an employee or volunteer at the early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home with direct contact with children who is the subject of an indicated report under Section 3 of that Act;

(10) fail to comply with the provisions of Section

7.1;

(11) fail to exercise reasonable care in the hiring,

training and supervision of provider personnel;

(12) fail to report suspected abuse or neglect of

children within the provider, as required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act;

(12.5) fail to comply with subsection (c-5) of

Section 7.4;

(13) fail to comply with Section 5.1 or 5.2 of this

Act; or

(14) be identified in an investigation by the

Department of Early Childhood as a person with a substance use disorder, as defined in the Substance Use Disorder Act, or be a person whom the Department of Early Childhood knows has abused alcohol or drugs, and has not successfully participated in treatment, self-help groups or other suitable activities, and the Department of Early Childhood determines that because of such abuse the licensee, holder of the permit, or any other person directly responsible for the care and welfare of the children served, does not comply with standards relating to character, suitability or other qualifications established under Section 7.01 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/8.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 2218.1)
Sec. 8.1.

The Department shall revoke or refuse to renew the license of any early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home or refuse to issue a full license to the holder of a permit should the licensee or holder of a permit:

(1) fail to correct any condition which jeopardizes

the health, safety, morals, or welfare of children served by the early care and education provider;

(2) fail to correct any condition or occurrence

relating to the operation or maintenance of the provider comprising a violation under Section 8 of this Act; or

(3) fail to maintain financial resources adequate for

the satisfactory care of children served in regard to upkeep of premises, and provisions for personal care, medical services, clothing, education and other essentials in the proper care, rearing and training of children.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/8.1a)
Sec. 8.1a. Other grounds for revocation or refusal to renew license; Department of Early Childhood.

The Department of Early Childhood shall revoke or refuse to renew the license of any early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home or refuse to issue a full license to the holder of a permit should the licensee or holder of a permit:

(1) fail to correct any condition which jeopardizes

the health, safety, morals, or welfare of children served by the provider;

(2) fail to correct any condition or occurrence

relating to the operation or maintenance of the provider comprising a violation under Section 8a of this Act; or

(3) fail to maintain financial resources adequate for

the satisfactory care of children served in regard to upkeep of premises, and provisions for personal care, medical services, clothing, education and other essentials in the proper care, rearing and training of children.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/8.1b)
    Sec. 8.1b. Supportive care for youth placed; licensure and contractual compliance.

(a) Any child care institution, group home, residential treatment center, foster home, or child placing agency licensed under this Act that serves a child in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services shall comply with Sections 5g, 6a, 7, 7.29, and 7.30 of the Children and Family Services Act. As a condition of licensure under this Act and of eligibility to contract with or receive placement referrals from the Department, an entity licensed under this Act that provides care to a child in the care of the Department shall comply with Sections 5g, 6a, 7, 7.29, and 7.30 of the Children and Family Services Act and agree, by contract or written agreement, to comply with those Sections.

(b) Enforcement. Failure to comply with this Section 8.1b may constitute grounds for the Department to deny or terminate placement or take licensing action, corrective action, or other remedial action authorized by law. Nothing in this subsection relieves the Department of its obligations to comply with the requirements of subsection (o) of Section 5 of the Children and Family Services Act or rules and procedures developed in accordance with that subsection (o).

(c) If any provision of this Section or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity of that provision or application does not affect other provisions or applications of this Section that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

(d) The provisions of this Section apply on and after January 1, 2028.

(Source: P.A. 104-559, eff. 7-10-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/8.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 2218.2)
Sec. 8.2.

The Department may issue a conditional license to any early care and education provider (other than an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home) which currently is licensed under this Act. The conditional license shall be a nonrenewable license for a period of 6 months and the Department shall revoke any other license held by the conditionally licensed provider. Conditional licenses shall only be granted to providers where no threat to the health, safety, morals or welfare of the children served exists. A complete listing of deficiencies and a corrective plan approved by the Department shall be in existence at the time a conditional license is issued. Failure by the provider to correct the deficiencies or meet all licensing standards at the end of the conditional license period shall result in immediate revocation of or refusal to renew the provider's license as provided in Section 8.1 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/8.2a)
Sec. 8.2a. Conditional license; Department of Early Childhood.

The Department of Early Childhood may issue a conditional license to any early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home which currently is licensed under this Act. The conditional license shall be a nonrenewable license for a period of 6 months and the Department of Early Childhood shall revoke any other license held by the conditionally licensed provider. Conditional licenses shall only be granted to providers where no threat to the health, safety, morals or welfare of the children served exists. A complete listing of deficiencies and a corrective plan approved by the Department of Early Childhood shall be in existence at the time a conditional license is issued. Failure by the provider to correct the deficiencies or meet all licensing standards at the end of the conditional license period shall result in immediate revocation of or refusal to renew the provider's license as provided in Section 8.1a of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/8.3)
Sec. 8.3. Tax exempt agency.

(a) The Department shall revoke or refuse to renew the license of any child welfare agency providing adoption services that is not (i) officially recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or any successor provision of federal tax law) and (ii) in compliance with all of the standards necessary to maintain its status as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or any successor provision of federal tax law).

(b) The Department shall grant a grace period of 24 months from the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly for existing child welfare agencies providing adoption services to obtain 501(c)(3) status. The Department shall permit an existing child welfare agency that converts from its current structure in order to be recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization as required by this Section to either retain its current license or transfer its current license to a newly formed entity, if the creation of a new entity is required in order to comply with this Section, provided that the child welfare agency demonstrates that it continues to meet all other licensing requirements and that the principal officers and directors and programs of the converted child welfare agency or newly organized child welfare agency are substantially the same as the original. The Department shall have the  sole discretion to grant a one year extension to any agency unable to obtain 501(c)(3) status within the timeframe specified in this Section, provided that such agency has filed an application for  501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service within the 2-year timeframe specified in this Section.

(c) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a licensed child welfare agency from using the services of any person, group of persons, agency, association, organization, corporation, institution, center, or group as an independent contractor to perform services on behalf of the licensed agency, provided that the licensed agency has a written agreement with the independent contractor specifying the terms of remuneration, the services to be performed, the personnel performing those services, and the qualifications of the personnel, in addition to any other information or requirements the Department may specify by rule.  The licensed agency is not exempt, by reason of the use of the contractor, from compliance with all of the provisions of this Act. The Department has the authority to disapprove the use of any contractor if the Department is not satisfied with the agency's agreement with the contractor, the personnel of the contractor who are performing the services, or the qualifications of the personnel or if the contractor violates any provision of this Act or the Adoption Act.

(Source: P.A. 94-586, eff. 8-15-05.)

(225 ILCS 10/8.4)

Sec. 8.4. Cessation or dissolution of an agency.

In the event that a licensed child welfare agency ceases to exist or dissolves its corporate entity as an agency, and in so doing  ceases to provide adoption services as defined in this Act, all records pertaining to adoption services, as that term is defined in Section 2.24 of this Act, shall be forwarded to another licensed child welfare agency with notice to the Department or to the Department within 30 days after such cessation  or dissolution. This Section shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with rules adopted by the Department governing child welfare agencies.

(Source: P.A. 94-586, eff. 8-15-05.)

(225 ILCS 10/8.5)
Sec. 8.5. Reporting suspected abuse or neglect; Department of Children and Family Services.

The Department shall address through rules and procedures the failure of individual staff at early care and education providers (other than an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home) or child welfare agencies to report suspected abuse or neglect of children within the early care and education provider's location as required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

The rules and procedures shall include provisions for when the Department learns of the early care and education provider's staff's failure to report suspected abuse or neglect of children and the actions the Department will take to (i) ensure that the early care and education provider takes immediate action with the individual staff involved and (ii) investigate whether the failure to report suspected abuse and neglect was a single incident or part of a larger incident involving additional staff members who failed to report, or whether the failure to report suspected abuse and neglect is a system-wide problem within the early care and education provider or child welfare agency. The rules and procedures shall also include the use of corrective action plans and the use of supervisory teams to review staff and provider understanding of their reporting requirements.

The Department shall adopt rules by July 1, 2016.
(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/8.6)
Sec. 8.6. Reporting suspected abuse or neglect; Department of Early Childhood.

The Department of Early Childhood shall address through rules and procedures the failure of individual staff at early care and education centers, early care and education homes, and group early care and education homes to report suspected abuse or neglect of children within the early care and education provider's location as required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

The rules and procedures shall include provisions for when the Department of Early Childhood learns of the early care and education provider's staff's failure to report suspected abuse or neglect of children and the actions the Department of Early Childhood will take to (i) ensure that the early care and education provider takes immediate action with the individual staff involved and (ii) investigate whether the failure to report suspected abuse and neglect was a single incident or part of a larger incident involving additional staff members who failed to report, or whether the failure to report suspected abuse and neglect is a system-wide problem within the early care and education provider's location. The rules and procedures shall also include the use of corrective action plans and the use of supervisory teams to review staff and provider understanding of their reporting requirements.

The Department of Early Childhood shall adopt rules to administer this Section.
(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/9) (from Ch. 23, par. 2219)
Sec. 9.

Prior to revocation or refusal to renew a license (other than a license of an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home), the Department shall notify the licensee by registered mail with postage prepaid, at the address specified on the license, or at the address of the ranking or presiding officer of a board of directors, or any equivalent body conducting an early care and education provider, of the contemplated action and that the licensee may, within 10 days of such notification, dating from the postmark of the registered mail, request in writing a public hearing before the Department, and, at the same time, may request a written statement of charges from the Department.

(a) Upon written request by the licensee, the Department shall furnish such written statement of charges, and, at the same time, shall set the date and place for the hearing. The charges and notice of the hearing shall be delivered by registered mail with postage prepaid, and the hearing must be held within 30 days, dating from the date of the postmark of the registered mail, except that notification must be made at least 15 days in advance of the date set for the hearing.

(b) If no request for a hearing is made within 10 days after notification, or if the Department determines, upon holding a hearing, that the license should be revoked or renewal denied, then the license shall be revoked or renewal denied.

(c) Upon the hearing of proceedings in which the license is revoked, renewal of license is refused or full license is denied, the Director of the Department, or any officer or employee duly authorized by the Director in writing, may administer oaths and the Department may procure, by its subpoena, the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant books and papers.

(d) At the time and place designated, the Director of the Department or the officer or employee authorized by the Director in writing, shall hear the charges, and both the Department and the licensee shall be allowed to present in person or by counsel such statements, testimony and evidence as may be pertinent to the charges or to the defense thereto. The hearing officer may continue such hearing from time to time, but not to exceed a single period of 30 days, unless special extenuating circumstances make further continuance feasible.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/9.01)
Sec. 9.01. Revocation or refusal to renew a license; Department of Early Childhood.

Prior to revocation or refusal to renew a license of an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home, the Department of Early Childhood shall notify the licensee by registered mail with postage prepaid, at the address specified on the license, or at the address of the ranking or presiding officer of a board of directors, or any equivalent body conducting an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home, of the contemplated action and that the licensee may, within 10 days of such notification, dating from the postmark of the registered mail, request in writing a public hearing before the Department of Early Childhood, and, at the same time, may request a written statement of charges from the Department of Early Childhood.

(a) Upon written request by the licensee, the Department of Early Childhood shall furnish such written statement of charges, and, at the same time, shall set the date and place for the hearing. The charges and notice of the hearing shall be delivered by registered mail with postage prepaid, and the hearing must be held within 30 days, dating from the date of the postmark of the registered mail, except that notification must be made at least 15 days in advance of the date set for the hearing.

(b) If no request for a hearing is made within 10 days after notification, or if the Department of Early Childhood determines, upon holding a hearing, that the license should be revoked or renewal denied, then the license shall be revoked or renewal denied.

(c) Upon the hearing of proceedings in which the license is revoked, renewal of license is refused, or full license is denied, the Secretary of Early Childhood, or any officer or employee duly authorized by the Secretary in writing, may administer oaths and the Department of Early Childhood may procure, by its subpoena, the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant books and papers.

(d) At the time and place designated, the Secretary of Early Childhood or the officer or employee authorized by the Secretary in writing shall hear the charges, and both the Department of Early Childhood and the licensee shall be allowed to present in person or by counsel such statements, testimony, and evidence as may be pertinent to the charges or to the defense thereto. The hearing officer may continue such hearing from time to time, but not to exceed a single period of 30 days, unless special extenuating circumstances make further continuance feasible.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/9.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 2219.1)

Sec. 9.1.

Before the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood initiates a full-scale investigation of any complaint received regarding a child care facility the Department may, when appropriate, provide procedures for the substantiation of the complaint.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/9.1a)
Sec. 9.1a. Complaint registry.

(a) The Department shall establish a complaint registry to assist in the monitoring of licensed child welfare agencies providing adoption services, which shall record and track the resolution and disposition of substantiated licensing violations.

(b) The Department shall establish and maintain a statewide toll-free telephone number and post information on its website where the public can access information contained in the complaint registry, as it pertains to the past history and record of any licensed child welfare agency providing adoption services. This information shall include, but shall not be  limited to, Department substantiated licensing violations against a child welfare agency providing adoption services and Department findings of any license violations against a child welfare agency providing adoption services.

(c) Information disclosed in accordance with this Section shall be subject to the applicable confidentiality requirements of this Act and the Adoption Act.

(Source: P.A. 94-586, eff. 8-15-05.)

(225 ILCS 10/9.1b)
Sec. 9.1b. Complaint procedures.

All child welfare agencies providing adoption services shall be required by the Department to have complaint policies and procedures that shall be provided in writing to their prospective clients, including birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees that they have served, at the earliest time possible, and, in the case of birth and adoptive parents, prior to placement or prior to entering into any written contract with the clients. These complaint procedures must be filed with the Department within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly. Failure to comply with this Section may result in the suspension of licensure for a period of 90 days. Subsequent violations may result in licensure revocation. The Department shall adopt rules that describe the complaint procedures required by each agency.  These rules shall include without limitation prompt complaint response time, recording of the complaints, prohibition of agency retaliation against the person making the complaint, and agency reporting of all complaints to the Department in a timely manner. Any agency that maintains a website shall post the prescribed complaint procedures and its license number, as well as the statewide toll-free complaint registry telephone number, on its website.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23.)

(225 ILCS 10/9.1c)
Sec. 9.1c.

Public database of early care and education homes, group early care and education homes, and early care and education centers; license status.

The Department of Early Childhood shall establish and maintain on its official website a searchable database, freely accessible to the public, that provides the following information on each early care and education home, group early care and education home, and early care and education center licensed by the Department of Early Childhood: whether, within the past 5 years, the early care and education home, group early care and education home, or early care and education center has had its license revoked by or surrendered to the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood during a child abuse or neglect investigation or its application for a renewal of its license was denied by the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood, and, if so, the dates upon which the license was revoked by or surrendered to the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood or the application for a renewal of the license was denied by the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood. The Department of Early Childhood may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to allow or authorize the Department of Early Childhood to release or disclose any information that is prohibited from public disclosure under this Act or under any other State or federal law.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/9.1d)
    Sec. 9.1d. Public list of qualified courses.

(a) As used in this Section, "institution of higher education" means any publicly or privately operated university, college, or community college in this State that offers degrees or certificates in early childhood or related coursework or similar degrees or certificates beyond the secondary school level. "Institution of higher education" includes a public, private, non-profit, or for-profit university, college, or community college authorized by the Board of Higher Education or the Community College Board to offer degrees or certificates in early childhood or related coursework or similar degrees or certificates beyond the secondary school level online, via correspondence, or physically in this State to an individual in this State.

(b) No later than January 1, 2027, the Department of Early Childhood, in collaboration with the Community College Board, the Board of Higher Education, and the Department of Children and Family Services, shall publish on its website and regularly update, at least once per year, a comprehensive list of college early childhood courses that qualify toward the attainment of the required qualifications under 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130 and 407.140 for early childhood teachers and directors.

(c) To help the Department of Early Childhood determine whether an institution of higher education's early childhood college courses meet the requirements of 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130 and 407.140, each institution of higher education shall submit, in the form and manner prescribed by the Department of Early Childhood, information about the courses.

(d) The Department of Early Childhood may adopt rules to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 104-309, eff. 1-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/9.1e)
    Sec. 9.1e. Public list of qualified courses; qualification and impartial oversight review process.
    (a) As used in this Section, "institution" has the meaning given to that term in Section 9.1d.

(b) No later than January 1, 2027, the Department of Early Childhood, in consultation with stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Illinois Community College Board, the Board of Higher Education, and, until January 1, 2027, the Department of Children and Family Services, shall create a process to verify early childhood courses that qualify toward the attainment of the required qualifications under 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130 and 407.140 for early childhood teachers and directors.

(c) As part of the development of the process established under this Section, the Department of Early Childhood shall seek input and feedback from established child care providers, Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity member institutions, early child care and education advocates, early childhood program students, and other stakeholders.

(d) The process established under this Section shall include the following elements, which also shall be posted on the Department of Early Childhood's website:

(1) criteria for the inclusion of college courses

offered by State-based and out-of-state institutions on the course list;

(2) criteria for the removal of courses from the

course list;

(3) a requirement that the removal of a course from

the course list shall not negatively impact any early childhood teacher or director or early childhood teacher or director applicant who has taken or is currently enrolled in the course;

(4) a notification plan for (i) the distribution of

the course list and (ii) any updates to all licensed child care centers in this State;

(5) an impartial oversight review process for courses

deemed ineligible for the attainment of the required qualifications for an early childhood teacher or director; and

(6) a process for establishing eligibility

requirements for college courses not on the course list.

(e) The Department of Early Childhood may adopt rules to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 104-309, eff. 1-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/9.1f)
    Sec. 9.1f. Public list of qualified courses; training for applicable State staff.

(a) Applicable State staff must be trained on the use of the course list established under Section 9.1e, the prohibitions for the course list, and the impartial oversight review process under Section 9.1e.

(b) The Department of Early Childhood may adopt rules to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 104-309, eff. 1-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/9.2)
Sec. 9.2. Toll-free number; early care and education information.

The Department of Children and Family Services and the Department of Early Childhood shall establish and maintain statewide toll-free telephone numbers that all persons may use to inquire about the past history and record of an early care and education provider operating in this State under the jurisdiction of each of the Departments. The past history and record shall include, but shall not be limited to, Department substantiated complaints by each Department against an early care and education provider and staff findings by each Department of license violations by an early care and education provider. Information disclosed in accordance with this Section shall be subject to the confidentiality requirements provided in this Act.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/10) (from Ch. 23, par. 2220)
Sec. 10.

Any circuit court, upon application either of the person requesting a hearing or of the Department of Early Childhood, may require the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant books and papers before the Department of Early Childhood in any hearing relating to the refusal to renew or the revocation of licenses. The refusal or neglect to obey the order of the court compelling the attendance or production, is punishable as in other cases of contempt.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/11) (from Ch. 23, par. 2221)

Sec. 11.

Whenever the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood is advised, or has reason to believe, that any person, group of persons or corporation is operating a child welfare agency or a child care facility without a license or permit, it shall make an investigation to ascertain the facts. If the Department is denied access, it shall request intervention of local, county or State law enforcement agencies to seek an appropriate court order or warrant to examine the premises. A person or entity preventing the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood from carrying out its duties under this Section shall be guilty of a violation of this Act and shall be subject to such penalties related thereto. If the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood finds that the child welfare agency or child care facility is being, or has been operated without a license or permit, it shall report the results of its investigation to the Attorney General, and to the appropriate State's Attorney for investigation and, if appropriate, prosecution.

Operating a child welfare agency or child care facility without a license constitutes a Class A misdemeanor, followed by a business offense, if the operator continues to operate the facility and no effort is made to obtain a license. The business offense fine shall not exceed $10,000 and each day of a violation is a separate offense.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/11.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 2221.1)

Sec. 11.1. Referrals to law enforcement.

(a) If the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Early Childhood has reasonable cause to believe that any person, group of persons, corporation, agency, association, organization, institution, center, or group is engaged or about to engage in any acts or practices that constitute or will constitute a violation of this Act, the Department shall inform the Attorney General or the State's Attorney of the appropriate county, who may initiate the appropriate civil or criminal proceedings. Upon a proper showing, any circuit court may enter a permanent or preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order without bond to enforce this Act or any rule or regulation prescribed thereunder in addition to the penalties and other remedies provided in this Act.

(b) If the Department has reasonable cause to believe that any person, group of persons, corporation, agency, association, organization, institution, center, or group is engaged or is about to engage in any act or practice that constitutes or may constitute a violation of any rule adopted under the authority of this Act, the Department may inform the Attorney General or the State's Attorney of the appropriate county, who may initiate the appropriate civil or criminal proceedings. Upon a proper showing, any circuit court may enter a permanent or preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order without bond to enforce this Act or any rule prescribed under this Act, in addition to the penalties and other remedies provided in this Act.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/11.1a)
    Sec. 11.1a. Referrals to law enforcement; Department of Early Childhood.

(a) If the Department of Early Childhood has reasonable cause to believe that any person, group of persons, corporation, agency, association, organization, institution, center, or group is engaged or about to engage in any acts or practices that constitute or will constitute a violation of this Act, the Department of Early Childhood shall inform the Attorney General or the State's Attorney of the appropriate county, who may initiate the appropriate civil or criminal proceedings. Upon a proper showing, any circuit court may enter a permanent or preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order without bond to enforce this Act or any rule or regulation prescribed thereunder in addition to the penalties and other remedies provided in this Act.

(b) If the Department of Early Childhood has reasonable cause to believe that any person, group of persons, corporation, agency, association, organization, institution, center, or group is engaged or is about to engage in any act or practice that constitutes or may constitute a violation of any rule adopted under the authority of this Act, the Department of Early Childhood may inform the Attorney General or the State's Attorney of the appropriate county, who may initiate the appropriate civil or criminal proceedings. Upon a proper showing, any circuit court may enter a permanent or preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order without bond to enforce this Act or any rule prescribed under this Act, in addition to the penalties and other remedies provided in this Act.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/11.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 2221.2)
Sec. 11.2.

Whenever the Department expressly finds that the continued operation of an early care and education provider, including such part day programs described in paragraph (1) of subsection (d-10) of Section 3 and unlicensed providers, jeopardizes the health, safety, morals, or welfare of children served by the provider, the Department shall issue an order of closure directing that the operation of the provider terminate immediately, and, if applicable, shall initiate revocation proceedings under Section 9 within ten working days. A provider closed under this Section may not operate during the pendency of any proceeding for the judicial review of the decision of the Department to issue an order of closure or to revoke or refuse to renew the license, except under court order.

This Section does not apply to unlicensed providers that qualify for an exemption under paragraph (1) of subsection (d-10) of Section 3, early care and education centers, early care and education homes, and group early care and education homes.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/11.3)
Sec. 11.3. Order of closure; Department of Early Childhood.

Whenever the Department of Early Childhood expressly finds that the continued operation of an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home, including a provider described in paragraph (1) of subsection (d-10) of Section 3 and an unlicensed provider, jeopardizes the health, safety, morals, or welfare of children served by the provider, the Department of Early Childhood shall issue an order of closure directing that the operation of the provider terminate immediately, and, if applicable, shall initiate revocation proceedings under Section 9.01 within 10 working days. A provider closed under this Section may not operate during the pendency of any proceeding for the judicial review of the decision of the Department of Early Childhood to issue an order of closure or to revoke or refuse to renew the license, except under court order.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/12) (from Ch. 23, par. 2222)
    Sec. 12. Advertisements; Department of Children and Family Services.

(a) In this Section, "advertise" means communication by any public medium originating or distributed in this State, including, but not limited to, newspapers, periodicals, telephone book listings, outdoor advertising signs, radio, or television.

(b) With the exception of early care and education centers, early care and education homes, and group early care and education homes, an early care and education provider or child welfare agency licensed or operating under a permit issued by the Department may publish advertisements for the services that the provider is specifically licensed or issued a permit under this Act to provide.

(c) Every advertisement published after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly shall include the Department-issued license number of the provider or agency.

(d) Any licensed child welfare agency providing adoption services that, after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, causes to be published an advertisement containing reckless or intentional misrepresentations concerning adoption services or circumstances material to the placement of a child for adoption is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and is subject to a fine not to exceed $10,000 or 9 months imprisonment for each advertisement.

(e) An out-of-state agency that is not licensed in Illinois and that has a written interagency agreement with one or more Illinois licensed child welfare agencies may advertise under this Section, provided that (i) the out-of-state agency must be officially recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt organization under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or any successor provision of federal tax law), (ii) the out-of-state agency provides only international adoption services and is covered by the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000, (iii) the out-of-state agency displays, in the advertisement, the license number of at least one of the Illinois licensed child welfare agencies with which it has a written agreement, and (iv) the advertisements pertain only to international adoption services. Subsection (d) of this Section shall apply to any out-of-state agencies described in this subsection (e).

(f) An advertiser, publisher, or broadcaster, including, but not limited to, newspapers, periodicals, telephone book publishers, outdoor advertising signs, radio stations, or television stations, who knowingly or recklessly advertises or publishes any advertisement offering, soliciting, or promising to perform adoption services, as defined in Section 2.24 of this Act, on behalf of a person, group of persons, agency, association, organization, corporation, institution, center, or group, not authorized to advertise under subsection (b) or subsection (e) of this Section, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and is subject to a fine not to exceed $10,000 or 9 months imprisonment for each advertisement.

(g) The Department shall maintain a website listing child welfare agencies licensed by the Department that provide adoption services and other general information for birth parents and adoptive parents. The website shall include, but not be limited to, agency addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, website addresses, annual reports as referenced in Section 7.6 of this Act, agency license numbers, the Birth Parent Bill of Rights, the Adoptive Parents Bill of Rights, and the Department's complaint registry established under Section 9.1a of this Act. The Department shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.

(h) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/12.1)
    Sec. 12.1. Advertisements; Department of Early Childhood.

(a) In this Section, "advertise" means communication by any public medium originating or distributed in this State, including, but not limited to, newspapers, periodicals, telephone book listings, outdoor advertising signs, radio, or television.

(b) An early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home licensed or operating under a permit issued by the Department of Early Childhood may publish advertisements for the services that the early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home is specifically licensed or issued a permit under this Act to provide. A person, group of persons, agency, association, organization, corporation, institution, center, or group that advertises or causes to be published any advertisement offering, soliciting, or promising to perform adoption services as defined in Section 2.24 of this Act is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $10,000 or 9 months' imprisonment for each advertisement, unless that person, group of persons, agency, association, organization, corporation, institution, center, or group is licensed or operating under a permit issued by Department of Early Childhood as an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home, as permitted by law.

(c) Every advertisement published after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly shall include the Department of Early Childhood license number of the provider or agency.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/13) (from Ch. 23, par. 2223)

Sec. 13.

Whenever a child is placed in or with a child care institution or in or
with a child welfare agency, the placement shall, whenever practicable, be
to, with or in the custody of a child care facility as is under the control
of persons of the same religious faith as that of the child. Whenever a
child is placed in a group care home or in a foster family home, the
placement must, if practicable, be made with a person or persons of the
same religious faith as that of the child.

(Source: P.A. 76-63.)

(225 ILCS 10/14.5)

Sec. 14.5. Offering, providing, or co-signing a loan or other credit accommodation.

            No person or entity shall offer, provide, or co-sign a loan or other credit accommodation, directly or indirectly, with a birth parent or a relative of a birth parent based on the contingency of a surrender or placement of a child for adoption.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23.)

(225 ILCS 10/14.6)

Sec. 14.6. Agency payment of salaries or other compensation.

(a) A licensed child welfare agency may pay salaries or other compensation to its officers, employees, agents, contractors, or any other persons acting on its behalf for providing adoption services, provided that all of the following limitations apply:

(1) The fees, wages, salaries, or other compensation

of any description paid to the officers, employees, contractors, or any other person acting on behalf of a child welfare agency providing adoption services shall not be unreasonably high in relation to the services actually rendered. Every form of compensation shall be taken into account in determining whether fees, wages, salaries, or compensation are unreasonably high, including, but not limited to, salary, bonuses, deferred and non-cash compensation, retirement funds, medical and liability insurance, loans, and other benefits such as the use, purchase, or lease of vehicles, expense accounts, and food, housing, and clothing allowances.

(2) Any earnings, if applicable, or compensation paid

to the child welfare agency's directors, stockholders, or members of its governing body shall not be unreasonably high in relation to the services rendered.

(3) Persons providing adoption services for a child

welfare agency may be compensated only for services actually rendered and only on a fee-for-service, hourly wage, or salary basis.

(b) The Department may adopt rules setting forth the criteria to determine what constitutes unreasonably high fees and compensation as those terms are used in this Section. In determining the reasonableness of fees, wages, salaries, and compensation under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of this Section, the Department shall take into account the location, number, and qualifications of staff, workload requirements, budget, and size of the agency or person and available norms for compensation within the adoption community. Every licensed child welfare agency providing adoption services shall provide the Department and the Attorney General with a report, on an annual basis, providing a description of the fees, wages, salaries and other compensation described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a) of this Section. Nothing in Section 12C-70 of the Criminal Code of 2012 shall be construed to prevent a child welfare agency from charging fees or the payment of salaries and compensation as limited in this Section and any applicable Section of this Act or the Adoption Act.

(c) This Section does not apply to international adoption services performed by those child welfare agencies governed by the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption and the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000.

(d) Eligible agencies may be deemed compliant with this Section.

(Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

(225 ILCS 10/14.7)

Sec. 14.7. Payments to birth parents.

(a) Payment of reasonable living expenses by a child welfare agency shall not obligate the birth parents to place the child for adoption.  In the event that the birth parents choose not to place the child for adoption, the child welfare agency shall have no right to seek reimbursement from the birth parents, or from any relative of the birth parents, of moneys paid to, or on behalf of, the birth parents, except as provided in subsection (b) of this Section.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Section, a child welfare agency may seek reimbursement of reasonable living expenses from a person who receives such payments only if the person who accepts payment of reasonable living expenses before the child's birth, as described in subsection (a) of this Section, knows that the person on whose behalf they are accepting payment is not pregnant at the time of the receipt of such payments or the person receives reimbursement for reasonable living expenses simultaneously from more than one child welfare agency without the agencies' knowledge.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23.)

(225 ILCS 10/15) (from Ch. 23, par. 2225)
Sec. 15.

With the exception of early care and education centers, early care and education homes, and group early care and education homes, every early care and education provider must keep and maintain such records as the Department may prescribe pertaining to the admission, progress, health and discharge of children under the care of the provider and shall report relative thereto to the Department whenever called for, upon forms prescribed by the Department. All records regarding children and all facts learned about children and their relatives must be kept confidential both by the early care and education provider and by the Department.

Nothing contained in this Act prevents the sharing or disclosure of information or records relating or pertaining to juveniles subject to the provisions of the Serious Habitual Offender Comprehensive Action Program when that information is used to assist in the early identification and treatment of habitual juvenile offenders.

Nothing contained in this Act prevents the disclosure of information or records by a licensed child welfare agency as required under subsection (c-5) of Section 7.4.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/15.1)
Sec. 15.1. Records; confidentiality; Department of Early Childhood.

Every early care and education center, early care and education home, and group early care and education home must keep and maintain such records as the Department of Early Childhood may prescribe pertaining to the admission, progress, health and discharge of children under the care of the early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home, and shall report relative thereto to the Department of Early Childhood whenever called for, upon forms prescribed by the Department of Early Childhood. All records regarding children and all facts learned about children and their relatives must be kept confidential both by the early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home and by the Department of Early Childhood.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/16) (from Ch. 23, par. 2226)

Sec. 16. (a) Subsections (a-1) through (d) do not apply to any circumstances to which Section 16.1 applies.

(a-1) Any child care facility receiving a child for care or supervision from a foreign state or country shall report that child to the Department in the same manner as is required for reporting other children.

(b) A person, agency or organization, other than a licensed child care institution or child welfare agency, may not receive a foreign child without prior notice to and approval of the Department.

(c) In all instances the Department may require a guaranty that a child accepted for care or supervision from a foreign state or country will not become a public charge upon the State of Illinois.

(d) Reports to the Department must be made, as required.

(e) The Department may enter into agreements with public or voluntary social agencies headquartered in states adjacent to the State of Illinois, regarding the placement of children in licensed foster family homes within the boundaries of Illinois, if the agencies meet the standards and criteria required for license as a child welfare agency in Illinois. The agreements may allow foreign agencies to place and supervise children for whom they have responsibility within the State of Illinois, without regard to subsection (a-1) of this Section. These agreements must, however, include a requirement that the agencies cooperate fully with the Department in its inquiry or investigation into the activities and standards of those agencies, and provide that the Department may, at any time upon 15 days written notice to an agency by registered mail, void the agreement and require the observance of subsection (a-1) of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/16.1)
Sec. 16.1. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26. Repealed by P.A. 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/17) (from Ch. 23, par. 2227)

Sec. 17.

The Administrative Review Law and the rules adopted pursuant thereto apply to and govern all proceedings for the judicial review of final administrative decisions of the Department of Children and Family Services and the Department of Early Childhood. The term "administrative decision" is defined as in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/18) (from Ch. 23, par. 2228)
Sec. 18.

Any person, group of persons, association, or corporation that, with respect to an early care and education provider other than an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home:

(1) conducts, operates, or acts as an early care

and education provider without a license or permit to do so in violation of Section 3 of this Act;

(2) makes materially false statements in order to

obtain a license or permit;

(3) fails to keep the records and make the

reports provided under this Act;

(4) advertises any service not authorized by

license or permit held;

(5) publishes any advertisement in violation of

this Act;

(6) receives within this State any child in

violation of Section 16 of this Act; or

(7) violates any other provision of this Act or

any reasonable rule or regulation adopted and published by the Department for the enforcement of the provisions of this Act;

is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and, in case of an association or corporation, imprisonment may be imposed upon its officers who knowingly participated in the violation.

Any early care and education provider (other than an early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home) that continues to operate after its license is revoked under Section 8 of this Act or after its license expires and the Department refused to renew the license as provided in Section 8 of this Act is guilty of a business offense and shall be fined an amount in excess of $500 but not exceeding $10,000, and each day of violation is a separate offense.

In a prosecution under this Act, a defendant who relies upon the relationship of any child to the defendant has the burden of proof as to that relationship.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

    (225 ILCS 10/18.1)
    Sec. 18.1. Violations; early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home. Any person, group of persons, association, or corporation that:
        (1) conducts, operates, or acts as an early care and

education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home without a license or permit to do so in violation of Section 3.01 of this Act;

(2) makes materially false statements in order to

obtain a license or permit;

(3) fails to keep the records and make the reports

provided under this Act;

(4) advertises any service not authorized by license

or permit held;

(5) publishes any advertisement in violation of this

Act;

(6) receives within this State any child in violation

of Section 16.1 of this Act; or

(7) violates any other provision of this Act or any

reasonable rule or regulation adopted and published by the Department of Early Childhood for the enforcement of the provisions of this Act;

is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and, in the case of an association or corporation, imprisonment may be imposed upon its officers who knowingly participated in the violation.

Any early care and education center, early care and education home, or group early care and education home that continues to operate after its license is revoked under Section 8 or 8a of this Act or after its license expires and the Department of Early Childhood refused to renew the license as provided in Section 8 or 8a of this Act is guilty of a business offense and shall be fined an amount in excess of $500 but not exceeding $10,000. Each day of violation is a separate offense.

In a prosecution under this Act, a defendant who relies upon the relationship of any child to the defendant has the burden of proof as to that relationship.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25; 104-480, eff. 7-1-26.)

(225 ILCS 10/19) (from Ch. 23, par. 2229)

Sec. 19.

Any license issued under the "Child Care Act", approved July 10, 1957,
as amended, remains valid until its expiration date or until revoked by the
Department under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 76-63.)

(225 ILCS 10/20) (from Ch. 23, par. 2230)

Sec. 20.

Should any Section, subdivision, clause, phrase or provision of this Act
be held unconstitutional or invalid for any reason whatsoever, that holding
shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 76-63.)