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90_SR0111
SDS/SR0005/nop
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, Illinois' unified child care system commenced on
3 July 1, 1997 and serves Temporary Assistance to Needy
4 Families (TANF) clients assigned to work and training
5 activities, families transitioning from welfare to work,
6 families at risk of becoming TANF clients, families with
7 special needs and working families with low incomes; and
8 WHEREAS, The new system is financed by a $100 million
9 increase in State funding and a new child care fee scale
10 which significantly increases the amount of copayments by
11 families; and
12 WHEREAS, The new child care fee scale has forced some
13 families to withdraw their children from child care programs
14 because of their inability to pay the increased copayment;
15 and
16 WHEREAS, The new child care fee scale may force some
17 parents either to quit work or leave their children home
18 alone; and
19 WHEREAS, The State of Illinois realizes that early
20 childhood programs and after school programs are vital to the
21 growth, development and safety of children; therefore, be it
22 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
23 OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Senate urges the Illinois
24 Department of Human Services to examine and investigate the
25 extent of the adverse impact of the new child care fee scale
26 on low income working families in Illinois; and be it further
27 RESOLVED, That the Senate also urges the Department to
28 consider not fully implementing the new child care fee
29 structure until a new structure is created which is more
30 fair, equitable, and sensitive to low income working families
31 in Illinois; and be it further
-2- SDS/SR0005/nop
1 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be sent
2 to the Director of the Department of Human Services.
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