HB1251ham001 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Rep. Dave Vella

Filed: 4/7/2025

10400HB1251ham001 LRB104 05870 HLH 25067 a

AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 1251

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 1251 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Department of Early Childhood Act is amended by adding Article 25 as follows:

(325 ILCS 3/Art. 25 heading new)

ARTICLE 25. EMPLOYER-BASED CHILD CARE NEEDS ASSESSMENT

(325 ILCS 3/25-5 new)

Sec. 25-5. Definitions. As used in this Article:

"Advisory Council" means the Statewide Employer-Based Childcare Needs Assessment Advisory Council established under this Article.

"Assessment" means the employer-based child care needs assessment conducted under this Article.

"Department" means the Department of Early Childhood.

"Employer" means a person or entity engaged in a business, industry, profession, trade, or other enterprise in Illinois, whether for profit or not for profit, that has employed at least 5 employees in the State during every quarter of the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the assessment is conducted.

"Secretary" means the Secretary of Early Childhood.

(325 ILCS 3/25-10 new)

Sec. 25-10. Employer-based childcare needs assessment. The Department shall conduct a statewide employer-based childcare needs assessment, which shall be completed on or before December 31, 2027. The assessment shall: (i) examine the access to and quality of employer-based childcare in the State; (ii) identify gaps and areas for improvement to ensure equitable and high-quality early childhood care and education for all children; and (iii) explore the role of employers in supporting accessible and affordable childcare solutions. In conducting the assessment, the Department shall gather input from employees and employers through surveys, focus groups, or interviews to understand the employees' childcare needs and preferences. Based on the data in the assessment, the Department shall prepare a report that does the following:

(1) addresses the workforce needs of the State related to child care;

(2) addresses childcare challenges faced by employees, including availability, affordability, and scheduling constraints;

(3) examines existing employer-supported childcare benefits, such as subsidies, on-site care, backup care, and flexible work policies;

(4) sets forth tax credits and incentives that are available to employers and employees in the State for employer-based childcare, and explores tax credits and incentives that could be offered by the State for employer-sponsored childcare;

(5) assesses how childcare challenges affect employee retention, productivity, absenteeism, and overall workplace satisfaction;

(6) identifies employer-supported solutions to childcare challenges faced by employees; and

(7) provides data-driven actionable insights to help employers implement childcare solutions that align with both employee needs and business goals.

The report shall be submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2028.

(325 ILCS 3/25-15 new)

Sec. 25-15. Advisory Council; membership.

(a) The Statewide Employer-Based Childcare Needs Assessment Advisory Council is hereby created.

(b) Members of the Advisory Council, other than ex officio members, shall be appointed by the Governor on or before January 1, 2026.

(c) In appointing members to the Advisory Council, the Governor shall consider representatives from all geographic regions of the State, all sizes of communities in the State, and all employers in the State. In making appointments to the Advisory Council, the Governor shall strive to reflect the racial and gender diversity of this State in the composition of the Council.

(d) Members of the Advisory Council shall include, at a minimum, the following voting members:

(1) one individual representing the Department of Children and Family Services who has experience in child care licensing;

(2) the Secretary or his or her designee;

(3) the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or his or her designee;

(4) the Director of Revenue or his or her designee;

(5) one individual representing a statewide association representing manufacturers;

(6) four individuals representing four separate statewide advocacy organizations focused on early childhood, including child care provider advocacy organizations;

(7) four employers that are interested in employer-based childcare, one of whom shall represent a county with a population of fewer than 50,000 inhabitants, one of whom shall represent a county with a population of 50,000 or more inhabitants but fewer than 1,000,000 inhabitants, one of whom shall represent a county with a population of 1,000,000 or more inhabitants, and one of whom shall represent a municipality with a population of fewer than 1,000,000 inhabitants; and

(8) four individuals representing the childcare community, one of whom shall represent a county with a population of less than 50,000 inhabitants, one of whom shall represent a county with a population of 50,000 or more but fewer than 1,000,000 inhabitants, one of whom shall represent a county with a population of 1,000,000 or more inhabitants, and one of whom shall represent a municipality with a population of fewer than 1,000,000 inhabitants; individuals appointed under this item (8) may include:

(i) child care directors or day care center directors, as described in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130;

(ii) persons who operate day care homes, as defined in the Child Care Act of 1969; and

(iii) early childhood teachers, as described in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.140.

An individual may be appointed to only one position on the Advisory Council.

Members shall serve without compensation. The Advisory Council shall be dissolved upon the submission of the report to the Governor and the General Assembly under Section 25-10.

(325 ILCS 3/25-20 new)

Sec. 25-20. Duties of the Advisory Council.

(a) The duties of the Advisory Council are as follows:

(1) to provide advice and recommendations to the Department in the drafting, amendment, and finalization of the assessment and report under Section 25-10;

(2) to influence and guide the work of the Department in conducting the assessment;

(3) to assist in the gathering of data required to complete the assessment;

(4) to review and comment on the assessment and report prior to completion; and

(5) to evaluate and make recommendations, including legislative recommendations, on how to effectively establish and implement an incentive model for employer-based childcare.

(b) The Advisory Council:

(1) shall elect a chair from among its members by a simple majority vote;

(2) shall meet at the call of the chair, except for the first meeting, which shall be called by the Secretary;

(3) shall meet at least quarterly or as determined by the chair;

(4) may adopt bylaws and a charter for the operation of its business for the purposes of this Article; and

(5) shall be provided administrative support by the Department and Department staff.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.".