HB2420 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 10080 KTG 20152 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB2420

Introduced 2/4/2025, by Rep. Maura Hirschauer

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

325 ILCS 85/95-10

Amends the Smart Start Illinois Act. Sets forth eligibility requirements for Smart Start Workforce Grants. Provides that a grant applicant must: (i) be a licensed day care home, day care center, or group day care home as of the month prior to the applicant submitting an application and maintain the applicable license for the duration of the grant; (ii) regularly provide year-round child care; (iii) meet minimum enrollment levels for children whose care is paid for by the Child Care Assistance Program, child care subsidies for foster child care, or military child care subsidies. Provides that if an applicant does not meet the minimum enrollment requirements under the Child Care Assistance Program, the applicant may qualify if the applicant maintains specified enrollment levels for children with an individualized education program or children who are English learners. Sets forth the eligibility requirements for licensed day care centers applying for a Smart Start Workforce Grant. Effective July 1, 2025.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning children.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Smart Start Illinois Act is amended by changing Section 95-10 as follows:

(325 ILCS 85/95-10)

Sec. 95-10. Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program.

(a) The Department of Human Services shall create and establish the Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program. The purpose of the Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program is to invest in early childhood education and care service providers, including, but not limited to, providers participating in the Child Care Assistance Program; to expand the supply of high-quality early childhood education and care; and to create a strong and stable early childhood education and care system with attractive wages, high-quality services, and affordable costs.

(b) The purpose of the Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program is to stabilize community-based early childhood education and care service providers, raise the wages of early childhood educators, and support quality enhancements that can position service providers to participate in other public funding streams, such as Preschool for All, in order to further enhance and expand quality service delivery.

(c) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall implement the Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program for eligible licensed day care centers, licensed day care homes, and licensed group day care homes by October 1, 2024, or as soon as practicable, following completion of a planning and transition year. By October 1, 2025, or as soon as practicable, and for each year thereafter, subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services or the Department of Early Childhood shall continue to operate the Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program annually with all licensed day care centers, licensed day care homes, and licensed group day care homes that meet eligibility requirements. The Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program shall operate separately from and shall not supplant the Child Care Assistance Program as provided for in Section 9A-11 of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(d) The Department of Human Services shall adopt administrative rules by October 1, 2024 to facilitate administration of the Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program, including, but not limited to, provisions for program eligibility, the application and funding calculation process, eligible expenses, required wage floors, and requirements for financial and personnel reporting and monitoring requirements. Eligibility and funding provisions shall be based on appropriation and a current model of the cost to provide child care services by a licensed child care center or licensed family child care home.

(e) To qualify for the Smart Start Workforce Grants, the applicant must meet all of the following requirements in addition to any other applicable requirements adopted by rule:

(1) Be a licensed day care home, licensed day care center, or licensed group day care home, as defined in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 406.2, 407.45, and 408.5, as of the month prior to the applicant submitting an application and maintain the applicable license for the duration of the grant.

(2) Regularly provide year-round child care. As used in this subsection, "year-round child care" means child care that is open and offering at least 8 consecutive hours of care per day, 5 days per week for at least 47 weeks per year.

(3) Demonstrate the following enrollment of children paid for by the Child Care Assistance Program, as provided in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 50, the Department of Children and Family Services' child care subsidies for foster child care, as provided under Section 5a of the Children and Family Services Act, and military child care subsidies paid for by the United States Department of Defense, in at least one month beginning on or after January of the previous calendar year, and prior to the date of application. The minimum enrollments shall be:

(A) For day care centers, at least 15% of licensed capacity.

(B) For day care homes, at least one child.

(C) For group day care homes, at least 2 children.

(4) If an applicant does not meet the minimum enrollment requirements under the Child Care Assistance Program, the applicant may qualify if the applicant demonstrates the following enrollment of children with an individualized education program (IEP):

(A) For day care centers, at least 10% of licensed capacity.

(B) For day care homes, at least one child.

(C) For group day care homes, at least 2 children.

(5) If an applicant does not meet the minimum enrollment requirements under the Child Care Assistance Program, the applicant may qualify if the applicant demonstrates the following enrollment of children who are English learners as defined in Section 14C-2 of the School Code:

(A) For day care centers, at least 10% of licensed capacity.

(B) For day care homes, at least one child.

(C) For group day care homes, at least 2 children.

(f) For licensed day care centers, eligibility shall be determined at the classroom level. A classroom must meet the following requirements to be eligible to receive an award:

(1) May receive Early Childhood Block Grant, Head Start, or Early Head Start funds.

(2) Not serve school-age children as defined in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.45.

(3) If serving infants or toddlers (children under 2 years of age), care for a minimum of 4 children.

(4) If serving 2-year-olds or both 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds, care for a minimum of 8 children.

(5) If serving children 3 to 5 years old, care for a minimum of 12 children.

(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2025.