99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB4217

 

Introduced , by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Universal Child Care Demonstration Program Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer a 5-year statewide Universal Child Care Demonstration Program to provide grants to eligible entities to develop, expand, and provide high-quality and affordable child care services for children age 0 to 6 years old regardless of family income. Provides that grants awarded under the Demonstration may be used to renovate or convert existing child care facilities to meet the goals of the Demonstration Program; to construct and maintain child care facilities in geographical areas with a demonstrated need for safe, affordable, and high-quality child care services; to train and pay child care providers, teachers, and staff; and to provide meal services to children receiving child care services. Provides that the ultimate goal of the Demonstration shall be to develop and evaluate the costs, impact, and quality outcomes of child care services and programs in order to establish an effective expansion toward universal child care services for children from birth to 6 years of age. Contains provisions concerning eligible entities, funding, reporting requirements, defined terms, and Department rules.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning children.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Universal Child Care Demonstration Program Act.
 
6    Section 5. Purpose and findings. The General Assembly
7declares that it is the policy of this State to provide all
8children from birth to 6 years of age with access to
9high-quality child care services through a State commitment to
10sufficient and sustainable funding for safe and affordable
11child care services and programs. The need for this policy is
12based on studies which suggest that affordable child care
13increases maternal employment and that high-quality child care
14can increase children's educational attainment, labor force
15participation, and earnings as adults.
16    The policy established by this Act will be developed
17through a child care demonstration program the results of which
18will be used to establish standards and policies to design and
19fund a statewide system of high-quality child care services and
20programs accessible to all children from birth to 6 years of
21age regardless of family income.
 
22    Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

 

 

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1    "Child care services" means day care home or center
2services as defined by the Child Care Act of 1969 provided to
3children from birth to 6 years of age and includes
4non-traditional child care services such as early mornings,
5evenings, and weekends.
6    "Demonstration" or "Demonstration Program" means the
7Universal Child Care Demonstration Program as established
8under this Act.
 
9    Section 15. Universal Child Care Demonstration Program.
10The Department of Human Services shall establish and administer
11a 5-year statewide Universal Child Care Demonstration Program
12to provide grants to eligible entities to develop, expand, and
13provide high-quality and affordable child care services for
14children age 0 to 6 years old regardless of family income.
15Grants awarded under the Demonstration may be used to renovate
16or convert existing child care facilities to meet the goals of
17the Demonstration Program; to construct and maintain child care
18facilities in geographical areas with a demonstrated need for
19safe, affordable, and high-quality child care services; to
20train and pay child care providers, teachers, and staff; and to
21provide meal services to children receiving child care
22services. The ultimate goal of the Demonstration shall be to
23develop and evaluate the costs, impact, and quality outcomes of
24child care services and programs in order to establish an
25effective expansion toward universal child care services for

 

 

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1children from birth to 6 years of age.
 
2    Section 20. Eligible entities. Currently funded or new
3entities, including but not limited to the following, shall be
4eligible to apply for grants awarded under the Demonstration
5Program:
6        (1) Day care centers, day care homes, group day care
7    homes, and part day child care facilities licensed by the
8    Department of Children and Family Services under the Child
9    Care Act of 1969.
10        (2) Community-based organizations.
11        (3) Faith-based organizations.
12    Priority for participation in the Demonstration Program
13shall be given to entities with experience in providing child
14care services and programs in Illinois.
15    The Department shall establish, by rule, application
16requirements and additional eligibility criteria for grant
17applicants; costs, impact, and outcome goals for the
18Demonstration Program; and eligibility criteria for families
19seeking child care services under the Demonstration Program
20including parent cost sharing and employment or school
21requirements.
 
22    Section 25. Funding. The Universal Child Care
23Demonstration Program shall be subject to appropriations,
24however the Department of Human Services shall be permitted to

 

 

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1accept private funding or private resources at any time to
2implement this Act.
 
3    Section 30. Reports. The Department shall annually report
4to the Governor and the General Assembly on the progress of the
5Demonstration no later than March 31st of each year of the
6Demonstration Program. No later than 6 months after the
7Demonstration period ends, the Department shall submit a final
8report on its findings, including how well the Demonstration
9Program met the costs, impact, and outcome goals established by
10the Department.
 
11    Section 35. Rules. The Department shall adopt any rules
12necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.