103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB0004

 

Introduced 1/12/2023, 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 Program 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 Program 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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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
18which will be used to establish standards and policies to
19design and fund a statewide system of high-quality child care
20services and programs accessible to all children from birth to
216 years of age 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    "Department" means the Department of Human Services.
 
10    Section 15. Universal Child Care Demonstration Program.
11The Department shall establish and administer a 5-year
12statewide Universal Child Care Demonstration Program to
13provide grants to eligible entities to develop, expand, and
14provide high-quality and affordable child care services for
15children age 0 to 6 years old regardless of family income.
16Grants awarded under the Demonstration Program may be used to
17renovate or convert existing child care facilities to meet the
18goals of the Demonstration Program; to construct and maintain
19child care facilities in geographical areas with a
20demonstrated need for safe, affordable, and high-quality child
21care services; to train and pay child care providers,
22teachers, and staff; and to provide meal services to children
23receiving child care services. The ultimate goal of the
24Demonstration Program shall be to develop and evaluate the
25costs, impact, and quality outcomes of child care services and

 

 

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

 

 

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1Demonstration Program shall be subject to appropriations;
2however, the Department shall be permitted to accept private
3funding or private resources at any time to implement this
4Act.
 
5    Section 30. Reports. The Department shall annually report
6to the Governor and the General Assembly on the progress of the
7Demonstration no later than March 31 of each year of the
8Demonstration Program. No later than 6 months after the
9Demonstration period ends, the Department shall submit a final
10report on its findings, including how well the Demonstration
11Program met the costs, impact, and outcome goals established
12by the Department.
 
13    Section 35. Rules. The Department shall adopt any rules
14necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.