| ||||
| Public Act 102-0912 | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
AN ACT concerning State government.
| ||||
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | ||||
represented in the General Assembly:
| ||||
Section 1. This Act may be referred to as the Off-Hours | ||||
Child Care Act. | ||||
Section 5. The Department of Human Services Act is amended | ||||
by adding Section 1-75 as follows: | ||||
(20 ILCS 1305/1-75 new) | ||||
Sec. 1-75. Off-Hours Child Care Program. | ||||
(a) Legislative intent. The General Assembly finds that: | ||||
(1) Finding child care can be a challenge for | ||||
firefighters, paramedics, police officers, nurses, and | ||||
other third shift workers across the State who often work | ||||
non-typical work hours. This can impact home life, school, | ||||
bedtime routines, job safety, and the mental health of | ||||
some of our most critical front line workers and their | ||||
families. | ||||
(2) There is a need for increased options for | ||||
off-hours child care in the State. A majority of the | ||||
State's child care facilities do not provide care outside | ||||
of normal work hours, with just 3,251 day care homes and | ||||
435 group day care homes that provide night care. | ||||
(3) Illinois has a vested interest in ensuring that | ||
our first responders and working families can provide | ||
their children with appropriate care during off hours to | ||
improve the morale of existing first responders and to | ||
improve recruitment into the future. | ||
(b) As used in this Section, "first responders" means | ||
emergency medical services personnel as defined in the | ||
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act, firefighters, | ||
law enforcement officers, and, as determined by the | ||
Department, any other workers who, on account of their work | ||
schedule, need child care outside of the hours when licensed | ||
child care
facilities typically operate. | ||
(c) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human | ||
Services shall establish and administer an Off-Hours Child | ||
Care Program to help first responders and other workers | ||
identify and access off-hours, night, or sleep time child | ||
care. Services funded under the program must address the child | ||
care needs of first responders. Funding provided under the | ||
program may also be used to cover any capital and operating | ||
expenses related to the provision of off-hours, night, or | ||
sleep time child care for first responders. Funding awarded | ||
under this Section shall be funded through appropriations from | ||
the Off-Hours Child Care Program Fund created under subsection | ||
(d). The Department shall implement the program by July 1, | ||
2023. The Department may adopt any
rules necessary to | ||
implement the program. | ||
(d) The Off-Hours Child Care Program Fund is created as a | ||
special fund in the State treasury. The Fund shall consist of | ||
any moneys appropriated to the Department of Human Services | ||
for the Off-Hours Child Care Program. Moneys in the Fund shall | ||
be expended for the Off-Hours Child Care Program and for no | ||
other purpose. All interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall | ||
be deposited into the Fund. | ||
Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended by adding | ||
Section 5.970 as follows: | ||
(30 ILCS 105/5.970 new) | ||
Sec. 5.970. The Off-Hours Child Care Program Fund.
| ||
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
| ||