Public Act 103-0998
 
SB3432 EnrolledLRB103 38217 KTG 68351 b

    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Mental Health and Developmental 
Disabilities Administrative Act is amended by changing Section 
4.4 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 1705/4.4)
    Sec. 4.4. Direct support professional credential pilot 
program.
    (a) In this Section, "direct support person credential" 
means a document issued to an individual by a recognized 
accrediting body attesting that the individual has met the 
professional requirements of the credentialing program by the 
Division of Developmental Disabilities of the Department of 
Human Services.
    (b) The Division or a Division partner shall initiate a 
program to continue to gain the expertise and knowledge of the 
developmental disabilities workforce and of the developmental 
disabilities workforce recruitment and retention needs 
throughout the developmental disabilities field. The Division 
shall implement a direct support professional credential pilot 
program to assist and attract persons into the field of direct 
support, advance direct support as a career, and 
professionalize the field to promote workforce recruitment and 
retention efforts, advanced skills and competencies, and 
further ensure the health, safety, and well-being of persons 
being served.
    (c) The direct support professional credential pilot 
program is created within the Division to assist persons in 
the field of developmental disabilities in obtaining a 
credential in their fields of expertise.
    (d) The pilot program shall be administered by the 
Division for 3 years, beginning in Fiscal Year 2025 2024. The 
pilot program shall include providers licensed and certified 
by the Division or by the Department of Public Health. The 
purpose of the pilot program is to assess how the 
establishment of a State-administered direct support 
professional credential:
        (1) promotes recruitment and retention efforts in the 
    developmental disabilities field, notably the direct 
    support professional position;
        (2) enhances competence in the developmental 
    disabilities field;
        (3) yields quality supports and services to persons 
    with developmental disabilities; and
        (4) advances the health and safety requirements set 
    forth by the State.
    (e) The Division or a Division partner, in administering 
the pilot program, shall consider, but not be limited to, the 
following:
        (1) best practices learning initiatives, including the 
    University of Minnesota's college of direct support and 
    all Illinois Department of Human Services-approved direct 
    support professional competencies;
        (2) national direct support professional competencies 
    or credentialing-based standards and trainings;
        (3) facilitating direct support professional's 
    portfolio development;
        (4) the role and value of skill mentors; and
        (5) creating a career ladder.
    (f) The Division shall produce a report detailing the 
progress of the pilot program, including, but not limited to:
        (1) the rate of recruitment and retention for direct 
    support professionals of providers participating in the 
    pilot program compared to the rate for non-participating 
    providers;
        (2) the number of direct support professional 
    credentialed; and
        (3) the enhancement of quality supports and services 
    to persons with developmental disabilities.
(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-830, eff. 1-1-23.)
 
    Section 10. The School Code is amended by changing Section 
2-3.195 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.195)
    Sec. 2-3.195. Direct support professional training 
program. Beginning with the 2026-2027 2025-2026 school year 
and continuing for not less than 2 years, the State Board of 
Education shall make available a model program of study that 
incorporates the training and experience necessary to serve as 
a direct support professional. By July 1, 2025 2023, the 
Department of Human Services shall submit recommendations 
developed in consultation with stakeholders, including, but 
not limited to, organizations representing community-based 
providers serving children and adults with intellectual or 
developmental disabilities, and education practitioners, 
including, but not limited to, teachers, administrators, 
special education directors, and regional superintendents of 
schools, to the State Board for the training that would be 
required in order to complete the model program of study.
(Source: P.A. 102-874, eff. 1-1-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 
103-175, eff. 6-30-23.)
 
    Section 15. The Public Community College Act is amended by 
changing Section 2-27 as follows:
 
    (110 ILCS 805/2-27)
    Sec. 2-27. Direct support professional training program. 
By July 1, 2026 2025, the State Board shall submit 
recommendations for a model program of study, for credit, that 
incorporates the training and experience necessary to serve as 
a direct support professional to the Department of Human 
Services. The model program of study shall be developed in 
consultation with stakeholders, including, but not limited to, 
organizations representing community-based providers serving 
children and adults with intellectual or developmental 
disabilities, and elementary and secondary education 
practitioners, including, but not limited to, teachers, 
administrators, special education directors, and regional 
superintendents of schools. Beginning with the 2026-2027 
academic year and continuing for not less than 2 academic 
years, the State Board shall make available to community 
colleges the model program of study developed under this 
Section.
(Source: P.A. 103-92, eff. 1-1-24.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.