Public Act 93-0380

SB565 Enrolled                       LRB093 10048 NHT 10299 b

    AN  ACT  relating  to  young  children's   learning   and
development.

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

    Section 1.  Short title. This Act may  be  cited  as  the
Illinois Early Learning Council Act.

    Section 5.  Illinois Early Learning Council. The Illinois
Early  Learning  Council  is  hereby  created  to  coordinate
existing  programs  and services for children from birth to 5
years of age in order to better meet the early learning needs
of children and their families. The goal of the Council is to
fulfill the vision of a statewide, high-quality,  accessible,
and  comprehensive early learning system to benefit all young
children whose parents choose it.  The  Council  shall  guide
collaborative  efforts  to  improve  and expand upon existing
early  childhood  programs  and  services.  This  work  shall
include  making  use  of  existing  reports,  research,   and
planning efforts.

    Section  10.  Membership.  The  Illinois  Early  Learning
Council  shall  include  representation  from both public and
private  organizations,  and  its  membership  shall  reflect
regional,  racial,   and   cultural   diversity   to   ensure
representation  of  the  needs  of all Illinois children. One
member shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, one
member appointed by the Minority Leader of  the  Senate,  one
member   appointed   by   the   Speaker   of   the  House  of
Representatives, one member appointed by the Minority  Leader
of  the House of Representatives, and other members appointed
by the Governor. The Governor's  appointments  shall  include
without limitation the following:
         (1)  A leader of stature from the Governor's office,
    to serve as co-chairperson of the Council.
         (2)  The chief administrators of the following State
    agencies:  State  Board of Education; Department of Human
    Services; Department of  Children  and  Family  Services;
    Department  of  Public  Health; Department of Public Aid;
    Board of Higher Education; and Illinois Community College
    Board.
         (3)  Local government stakeholders and nongovernment
    stakeholders with an interest in early childhood care and
    education, including representation  from  the  following
    private-sector fields and constituencies: early childhood
    education  and  development;  child care; child advocacy;
    parenting support; local community  collaborations  among
    early  care and education programs and services; maternal
    and child health; children with special needs;  business;
    labor;  and law enforcement. The Governor shall designate
    one of the members who is a nongovernment stakeholder  to
    serve as co-chairperson.
In  addition,  the  Governor  shall request that the Region V
office of the U.S. Department of Health and  Human  Services'
Administration  for Children and Families appoint a member to
the Council to  represent  federal  children's  programs  and
services.
    Members appointed by General Assembly members and members
appointed  by  the  Governor  who  are  local  government  or
nongovernment  stakeholders  shall serve 3-year terms, except
that of the initial appointments, half of these  members,  as
determined by lot, shall be appointed to 2-year terms so that
terms  are  staggered.  Members  shall  serve on a voluntary,
unpaid basis.

    Section 15.  Accountability. The Illinois Early  Learning
Council  shall  annually  report  to the Governor and General
Assembly on the Council's  progress  towards  its  goals  and
objectives.

    Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.