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91_HB4021
LRB9113015ACtmA
1 AN ACT creating the Great START program.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Department of Human Services Act is
5 amended by adding Section 10-22 as follows:
6 (20 ILCS 1305/10-22 new)
7 Sec. 10-22. Great START program.
8 (a) Beginning October 1, 2000, the Department of Human
9 Services shall, subject to a specific appropriation for this
10 purpose, operate a Great START (Strategy To Attract and
11 Retain Teachers) program. The goal of the program is to
12 improve children's educational outcomes in child care by
13 encouraging increased professional preparation by staff and
14 staff retention. The Great START program shall coordinate
15 with the TEACH professional development program.
16 The program shall provide wage supplements to licensed
17 child care center personnel, including early childhood
18 teachers, school-age workers, early childhood assistants,
19 school-age assistants, and directors, as defined by
20 administrative rule of the Department of Children and Family
21 Services. The program shall provide wage supplements to
22 licensed family day care home personnel and licensed group
23 day care home personnel, including caregivers and assistants
24 as defined by administrative rule of the Department of
25 Children and Family Services. Individuals will receive
26 supplements commensurate with their qualifications.
27 (b) The Department shall convene an advisory commission
28 to make recommendations by October 1, 2000 on the components
29 of the Great START program. The advisory commission shall
30 consist of experts from the child care and early childhood
31 education field. In addition to the Secretary of Human
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1 Services, ex officio, and other appropriate members of the
2 Department of Human Services, the Commission shall include a
3 Senator appointed by the President of the Senate, a Senator
4 appointed by the Senate Minority Leader, a Representative
5 appointed by the Speaker of the House, a Representative
6 appointed by the House Minority Leader, and the following
7 ex-officio members: the Director of Children and Family
8 Services, the Director of Commerce and Community Affairs, the
9 Director of Employment Security, the Superintendent of the
10 State Board of Education, the Chair of the Community College
11 Board, and the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Board
12 of Higher Education. Ex-officio members may name a designee
13 to represent them.
14 (c) The Department shall, by rule, develop a wage
15 supplement scale. The scale shall pay increasing amounts for
16 higher levels of educational attainment beyond minimum
17 qualifications and shall recognize longevity of employment.
18 The wage supplements shall be paid to child care personnel in
19 the form of bonuses at 6 month intervals. Six months of
20 continuous service with a single employer is required to be
21 eligible to receive a wage supplement bonus. Wage
22 supplements shall be paid directly to individual day care
23 personnel, not to their employers. Eligible individuals must
24 provide documentation, including but not limited to college
25 transcripts, to demonstrate their qualifications for a
26 particular wage supplement level.
27 If appropriations permit, the Department may include
28 one-time signing bonuses to help providers attract staff,
29 provided that the signing bonuses are less than the
30 supplement staff would have received if they had remained
31 employed with another day care center or family day care
32 home.
33 If appropriations permit, the Department may include
34 one-time longevity bonuses to recognize staff who have
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1 remained with a single employer.
2 (d) The Department shall evaluate the Great START
3 program, gather data on turnover rates, educational
4 attainment, and other relevant issues, and submit a report to
5 the General Assembly on the Great START program by December
6 31, 2002.
7 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
8 becoming law.