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91_HB4021ham002
LRB9113015ACtmam
1 AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 4021
2 AMENDMENT NO. . Amend House Bill 4021 by replacing
3 everything after the enacting clause with the following:
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 developmental and educational outcomes in
13 child care by encouraging increased professional preparation
14 by staff and staff retention. The Great START program shall
15 coordinate with the TEACH professional development program.
16 The program shall provide wage supplements and may
17 include other incentives to licensed child care center
18 personnel, including early childhood teachers, school-age
19 workers, early childhood assistants, school-age assistants,
20 and directors, as such positions are defined by
21 administrative rule of the Department of Children and Family
22 Services. The program shall provide wage supplements and may
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1 include other incentives to licensed family day care home
2 personnel and licensed group day care home personnel,
3 including caregivers and assistants as such positions are
4 defined by administrative rule of the Department of Children
5 and Family Services. Individuals will receive supplements
6 commensurate with their qualifications.
7 (b) The Department shall convene a working committee of
8 its standing Child and Development Advisory Council to make
9 recommendations by October 1, 2000 on the components of the
10 Great START program. The working committee shall consist of
11 experts from the child care and early childhood education
12 field. In addition, the working committee shall include, when
13 necessary, the Secretary of Human Services, the Director of
14 Children and Family Services, the Director of Commerce and
15 Community Affairs, the Director of Employment Security, the
16 Superintendent of the State Board of Education, the Chair of
17 the Community College Board, and the Chair of the Executive
18 Committee of the Board of Higher Education, or their
19 designees.
20 (c) The Department shall, by rule, define the scope and
21 operation of the program, including a wage supplement scale.
22 The scale shall pay increasing amounts for higher levels of
23 educational attainment beyond minimum qualifications and
24 shall recognize longevity of employment. Subject to the
25 availability of sufficient appropriation, the wage
26 supplements shall be paid to child care personnel in the form
27 of bonuses at 6 month intervals. Six months of continuous
28 service with a single employer is required to be eligible to
29 receive a wage supplement bonus. Wage supplements shall be
30 paid directly to individual day care personnel, not to their
31 employers. Eligible individuals must provide to the
32 Department or its agent all information and documentation,
33 including but not limited to college transcripts, to
34 demonstrate their qualifications for a particular wage
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1 supplement level.
2 If appropriations permit, the Department may include
3 one-time signing bonuses or other incentives to help
4 providers attract staff, provided that the signing bonuses
5 are less than the supplement staff would have received if
6 they had remained employed with another day care center or
7 family day care home.
8 If appropriations permit, the Department may include
9 one-time longevity bonuses or other incentives to recognize
10 staff who have remained with a single employer.
11 (d) The Department shall evaluate the Great START
12 program, gather data on turnover rates, educational
13 attainment, and other relevant issues, and submit a report to
14 the General Assembly on the Great START program by December
15 31, 2002.
16 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
17 becoming law.".