2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes › Chapter 325 - CHILDREN › 325 ILCS 85/ - Smart Start Illinois Act.

(325 ILCS 85/Art. 1 heading)
ARTICLE 1.  (Uncodified provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 3 heading)
ARTICLE 3.
(The Council of State Governments  Act is
compiled at 25 ILCS 166/)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 5 heading)
ARTICLE 5.
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-5)
Sec. 5-5. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-15)
Sec. 5-15. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-16)
Sec. 5-16. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-17)
Sec. 5-17. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-20)
Sec. 5-20. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-25)
Sec. 5-25. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-30)
Sec. 5-30. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-31)
Sec. 5-31. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-32)
Sec. 5-32. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-33)
Sec. 5-33. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-35)
Sec. 5-35. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-40)
Sec. 5-40. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-45)
Sec. 5-45. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-47)
Sec. 5-47. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-50)
Sec. 5-50. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-55)
Sec. 5-55. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-60)
Sec. 5-60. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-62)
Sec. 5-62. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-65)
Sec. 5-65. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-70)
Sec. 5-70. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-75)
Sec. 5-75. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-80)
Sec. 5-80. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-85)
Sec. 5-85. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-87)
Sec. 5-87. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-88)
Sec. 5-88. The Illinois Pension Code is amended  by repealing Sections 2-105.1 and 2-105.2.
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-89)
Sec. 5-89. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-90)
Sec. 5-90. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-92)
Sec. 5-92. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-95)
Sec. 5-95. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-100)
Sec. 5-100. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-104)
Sec. 5-104. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-105)
Sec. 5-105. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-110)
Sec. 5-110. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 7-28-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-120)
Sec. 5-120. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-121)
Sec. 5-121. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-123)
Sec. 5-123. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-125)
Sec. 5-125. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-127)
Sec. 5-127. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-130)
Sec. 5-130. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-135)
Sec. 5-135. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-140)
Sec. 5-140. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-145)
Sec. 5-145. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-150)
Sec. 5-150. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-153)
Sec. 5-153. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-155)
Sec. 5-155. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-160)
Sec. 5-160. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-165)
Sec. 5-165. The Unified Code of Corrections is amended  by repealing Section 3-12-11.
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-167)
Sec. 5-167. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-170)
Sec. 5-170. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/5-175)
Sec. 5-175. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 10 heading)
ARTICLE 10.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 7-1-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 15 heading)
ARTICLE 15.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 20 heading)
ARTICLE 20.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 1-1-24; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 30 heading)
ARTICLE 30.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 35 heading)
ARTICLE 35.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 40 heading)
ARTICLE 40.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 55 heading)
ARTICLE 55.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 60 heading)
ARTICLE 60.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 65 heading)
ARTICLE 65.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 75 heading)
ARTICLE 75.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 80 heading)
ARTICLE 80.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 1-1-24; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 85 heading)
ARTICLE 85.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 7-1-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 90 heading)
ARTICLE 90.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 95 heading)
ARTICLE 95.
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)
(325 ILCS 85/95-1)
Sec. 95-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the Smart Start Illinois Act. References in this Article to "this Act" mean this Article.
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)
(325 ILCS 85/95-5)
Sec. 95-5. Findings.  The General Assembly makes the following findings:
(1) Early childhood education and care is an     essential part of our State's economy and infrastructure, providing the backbone that allows for parents and guardians to seek and maintain employment in industries across the State.
(2) Further, research shows that participation in     quality early childhood education and care  supports children's development, serves as a protective factor from trauma, increases school readiness, lowers future health care costs, and increases employment options and earnings.
(3) The State of Illinois funds early childhood     education programs through the Illinois State Board of Education and the Department of Human Services for families seeking services aimed at improving the early development of children from the prenatal stage to 5 years of age. Similar programs are also licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services.
(4) These agencies administer evidence-based     home-visiting programs with doula enhancements, Early Intervention services, the Prevention Initiative program, the Preschool for All program, and the Child Care Assistance Program.
(5) The cost to provide child care and early learning     in the private market in Illinois is more than parents can afford, as it is more expensive in many communities than the cost of annual tuition and fees at a 4-year postsecondary institution.
(6) Child care providers' revenues are insufficient,     only allowing child care providers to pay minimum  wage.  That is less than 98% of all other jobs in the economy.
(7) Workforce compensation in other early childhood     programs is also not adequate to attract and retain qualified staff. This problem is especially acute for those working with infants and toddlers.
(8) Illinois faces an early childhood educator     workforce shortage, which stifles and artificially limits the supply of early childhood programs necessary for parents and guardians to go to work and school, thereby stifling economic growth in the State to an estimated cost of $2,400,000,000 annually. This is especially true for mothers, who often decide to stay home due to the exorbitant cost and inaccessibility of care.
(9) Illinois also faces a shortage of high-quality     early childhood education and care options in communities across the State, limiting access to services for families. The shortage is particularly acute for infant-toddler care, as there is only capacity for 17.4% of the State's infants and toddlers within licensed child care facilities.
(10) In recent years, the State of Illinois has     expanded access to the Child Care Assistance Program by raising the income eligibility threshold and making program policies more inclusive and has supported provider sustainability by significantly raising Child Care Assistance Program reimbursement rates. In addition, the State of Illinois has invested over $1,000,000,000 in federal pandemic relief funding in child care service providers to ensure that they could remain open and serve families and children in their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, and so that staff could continue to be paid.
(11) However, beyond these federal relief funds,     current public levers are unable to sustainably address the early childhood educator workforce shortage or the inadequate early childhood education and care supply to meet parent and guardian needs. Child care providers need stable, predictable, and sufficient revenues to pay attractive wages without increasing costs for families.
(12) Any investment to address the early childhood     educator workforce shortage and to support program quality must be developed and implemented in close partnership with the educators and child care providers who would be directly impacted, as has been done to date via the Child Care Advisory Council, the Illinois Early Learning Council, Raising Illinois, We, the Village, Birth to Five Illinois Action Councils, Illinois Child Care for All, focus groups, and other stakeholder engagement efforts.
(13) Any investment to address the early childhood     educator workforce shortage and to support program quality must prioritize fiscal accountability and provider accessibility.
(14) Smart Start Illinois is an effort to expand     early childhood education and care services statewide with a focus on services aimed at the prenatal stage of development through 5 years of age.
(15) Smart Start Illinois aims to eliminate preschool     deserts, make quality child care more affordable and accessible, and  increase access to evidence-based home-visiting services with doula enhancements and Early Intervention services.
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)
(325 ILCS 85/95-10)
Sec. 95-10. Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program.
(a) The Department of Human Services shall create and establish the Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program. The purpose of the Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program is to invest in early childhood education and care service providers, including, but not limited to, providers participating in the Child Care Assistance Program; to expand the supply of high-quality early childhood education and care; and to create a strong and stable early childhood education and care system with attractive wages, high-quality services, and affordable cost.
(b) The purpose of the Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program is to stabilize community-based early childhood education and care service providers, raise the wages of early childhood educators, and support quality enhancements that can position service providers to participate in other public funding streams, such as Preschool for All, in order to further enhance and expand quality service delivery.
(c) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall implement the Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program for eligible licensed day care centers, licensed day care homes, and licensed group day care homes by October 1, 2024, or as soon as practicable, following completion of a planning and transition year. By October 1, 2025, or as soon as practicable, and for each year thereafter, subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall continue to operate the Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program annually with all licensed day care centers and licensed day care homes, and licensed group day care homes that meet eligibility requirements. The Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program shall operate separately from and shall not supplant the Child Care Assistance Program as provided for in Section 9A-11 of the Illinois Public Aid Code.
(d) The Department of Human Services shall adopt administrative rules by October 1, 2024, to facilitate administration of the Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program, including, but not limited to, provisions for program eligibility, the application and funding calculation process, eligible expenses, required wage floors, and requirements for financial and personnel reporting and monitoring requirements. Eligibility and funding provisions shall be based on appropriation and a current model of the cost to provide child care services by a licensed child care center or licensed family child care home.
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)
(325 ILCS 85/95-15)
Sec. 95-15. Stakeholder involvement in program development and implementation. The Child Care Advisory Council, or a committee of the Council, with representation from Raising Illinois, We, the Village, Birth to Five Illinois Action Councils, and Illinois Child Care for All, shall convene prior to July 1, 2023, and at least quarterly thereafter through June 30, 2025, to inform the development and implementation of the Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program.
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)
(325 ILCS 85/95-900)
Sec. 95-900. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 97 heading)
ARTICLE 97.
(Amendatory provisions; text  omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 98 heading)
ARTICLE 98.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 7-1-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 99 heading)
ARTICLE 99.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 1-1-24; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 100 heading)
ARTICLE 100.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 7-1-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 105 heading)
ARTICLE 105.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 110 heading)
ARTICLE 110.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 115 heading)
ARTICLE 115.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 120 heading)
ARTICLE 120.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 125 heading)
ARTICLE 125.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 7-1-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 130 heading)
ARTICLE 130.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 135 heading)
ARTICLE 135.
(The Mechanical Insulation Energy and Safety Assessment Act is compiled at 20 ILCS 3135/)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 140 heading)
ARTICLE 140.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 145 heading)
ARTICLE 145.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 150 heading)
ARTICLE 150.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 155 heading)
ARTICLE 155.
(Amendatory provisions; text omitted)
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; text omitted.)
(325 ILCS 85/Art. 999 heading)
ARTICLE 999.
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)
(325 ILCS 85/999-95)
Sec. 999-95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other Public Act.
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)
(325 ILCS 85/999-99)
Sec. 999-99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law, except that Articles 10, 85,  98, 100, and 125 take effect on July 1, 2023, Articles 20,  80, and 99 take effect on January 1, 2024, and  Section 5-110 takes effect on the effective date of House Bill 2041 of the 103rd General Assembly or upon becoming law, whichever is later.
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)