HB 814

Abstract

Amends the Department of Children and Family Services Statewide Youth Advisory Board Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 527/1 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 505/5.15 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Children and Family Services Act. In provisions concerning day care services, provides that the Department of Human Services, or any other State agency that assumes these responsibilities, is designated to coordinate all day care activities for children of the State. In a provision requiring the Department of Children and Family Services to include in its reports to the Governor and General Assembly a survey of day care facilities, provides that the survey must include the number of qualified caregivers retained by the day care facilities and a list of specific benefits provide by such facilities, including, but not limited to, health care, retirement plans, and child care subsidies. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to also include a survey of early childhood staff who leave the workforce to determine strategies for the Child Care Development Fund and General Revenue funds that can be used to promote workforce retention. Provides that initial findings from the survey shall be available to the public by April 15, 2025 and updated annually thereafter using data from the preceding fiscal year. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 527/1 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 505/5.15 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Children and Family Services Act. In provisions concerning day care services, provides that the Department of Human Services, or any other State agency that assumes these responsibilities, is designated to coordinate all day care activities for children of the State. In a provision requiring the Department to submit, annually on April 15, a written report to the Governor and the General Assembly, provides that the report must include a survey of day care facilities to determine the number of qualified caregivers, as defined by rule, attracted to vacant positions, or retained at the current positions, and any problems encountered by facilities in attracting and retaining capable caregivers. Provides that the survey process shall incorporate feedback from groups and individuals with relevant expertise or lived experience, including, but not limited to, educators and child care providers, regarding the collection of data in order to inform strategies and costs related to the Child Care Development Fund and the General Revenue Fund, for the purpose of promoting workforce recruitment and retention. Requires the survey to be updated every 4 years, at a minimum, based on feedback received. Provides that initial survey updates shall be made prior to the 2025 survey data collection. Effective July 1, 2024.