Bill Text: IL SB1695 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that the reimbursement amount for certain child care services shall be increased by at least 8%. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to provide additional training for Department representatives who work with early childhood education providers. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission may award a grant to an eligible applicant enrolled in an early childhood education program who, after graduation, will work in a child care facility. Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that the Department shall ensure that the amount of time it takes to complete a criminal background investigation does not exceed 90 days. Provides that certain classes and trainings shall be waived for licensed day care home providers, licensed group day care home providers, and licensed day care center directors and classroom staff to the extent the classes and trainings are duplicative of an individual's educational training or if the individual has a master's or bachelor's degree in early childhood education or an equivalent subject. Provides that the Department shall implement a child care facility educator substitution pool program, which shall provide to child care facilities the contact information for early childhood educators willing to provide substitute services to other child care facilities in a specified geographic area.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-03-10 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments [SB1695 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB1695-Introduced.html

---

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB1695 Introduced 2/8/2023, by Sen. Adriane Johnson SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 505/5a from Ch. 23, par. 5005a
20 ILCS 505/50 new
110 ILCS 947/35
225 ILCS 10/4.1 from Ch. 23, par. 2214.1
225 ILCS 10/7 from Ch. 23, par. 2217
225 ILCS 10/25 new
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that the reimbursement amount for certain child care services shall be increased by at least 8%. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to provide additional training for Department representatives who work with early childhood education providers. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission may award a grant to an eligible applicant enrolled in an early childhood education program who, after graduation, will work in a child care facility. Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that the Department shall ensure that the amount of time it takes to complete a criminal background investigation does not exceed 90 days. Provides that certain classes and trainings shall be waived for licensed day care home providers, licensed group day care home providers, and licensed day care center directors and classroom staff to the extent the classes and trainings are duplicative of an individual's educational training or if the individual has a master's or bachelor's degree in early childhood education or an equivalent subject. Provides that the Department shall implement a child care facility educator substitution pool program, which shall provide to child care facilities the contact information for early childhood educators willing to provide substitute services to other child care facilities in a specified geographic area.
LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
A BILL FOR
SB1695 LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
AN ACT concerning regulation.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Children and Family Services Act is amended
by changing Section 5a and adding Sections 50 and 55 as
follows:
(20 ILCS 505/5a) (from Ch. 23, par. 5005a)
(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 102-926)
Sec. 5a. Reimbursable services for which the Department of
Children and Family Services shall pay 100% of the reasonable
cost pursuant to a written contract negotiated between the
Department and the agency furnishing the services (which shall
include but not be limited to the determination of reasonable
cost, the services being purchased and the duration of the
agreement) include, but are not limited to:
SERVICE ACTIVITIES
Adjunctive Therapy;
Child Care Service, including day care;
Clinical Therapy;
Custodial Service;
Field Work Students;
Food Service;

SB1695 - 2 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
Normal Education;
In-Service Training;
Intake or Evaluation, or both;
Medical Services;
Recreation;
Social Work or Counselling, or both;
Supportive Staff;
Volunteers.
OBJECT EXPENSES
Professional Fees and Contract Service Payments;
Supplies;
Telephone and Telegram;
Occupancy;
Local Transportation;
Equipment and Other Fixed Assets, including amortization
of same;
Miscellaneous.
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
Program Administration;
Supervision and Consultation;
Inspection and Monitoring for purposes of issuing
licenses;
Determination of Children who are eligible
for federal or other reimbursement;

SB1695 - 3 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
Postage and Shipping;
Outside Printing, Artwork, etc.;
Subscriptions and Reference Publications;
Management and General Expense.
Reimbursement of administrative costs other than inspection
and monitoring for purposes of issuing licenses may not exceed
20% of the costs for other services.
The Department may offer services to any child or family
with respect to whom a report of suspected child abuse or
neglect has been called in to the hotline after completion of a
family assessment as provided under subsection (a-5) of
Section 7.4 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act
and the Department has determined that services are needed to
address the safety of the child and other family members and
the risk of subsequent maltreatment. Acceptance of such
services shall be voluntary.
All Object Expenses, Service Activities and Administrative
Costs are allowable.
If a survey instrument is used in the rate setting
process:
(a) with respect to any day care centers, it shall be
limited to those agencies which receive reimbursement from
the State;
(b) the cost survey instrument shall be promulgated by
rule;
(c) any requirements of the respondents shall be

SB1695 - 4 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
promulgated by rule;
(d) all screens, limits or other tests of
reasonableness, allowability and reimbursability shall be
promulgated by rule;
(e) adjustments may be made by the Department to rates
when it determines that reported wage and salary levels
are insufficient to attract capable caregivers in
sufficient numbers.
The Department of Children and Family Services may pay
100% of the reasonable costs of research and valuation focused
exclusively on services to youth in care. Such research
projects must be approved, in advance, by the Director of the
Department.
In addition to reimbursements otherwise provided for in
this Section, the Department of Human Services shall, in
accordance with annual written agreements, make advance
quarterly disbursements to local public agencies for child day
care services with funds appropriated from the Local Effort
Day Care Fund.
Neither the Department of Children and Family Services nor
the Department of Human Services shall pay or approve
reimbursement for day care in a facility which is operating
without a valid license or permit, except in the case of day
care homes or day care centers which are exempt from the
licensing requirements of the "Child Care Act of 1969".
As soon as practical on or after the effective date of this

SB1695 - 5 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, the
reimbursement rate under this Section shall be increased by at
least 8%.
(Source: P.A. 100-159, eff. 8-18-17.)
(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 102-926)
Sec. 5a. Reimbursable services for which the Department of
Children and Family Services shall pay 100% of the reasonable
cost pursuant to a written contract negotiated between the
Department and the agency furnishing the services (which shall
include but not be limited to the determination of reasonable
cost, the services being purchased and the duration of the
agreement) include, but are not limited to:
SERVICE ACTIVITIES
Adjunctive Therapy;
Child Care Service, including day care;
Clinical Therapy;
Custodial Service;
Field Work Students;
Food Service;
Normal Education;
In-Service Training;
Intake or Evaluation, or both;
Medical Services;
Recreation;

SB1695 - 6 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
Social Work or Counselling, or both;
Supportive Staff;
Volunteers.
OBJECT EXPENSES
Professional Fees and Contract Service Payments;
Supplies;
Telephone and Telegram;
Occupancy;
Local Transportation;
Equipment and Other Fixed Assets, including amortization
of same;
Miscellaneous.
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
Program Administration;
Supervision and Consultation;
Inspection and Monitoring for purposes of issuing
licenses;
Determination of Children who are eligible
for federal or other reimbursement;
Postage and Shipping;
Outside Printing, Artwork, etc.;
Subscriptions and Reference Publications;
Management and General Expense.
Reimbursement of administrative costs other than inspection

SB1695 - 7 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
and monitoring for purposes of issuing licenses may not exceed
20% of the costs for other services.
The Department may offer services to any child or family
with respect to whom a report of suspected child abuse or
neglect has been called in to the hotline after completion of a
family assessment as provided under subsection (a-5) of
Section 7.4 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act
and the Department has determined that services are needed to
address the safety of the child and other family members and
the risk of subsequent maltreatment. Acceptance of such
services shall be voluntary.
All Object Expenses, Service Activities and Administrative
Costs are allowable.
If a survey instrument is used in the rate setting
process:
(a) with respect to any day care centers, it shall be
limited to those agencies which receive reimbursement from
the State;
(b) the cost survey instrument shall be promulgated by
rule;
(c) any requirements of the respondents shall be
promulgated by rule;
(d) all screens, limits or other tests of
reasonableness, allowability and reimbursability shall be
promulgated by rule;
(e) adjustments may be made by the Department to rates

SB1695 - 8 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
when it determines that reported wage and salary levels
are insufficient to attract capable caregivers in
sufficient numbers.
The Department of Children and Family Services may pay
100% of the reasonable costs of research and valuation focused
exclusively on services to youth in care. Such research
projects must be approved, in advance, by the Director of the
Department.
In addition to reimbursements otherwise provided for in
this Section, the Department of Human Services shall, in
accordance with annual written agreements, make advance
quarterly disbursements to local public agencies for child day
care services with funds appropriated from the Local Effort
Day Care Fund.
Neither the Department of Children and Family Services nor
the Department of Human Services shall pay or approve
reimbursement for day care in a facility which is operating
without a valid license or permit, except in the case of day
care homes or day care centers which are exempt from the
licensing requirements of the "Child Care Act of 1969".
The rates paid to day care providers by the Department of
Children and Family Services shall match the rates paid to
child care providers by the Department of Human Services under
the child care assistance program, including base rates and
any relevant rate enhancements.
As soon as practical on or after the effective date of this

SB1695 - 9 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, the
reimbursement rate under this Section shall be increased by at
least 8%.
(Source: P.A. 102-926, eff. 7-1-23.)
(20 ILCS 505/50 new)
Sec. 50. Training for Department staff who work with early
childhood education providers. The Department shall provide
additional training for Department staff who work with early
childhood education providers.
Section 10. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
amended by changing Section 35 as follows:
(110 ILCS 947/35)
Sec. 35. Monetary award program.
(a) The Commission shall, each year, receive and consider
applications for grant assistance under this Section. Subject
to a separate appropriation for such purposes, an applicant is
eligible for a grant under this Section when the Commission
finds that the applicant:
(1) is a resident of this State and a citizen or
permanent resident of the United States;
(2) is enrolled or has been accepted for enrollment in
a qualified institution for the purpose of obtaining a
degree, certificate, or other credential offered by the

SB1695 - 10 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
institution, as applicable; and
(3) in the absence of grant assistance, will be
deterred by financial considerations from completing an
educational program at the qualified institution of his or
her choice.
(b) The Commission shall award renewals only upon the
student's application and upon the Commission's finding that
the applicant:
(1) has remained a student in good standing;
(2) remains a resident of this State; and
(3) is in a financial situation that continues to
warrant assistance.
(c) All grants shall be applicable only to tuition and
necessary fee costs. The Commission shall determine the grant
amount for each student, which shall not exceed the smallest
of the following amounts:
(1) subject to appropriation, $5,468 for fiscal year
2009, $5,968 for fiscal year 2010, $6,468 for fiscal year
2011 and each fiscal year thereafter through fiscal year
2022, and $8,508 for fiscal year 2023 and each fiscal year
thereafter, or such lesser amount as the Commission finds
to be available, during an academic year;
(2) the amount which equals 2 semesters or 3 quarters
tuition and other necessary fees required generally by the
institution of all full-time undergraduate students; or
(3) such amount as the Commission finds to be

SB1695 - 11 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
appropriate in view of the applicant's financial
resources.
Subject to appropriation, the maximum grant amount for
students not subject to subdivision (1) of this subsection (c)
must be increased by the same percentage as any increase made
by law to the maximum grant amount under subdivision (1) of
this subsection (c).
"Tuition and other necessary fees" as used in this Section
include the customary charge for instruction and use of
facilities in general, and the additional fixed fees charged
for specified purposes, which are required generally of
nongrant recipients for each academic period for which the
grant applicant actually enrolls, but do not include fees
payable only once or breakage fees and other contingent
deposits which are refundable in whole or in part. The
Commission may prescribe, by rule not inconsistent with this
Section, detailed provisions concerning the computation of
tuition and other necessary fees.
(d) No applicant, including those presently receiving
scholarship assistance under this Act, is eligible for
monetary award program consideration under this Act after
receiving a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent of 135
semester credit hours of award payments.
(d-5) In this subsection (d-5), "renewing applicant" means
a student attending an institution of higher learning who
received a Monetary Award Program grant during the prior

SB1695 - 12 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
academic year. Beginning with the processing of applications
for the 2020-2021 academic year, the Commission shall annually
publish a priority deadline date for renewing applicants.
Subject to appropriation, a renewing applicant who files by
the published priority deadline date shall receive a grant if
he or she continues to meet the eligibility requirements under
this Section. A renewing applicant's failure to apply by the
priority deadline date established under this subsection (d-5)
shall not disqualify him or her from receiving a grant if
sufficient funding is available to provide awards after that
date.
(e) The Commission, in determining the number of grants to
be offered, shall take into consideration past experience with
the rate of grant funds unclaimed by recipients. The
Commission shall notify applicants that grant assistance is
contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds.
(e-5) The General Assembly finds and declares that it is
an important purpose of the Monetary Award Program to
facilitate access to college both for students who pursue
postsecondary education immediately following high school and
for those who pursue postsecondary education later in life,
particularly Illinoisans who are dislocated workers with
financial need and who are seeking to improve their economic
position through education. For the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017
academic years, the Commission shall give additional and
specific consideration to the needs of dislocated workers with

SB1695 - 13 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
the intent of allowing applicants who are dislocated workers
an opportunity to secure financial assistance even if applying
later than the general pool of applicants. The Commission's
consideration shall include, in determining the number of
grants to be offered, an estimate of the resources needed to
serve dislocated workers who apply after the Commission
initially suspends award announcements for the upcoming
regular academic year, but prior to the beginning of that
academic year. For the purposes of this subsection (e-5), a
dislocated worker is defined as in the federal Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act.
(f) (Blank).
(g) The Commission shall determine the eligibility of and
make grants to applicants enrolled at qualified for-profit
institutions in accordance with the criteria set forth in this
Section. The eligibility of applicants enrolled at such
for-profit institutions shall be limited as follows:
(1) Beginning with the academic year 1997, only to
eligible first-time freshmen and first-time transfer
students who have attained an associate degree.
(2) Beginning with the academic year 1998, only to
eligible freshmen students, transfer students who have
attained an associate degree, and students who receive a
grant under paragraph (1) for the academic year 1997 and
whose grants are being renewed for the academic year 1998.
(3) Beginning with the academic year 1999, to all

SB1695 - 14 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
eligible students.
(h) The Commission may award a grant to an eligible
applicant enrolled at an Illinois public institution of higher
learning in a program that will culminate in the award of an
occupational or career and technical certificate as that term
is defined in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 1501.301.
(h-5) The Commission may award a grant to an eligible
applicant enrolled in an early childhood education program
who, after graduation, will work in a child care facility. The
grant shall cover the cost of an undergraduate degree.
(i) The Commission may adopt rules to implement this
Section.
(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-699, eff. 4-19-22.)
Section 15. The Child Care Act of 1969 is amended by
changing Sections 4.1 and 7 and by adding Section 25 as
follows:
(225 ILCS 10/4.1) (from Ch. 23, par. 2214.1)
Sec. 4.1. Criminal Background Investigations. The
Department shall require that each child care facility license
applicant as part of the application process, and each
employee and volunteer of a child care facility or
non-licensed service provider, as a condition of employment,
authorize an investigation to determine if such applicant,
employee, or volunteer has ever been charged with a crime and

SB1695 - 15 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
if so, the disposition of those charges; this authorization
shall indicate the scope of the inquiry and the agencies which
may be contacted. Upon this authorization, the Director shall
request and receive information and assistance from any
federal, State or local governmental agency as part of the
authorized investigation. Each applicant, employee, or
volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service
provider shall submit his or her fingerprints to the Illinois
State Police in the form and manner prescribed by the Illinois
State Police. These fingerprints shall be checked against the
fingerprint records now and hereafter filed in the Illinois
State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal
history records databases. The Illinois State Police shall
charge a fee for conducting the criminal history records
check, which shall be deposited in the State Police Services
Fund and shall not exceed the actual cost of the records check.
The Illinois State Police shall provide information concerning
any criminal charges, and their disposition, now or hereafter
filed, against an applicant, employee, or volunteer of a child
care facility or non-licensed service provider upon request of
the Department of Children and Family Services when the
request is made in the form and manner required by the Illinois
State Police.
Information concerning convictions of a license applicant,
employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or
non-licensed service provider investigated under this Section,

SB1695 - 16 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
including the source of the information and any conclusions or
recommendations derived from the information, shall be
provided, upon request, to such applicant, employee, or
volunteer of a child care facility or non-licensed service
provider prior to final action by the Department on the
application. State conviction information provided by the
Illinois State Police regarding employees, prospective
employees, or volunteers of non-licensed service providers and
child care facilities licensed under this Act shall be
provided to the operator of such facility, and, upon request,
to the employee, prospective employee, or volunteer of a child
care facility or non-licensed service provider. Any
information concerning criminal charges and the disposition of
such charges obtained by the Department shall be confidential
and may not be transmitted outside the Department, except as
required herein, and may not be transmitted to anyone within
the Department except as needed for the purpose of evaluating
an application or an employee or volunteer of a child care
facility or non-licensed service provider. Only information
and standards which bear a reasonable and rational relation to
the performance of a child care facility shall be used by the
Department or any licensee. Any employee of the Department of
Children and Family Services, Illinois State Police, or a
child care facility receiving confidential information under
this Section who gives or causes to be given any confidential
information concerning any criminal convictions of an

SB1695 - 17 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
applicant, employee, or volunteer of a child care facility or
non-licensed service provider, shall be guilty of a Class A
misdemeanor unless release of such information is authorized
by this Section.
A child care facility may hire, on a probationary basis,
any employee or volunteer of a child care facility or
non-licensed service provider authorizing a criminal
background investigation under this Section, pending the
result of such investigation. Employees and volunteers of a
child care facility or non-licensed service provider shall be
notified prior to hiring that such employment may be
terminated on the basis of criminal background information
obtained by the facility.
The Department shall ensure that the amount of time it
takes to complete the criminal background investigation under
this Section does not exceed 90 days.
(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)
(225 ILCS 10/7) (from Ch. 23, par. 2217)
Sec. 7. (a) The Department must prescribe and publish
minimum standards for licensing that apply to the various
types of facilities for child care defined in this Act and that
are equally applicable to like institutions under the control
of the Department and to foster family homes used by and under
the direct supervision of the Department. The Department shall
seek the advice and assistance of persons representative of

SB1695 - 18 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
the various types of child care facilities in establishing
such standards. The standards prescribed and published under
this Act take effect as provided in the Illinois
Administrative Procedure Act, and are restricted to
regulations pertaining to the following matters and to any
rules and regulations required or permitted by any other
Section of this Act:
(1) The operation and conduct of the facility and
responsibility it assumes for child care;
(2) The character, suitability and qualifications of
the applicant and other persons directly responsible for
the care and welfare of children served. All child day
care center licensees and employees who are required to
report child abuse or neglect under the Abused and
Neglected Child Reporting Act shall be required to attend
training on recognizing child abuse and neglect, as
prescribed by Department rules;
(3) The general financial ability and competence of
the applicant to provide necessary care for children and
to maintain prescribed standards;
(4) The number of individuals or staff required to
insure adequate supervision and care of the children
received. The standards shall provide that each child care
institution, maternity center, day care center, group
home, day care home, and group day care home shall have on
its premises during its hours of operation at least one

SB1695 - 19 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
staff member certified in first aid, in the Heimlich
maneuver and in cardiopulmonary resuscitation by the
American Red Cross or other organization approved by rule
of the Department. Child welfare agencies shall not be
subject to such a staffing requirement. The Department may
offer, or arrange for the offering, on a periodic basis in
each community in this State in cooperation with the
American Red Cross, the American Heart Association or
other appropriate organization, voluntary programs to
train operators of foster family homes and day care homes
in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation;
(5) The appropriateness, safety, cleanliness, and
general adequacy of the premises, including maintenance of
adequate fire prevention and health standards conforming
to State laws and municipal codes to provide for the
physical comfort, care, and well-being of children
received;
(6) Provisions for food, clothing, educational
opportunities, program, equipment and individual supplies
to assure the healthy physical, mental, and spiritual
development of children served;
(7) Provisions to safeguard the legal rights of
children served;
(8) Maintenance of records pertaining to the
admission, progress, health, and discharge of children,
including, for day care centers and day care homes,

SB1695 - 20 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
records indicating each child has been immunized as
required by State regulations. The Department shall
require proof that children enrolled in a facility have
been immunized against Haemophilus Influenzae B (HIB);
(9) Filing of reports with the Department;
(10) Discipline of children;
(11) Protection and fostering of the particular
religious faith of the children served;
(12) Provisions prohibiting firearms on day care
center premises except in the possession of peace
officers;
(13) Provisions prohibiting handguns on day care home
premises except in the possession of peace officers or
other adults who must possess a handgun as a condition of
employment and who reside on the premises of a day care
home;
(14) Provisions requiring that any firearm permitted
on day care home premises, except handguns in the
possession of peace officers, shall be kept in a
disassembled state, without ammunition, in locked storage,
inaccessible to children and that ammunition permitted on
day care home premises shall be kept in locked storage
separate from that of disassembled firearms, inaccessible
to children;
(15) Provisions requiring notification of parents or
guardians enrolling children at a day care home of the

SB1695 - 21 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
presence in the day care home of any firearms and
ammunition and of the arrangements for the separate,
locked storage of such firearms and ammunition;
(16) Provisions requiring all licensed child care
facility employees who care for newborns and infants to
complete training every 3 years on the nature of sudden
unexpected infant death (SUID), sudden infant death
syndrome (SIDS), and the safe sleep recommendations of the
American Academy of Pediatrics; and
(17) With respect to foster family homes, provisions
requiring the Department to review quality of care
concerns and to consider those concerns in determining
whether a foster family home is qualified to care for
children.
By July 1, 2022, all licensed day care home providers,
licensed group day care home providers, and licensed day care
center directors and classroom staff shall participate in at
least one training that includes the topics of early childhood
social emotional learning, infant and early childhood mental
health, early childhood trauma, or adverse childhood
experiences. Current licensed providers, directors, and
classroom staff shall complete training by July 1, 2022 and
shall participate in training that includes the above topics
at least once every 3 years. However, any licensed day care
home provider, licensed group day care home provider, licensed
day care center director, or classroom staff is not required

SB1695 - 22 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
to participate in this training if the individual has a
master's or a bachelor's degree in early childhood education
or an equivalent subject.
The Department shall waive any mandatory training or
classes for a licensed day care home provider, licensed group
day care home provider, or licensed day care center director
to the extent that the training or classes is duplicative of
the individual's educational training.
(b) If, in a facility for general child care, there are
children diagnosed as mentally ill or children diagnosed as
having an intellectual or physical disability, who are
determined to be in need of special mental treatment or of
nursing care, or both mental treatment and nursing care, the
Department shall seek the advice and recommendation of the
Department of Human Services, the Department of Public Health,
or both Departments regarding the residential treatment and
nursing care provided by the institution.
(c) The Department shall investigate any person applying
to be licensed as a foster parent to determine whether there is
any evidence of current drug or alcohol abuse in the
prospective foster family. The Department shall not license a
person as a foster parent if drug or alcohol abuse has been
identified in the foster family or if a reasonable suspicion
of such abuse exists, except that the Department may grant a
foster parent license to an applicant identified with an
alcohol or drug problem if the applicant has successfully

SB1695 - 23 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
participated in an alcohol or drug treatment program,
self-help group, or other suitable activities and if the
Department determines that the foster family home can provide
a safe, appropriate environment and meet the physical and
emotional needs of children.
(d) The Department, in applying standards prescribed and
published, as herein provided, shall offer consultation
through employed staff or other qualified persons to assist
applicants and licensees in meeting and maintaining minimum
requirements for a license and to help them otherwise to
achieve programs of excellence related to the care of children
served. Such consultation shall include providing information
concerning education and training in early childhood
development to providers of day care home services. The
Department may provide or arrange for such education and
training for those providers who request such assistance.
(e) The Department shall distribute copies of licensing
standards to all licensees and applicants for a license. Each
licensee or holder of a permit shall distribute copies of the
appropriate licensing standards and any other information
required by the Department to child care facilities under its
supervision. Each licensee or holder of a permit shall
maintain appropriate documentation of the distribution of the
standards. Such documentation shall be part of the records of
the facility and subject to inspection by authorized
representatives of the Department.

SB1695 - 24 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
(f) The Department shall prepare summaries of day care
licensing standards. Each licensee or holder of a permit for a
day care facility shall distribute a copy of the appropriate
summary and any other information required by the Department,
to the legal guardian of each child cared for in that facility
at the time when the child is enrolled or initially placed in
the facility. The licensee or holder of a permit for a day care
facility shall secure appropriate documentation of the
distribution of the summary and brochure. Such documentation
shall be a part of the records of the facility and subject to
inspection by an authorized representative of the Department.
(g) The Department shall distribute to each licensee and
holder of a permit copies of the licensing or permit standards
applicable to such person's facility. Each licensee or holder
of a permit shall make available by posting at all times in a
common or otherwise accessible area a complete and current set
of licensing standards in order that all employees of the
facility may have unrestricted access to such standards. All
employees of the facility shall have reviewed the standards
and any subsequent changes. Each licensee or holder of a
permit shall maintain appropriate documentation of the current
review of licensing standards by all employees. Such records
shall be part of the records of the facility and subject to
inspection by authorized representatives of the Department.
(h) Any standards involving physical examinations,
immunization, or medical treatment shall include appropriate

SB1695 - 25 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
exemptions for children whose parents object thereto on the
grounds that they conflict with the tenets and practices of a
recognized church or religious organization, of which the
parent is an adherent or member, and for children who should
not be subjected to immunization for clinical reasons.
(i) The Department, in cooperation with the Department of
Public Health, shall work to increase immunization awareness
and participation among parents of children enrolled in day
care centers and day care homes by publishing on the
Department's website information about the benefits of
immunization against vaccine preventable diseases, including
influenza and pertussis. The information for vaccine
preventable diseases shall include the incidence and severity
of the diseases, the availability of vaccines, and the
importance of immunizing children and persons who frequently
have close contact with children. The website content shall be
reviewed annually in collaboration with the Department of
Public Health to reflect the most current recommendations of
the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The
Department shall work with day care centers and day care homes
licensed under this Act to ensure that the information is
annually distributed to parents in August or September.
(j) Any standard adopted by the Department that requires
an applicant for a license to operate a day care home to
include a copy of a high school diploma or equivalent
certificate with his or her application shall be deemed to be

SB1695 - 26 - LRB103 26903 AMQ 53267 b
satisfied if the applicant includes a copy of a high school
diploma or equivalent certificate or a copy of a degree from an
accredited institution of higher education or vocational
institution or equivalent certificate.
(Source: P.A. 102-4, eff. 4-27-21.)
(225 ILCS 10/25 new)
Sec. 25. Child care facility educator substitution pool
program. The Department shall implement a child care facility
educator substitution pool program, which shall provide to
child care facilities the contact information for early
childhood educators willing to provide substitute services to
other child care facilities in a specified geographic area. As
part of the program, the number of hours worked by an early
childhood educator under the program shall be tracked for
purposes of an appropriate retirement plan. The Department
shall adopt rules to implement this Section.
Section 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.