SB3432 Engrossed LRB103 38217 KTG 68351 b
1		AN ACT concerning State government.
2		Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3		represented in the General Assembly:
4		Section 5. The Mental Health and Developmental
5		Disabilities Administrative Act is amended by changing Section
6		4.4 as follows:
7		(20 ILCS 1705/4.4)
8		Sec. 4.4. Direct support professional credential pilot
9		program.
10		(a) In this Section, "direct support person credential"
11		means a document issued to an individual by a recognized
12		accrediting body attesting that the individual has met the
13		professional requirements of the credentialing program by the
14		Division of Developmental Disabilities of the Department of
15		Human Services.
16		(b) The Division or a Division partner shall initiate a
17		program to continue to gain the expertise and knowledge of the
18		developmental disabilities workforce and of the developmental
19		disabilities workforce recruitment and retention needs
20		throughout the developmental disabilities field. The Division
21		shall implement a direct support professional credential pilot
22		program to assist and attract persons into the field of direct
23		support, advance direct support as a career, and

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1		professionalize the field to promote workforce recruitment and
2		retention efforts, advanced skills and competencies, and
3		further ensure the health, safety, and well-being of persons
4		being served.
5		(c) The direct support professional credential pilot
6		program is created within the Division to assist persons in
7		the field of developmental disabilities in obtaining a
8		credential in their fields of expertise.
9		(d) The pilot program shall be administered by the
10		Division for 3 years, beginning in Fiscal Year 2025 2024. The
11		pilot program shall include providers licensed and certified
12		by the Division or by the Department of Public Health. The
13		purpose of the pilot program is to assess how the
14		establishment of a State-administered direct support
15		professional credential:
16		(1) promotes recruitment and retention efforts in the
17		developmental disabilities field, notably the direct
18		support professional position;
19		(2) enhances competence in the developmental
20		disabilities field;
21		(3) yields quality supports and services to persons
22		with developmental disabilities; and
23		(4) advances the health and safety requirements set
24		forth by the State.
25		(e) The Division or a Division partner, in administering
26		the pilot program, shall consider, but not be limited to, the

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1		following:
2		(1) best practices learning initiatives, including the
3		University of Minnesota's college of direct support and
4		all Illinois Department of Human Services-approved direct
5		support professional competencies;
6		(2) national direct support professional competencies
7		or credentialing-based standards and trainings;
8		(3) facilitating direct support professional's
9		portfolio development;
10		(4) the role and value of skill mentors; and
11		(5) creating a career ladder.
12		(f) The Division shall produce a report detailing the
13		progress of the pilot program, including, but not limited to:
14		(1) the rate of recruitment and retention for direct
15		support professionals of providers participating in the
16		pilot program compared to the rate for non-participating
17		providers;
18		(2) the number of direct support professional
19		credentialed; and
20		(3) the enhancement of quality supports and services
21		to persons with developmental disabilities.
22		(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-830, eff. 1-1-23.)
23		Section 10. The School Code is amended by changing Section
24		2-3.195 as follows:

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1		(105 ILCS 5/2-3.195)
2		Sec. 2-3.195. Direct support professional training
3		program. Beginning with the 2026-2027 2025-2026 school year
4		and continuing for not less than 2 years, the State Board of
5		Education shall make available a model program of study that
6		incorporates the training and experience necessary to serve as
7		a direct support professional. By July 1, 2025 2023, the
8		Department of Human Services shall submit recommendations
9		developed in consultation with stakeholders, including, but
10		not limited to, organizations representing community-based
11		providers serving children and adults with intellectual or
12		developmental disabilities, and education practitioners,
13		including, but not limited to, teachers, administrators,
14		special education directors, and regional superintendents of
15		schools, to the State Board for the training that would be
16		required in order to complete the model program of study.
17		(Source: P.A. 102-874, eff. 1-1-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23;
18		103-175, eff. 6-30-23.)
19		Section 15. The Public Community College Act is amended by
20		changing Section 2-27 as follows:
21		(110 ILCS 805/2-27)
22		Sec. 2-27. Direct support professional training program.
23		By July 1, 2026 2025, the State Board shall submit
24		recommendations for a model program of study, for credit, that

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1		incorporates the training and experience necessary to serve as
2		a direct support professional to the Department of Human
3		Services. The model program of study shall be developed in
4		consultation with stakeholders, including, but not limited to,
5		organizations representing community-based providers serving
6		children and adults with intellectual or developmental
7		disabilities, and elementary and secondary education
8		practitioners, including, but not limited to, teachers,
9		administrators, special education directors, and regional
10		superintendents of schools. Beginning with the 2026-2027
11		academic year and continuing for not less than 2 academic
12		years, the State Board shall make available to community
13		colleges the model program of study developed under this
14		Section.
15		(Source: P.A. 103-92, eff. 1-1-24.)