SB2091 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 10646 AXK 55752 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB2091

Introduced 2/15/2019, by Sen. Omar Aquino

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 947/65.105 new
30 ILCS 105/5.891 new

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, beginning with the 2019-2020 academic year, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission must implement and administer a program to award Early Childhood Workforce Free College grants to all eligible child care workers seeking an associate or bachelor's degree from a public institution or a regionally accredited, online-only early childhood education degree program; defines terms. Specifies grant eligibility and renewal requirements. Creates the Early Childhood Workforce Advisory Committee to advise the Commission on all matters relating to the Early Childhood Workforce Free College grant program and on the ways to improve and expand the early childhood workforce in this State. Provides for the membership and support of the Committee and requires the Committee to (i) study and make recommendations to the Commission that are related to the implementation of the Early Childhood Workforce Free College grant program, (ii) conduct an analysis from data received by the Commission to ensure the program is at full utilization, (iii) address access issues to the program, including, but not limited to, geographic, financial, cultural, and workplace settings, and (iv) address ways to expand the early childhood workforce in this State. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Early Childhood Workforce Free College Fund. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Section 65.105 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/65.105 new)

Sec. 65.105. Early Childhood Workforce Free College grant program.

(a) In this Section:

"Child care or early childhood education setting" means a facility licensed under the Child Care Act of 1969, a licensed or license-exempt child care provider under Section 9A-11 of the Illinois Public Aid Code, a federal Head Start or Early Head Start program, or a preschool program funded under Section 2-3.71 of the School Code.

"Child care worker" means an Illinois resident who has been working in any child care or early childhood education setting for at least 2 years or has worked in such a setting within the past 5 years.

"Early childhood degree program" means a regionally accredited, online-only degree program through which a child care worker may attain a degree or credential or maintain a classroom role in any child care or early childhood education setting, including a Child Development Associate Credential program or an Early Childhood Education (ECE) degree program.

"Public institution" means the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, any public community college in this State, or any other public university, college, or community college now or hereafter established or authorized by the General Assembly.

"Student aid" means a scholarships or grant, other than an Early Childhood Workforce Free College grant created under this Section, awarded to a student from any source that does not require repayment. "Student aid" does not include student loans and work-study awards.

(b) Beginning with the 2019-2020 academic year, the Commission must implement and administer a program to award Early Childhood Workforce Free College grants to all eligible child care workers seeking an associate or bachelor's degree from a public institution or an early childhood degree program. All of the following terms and conditions shall apply to the program:

(1) To be eligible for a grant, a student must (i) possess a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate and (ii) be admitted to and enrolled in a public institution or an early childhood degree program. Exceptions to initial enrollment may be made for extenuating circumstances as provided in rules adopted by the Commission.

(2) Students applying for a grant must annually complete the Early Childhood Education Workforce Free College grant application. A student who has the capacity to draw federal student aid shall complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid each academic year in which he or she seeks to receive a grant.

(3) To continue to receive a grant, a student must maintain Illinois residency.

(4) Each academic year, a grant shall be equal to the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at the public institution or early childhood degree program attended, less all other student aid. Student aid shall be credited first to the student's tuition and mandatory fees. Eligible students who receive student aid exceeding their tuition cost and mandatory fees and demonstrate additional need shall be eligible to receive additional financial support, including, but not limited to, funds for the purchase of required books and supplies, lab fees, and activity fees, through procedures set forth in rules adopted by the Commission. Each public institution or early childhood degree program must annually report to the Commission its undergraduate tuition rate for Illinois residents and the number of its undergraduate students who are Illinois residents.

(5) A student is eligible for a grant and any grant renewals until he or she has earned an associate or bachelor's degree.

(c) In awarding grants under this Section, the Commission shall, by rule, develop the selection and renewal criteria for students.

(d) The Early Childhood Workforce Free College Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. The Fund shall consist of money appropriated by the General Assembly and any gifts, bequests, or donations made to the Fund. All money in the Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, only by the Commission for the purposes of this Section.

(e) The Early Childhood Workforce Advisory Committee is created to advise the Commission on all matters related to the Early Childhood Workforce Free College grant program and on the ways to improve and expand the early childhood workforce in this State. The Advisory Committee shall be comprised of all of the following members:

(1) One representative each from the Department of Human Services, the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development, the Illinois Community College Board, and the Board of Higher Education, each of whom shall be selected by his or her respective director and one of whom shall serve as a chairperson, as designated by the Illinois Early Learning Council, and the remaining members shall be ex officio and nonvoting members.

(2) Ten members appointed by the Illinois Early Learning Council, with the recommendation of statewide associations and organizations, as follows:

(A) one member representing the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies;

(B) one member representing public universities in this State;

(C) one member representing the Illinois Head Start Association;

(D) one member representing the Department of Human Services' Child Care Assistance Program;

(E) one member who is a child care center preschool teacher;

(F) one member who is a child care center infant or toddler teacher;

(G) one member who is a child care center teacher's assistant;

(H) one member who is a home child care provider;

(I) one member representing statewide trade or labor unions; and

(J) one member representing organizations engaging in advocacy of the early childhood workforce.

Appointed members of the Advisory Committee, other than initial appointees, shall serve for a term of 3 years or until a replacement is named. All initial members shall be appointed no later than August 1, 2019. Of the initial appointees, 10 members shall serve a term of 2 years and 10 members shall serve a term of 3 years. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his or her predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of that term. The Advisory Committee shall meet at least quarterly and may meet more frequently at the call of the chairperson. A simple majority of those appointed shall constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of a majority of those present and voting shall be necessary for Advisory Committee action. Members of the Advisory Committee shall receive no compensation for their services, but may be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in performing their duties from funds appropriated to the Commission for that purpose. The Commission must provide administrative and other support to the Advisory Committee.

The Advisory Committee shall do all of the following:

(1) Study and make recommendations to the Commission that are related to the implementation of the Early Childhood Workforce Free College grant program.

(2) Conduct an analysis from data received by the Commission to ensure the program is at full utilization.

(3) Address access issues to the program, including, but not limited to, geographic, financial, cultural, and workplace settings.

(4) Address ways to expand the early childhood workforce in this State.

Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.891 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.891 new)

Sec. 5.891. The Early Childhood Workforce Free College Fund.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.