Public Act 0309 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB3446 Enrolled LRB104 10874 AAS 20956 b

Public Act 104-0309

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 5. The Child Care Act of 1969 is amended by adding Sections 9.1d, 9.1e, and 9.1f as follows:

(225 ILCS 10/9.1d new)

Sec. 9.1d. Public list of qualified courses.

(a) As used in this Section, "institution of higher education" means any publicly or privately operated university, college, or community college in this State that offers degrees or certificates in early childhood or related coursework or similar degrees or certificates beyond the secondary school level. "Institution of higher education" includes a public, private, non-profit, or for-profit university, college, or community college authorized by the Board of Higher Education or the Community College Board to offer degrees or certificates in early childhood or related coursework or similar degrees or certificates beyond the secondary school level online, via correspondence, or physically in this State to an individual in this State.

(b) No later than January 1, 2027, the Department of Early Childhood, in collaboration with the Community College Board, the Board of Higher Education, and the Department of Children and Family Services, shall publish on its website and regularly update, at least once per year, a comprehensive list of college early childhood courses that qualify toward the attainment of the required qualifications under 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130 and 407.140 for early childhood teachers and directors.

(c) To help the Department of Early Childhood determine whether an institution of higher education's early childhood college courses meet the requirements of 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130 and 407.140, each institution of higher education shall submit, in the form and manner prescribed by the Department of Early Childhood, information about the courses.

(d) The Department of Early Childhood may adopt rules to implement this Section.

(225 ILCS 10/9.1e new)

Sec. 9.1e. Public list of qualified courses; qualification and impartial oversight review process.

(a) As used in this Section, "institution" has the meaning given to that term in Section 9.1d.

(b) No later than January 1, 2027, the Department of Early Childhood, in consultation with stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Illinois Community College Board, the Board of Higher Education, and, until January 1, 2027, the Department of Children and Family Services, shall create a process to verify early childhood courses that qualify toward the attainment of the required qualifications under 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130 and 407.140 for early childhood teachers and directors.

(c) As part of the development of the process established under this Section, the Department of Early Childhood shall seek input and feedback from established child care providers, Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity member institutions, early child care and education advocates, early childhood program students, and other stakeholders.

(d) The process established under this Section shall include the following elements, which also shall be posted on the Department of Early Childhood's website:

(1) criteria for the inclusion of college courses offered by State-based and out-of-state institutions on the course list;

(2) criteria for the removal of courses from the course list;

(3) a requirement that the removal of a course from the course list shall not negatively impact any early childhood teacher or director or early childhood teacher or director applicant who has taken or is currently enrolled in the course;

(4) a notification plan for (i) the distribution of the course list and (ii) any updates to all licensed child care centers in this State;

(5) an impartial oversight review process for courses deemed ineligible for the attainment of the required qualifications for an early childhood teacher or director; and

(6) a process for establishing eligibility requirements for college courses not on the course list.

(e) The Department of Early Childhood may adopt rules to implement this Section.

(225 ILCS 10/9.1f new)

Sec. 9.1f. Public list of qualified courses; training for applicable State staff.

(a) Applicable State staff must be trained on the use of the course list established under Section 9.1e, the prohibitions for the course list, and the impartial oversight review process under Section 9.1e.

(b) The Department of Early Childhood may adopt rules to implement this Section.

Effective Date: 1/1/2026