(a)The General Assembly recognizes that families with children need child care in order to work. Child care is expensive and families with limited access to economic resources, including those who are transitioning from welfare to work, often struggle to pay the costs of day care. The General Assembly understands the importance of helping working families with limited access to economic resources become and remain self-sufficient. The General Assembly also believes that it is the responsibility of families to share in the costs of child care. It is also the preference of the General Assembly that all working families with limited access to economic resources should be treated equally, regardless of their welfare status.
(b)On and after July 1, 2026, to the extent resources permit, the Il
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(a) The General Assembly recognizes that families with children need child care in order to work. Child care is expensive and families with limited access to economic resources, including those who are transitioning from welfare to work, often struggle to pay the costs of day care. The General Assembly understands the importance of helping working families with limited access to economic resources become and remain self-sufficient. The General Assembly also believes that it is the responsibility of families to share in the costs of child care. It is also the preference of the General Assembly that all working families with limited access to economic resources should be treated equally, regardless of their welfare status. (b) On and after July 1, 2026, to the extent resources permit, the Illinois Department of Early Childhood shall provide child care services to parents or other relatives as defined by rule who are working or participating in employment or Department approved education or training programs as prescribed in Section 9A-11 of the Illinois Public Aid Code. (c) Smart Start Child Care Program. Through June 30, 2026, subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall establish and administer the Smart Start Child Care Program. On and after July 1, 2026, the Department of Early Childhood shall administer the Smart Start Child Care Program. The Smart Start Child Care Program shall focus on creating affordable child care, as well as increasing access to child care, for Illinois residents and may include, but is not limited to, providing funding to increase preschool availability, providing funding for childcare workforce compensation or capital investments, and expanding funding for Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarships. The Department with authority to administer the Smart Start Child Care Program shall establish program eligibility criteria, participation conditions, payment levels, and other program requirements by rule. The Department with authority to administer the Smart Start Child Care Program may consult with the Capital Development Board, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the State Board of Education, and the Illinois Housing Development Authority, and other state agencies as determined by the Department in the management and disbursement of funds for capital-related projects. The Capital Development Board, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the State Board of Education, and the Illinois Housing Development Authority, and other state agencies as determined by the Department shall act in a consulting role only for the evaluation of applicants, scoring of applicants, or administration of the grant program.