(a)Legislative intent. The General Assembly finds that:
(1)Finding child care can be a challenge for firefighters, paramedics, police officers, nurses, and other third shift workers across the State who often work non-typical work hours. This can impact home life, school, bedtime routines, job safety, and the mental health of some of our most critical front line workers and their families.
(2)There is a need for increased options for off-hours child care in the State.
(3)Illinois has a vested interest in ensuring that our first responders and working families can provide their children with appropriate care during off hours to improve the morale of existing first responders and to improve recruitment into the future.
(b)As used in this Section, "first responders" means emergency medic
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(a) Legislative intent. The General Assembly finds that: (1) Finding child care can be a challenge for firefighters, paramedics, police officers, nurses, and other third shift workers across the State who often work non-typical work hours. This can impact home life, school, bedtime routines, job safety, and the mental health of some of our most critical front line workers and their families. (2) There is a need for increased options for off-hours child care in the State. (3) Illinois has a vested interest in ensuring that our first responders and working families can provide their children with appropriate care during off hours to improve the morale of existing first responders and to improve recruitment into the future. (b) As used in this Section, "first responders" means emergency medical services personnel as defined in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and, as determined by the Department of Early Childhood on and after July 1, 2026, any other workers who, on account of their work schedule, need child care outside of the hours when licensed child care facilities typically operate. (c) Beginning July 1, 2026, the Department of Early Childhood shall administer the Off-Hours Child Care Program to help first responders and other workers identify and access off-hours, night, or sleep time child care, subject to appropriation. Services funded under the program must address the child care needs of first responders. Funding provided under the program may also be used to cover any capital and operating expenses related to the provision of off-hours, night, or sleep time child care for first responders. Funding awarded under this Section shall be funded through appropriations from the Off-Hours Child Care Program Fund created under Public Act 102-912. The Department of Early Childhood may adopt any rules necessary to implement the program.