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

 

 

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1professionalize the field to promote workforce recruitment and
2retention efforts, advanced skills and competencies, and
3further ensure the health, safety, and well-being of persons
4being served.
5    (c) The direct support professional credential pilot
6program is created within the Division to assist persons in
7the field of developmental disabilities in obtaining a
8credential in their fields of expertise.
9    (d) The pilot program shall be administered by the
10Division for 3 years, beginning in Fiscal Year 2025 2024. The
11pilot program shall include providers licensed and certified
12by the Division or by the Department of Public Health. The
13purpose of the pilot program is to assess how the
14establishment of a State-administered direct support
15professional 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
26the pilot program, shall consider, but not be limited to, the

 

 

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1following:
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
13progress 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
242-3.195 as follows:
 

 

 

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1    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.195)
2    Sec. 2-3.195. Direct support professional training
3program. Beginning with the 2026-2027 2025-2026 school year
4and continuing for not less than 2 years, the State Board of
5Education shall make available a model program of study that
6incorporates the training and experience necessary to serve as
7a direct support professional. By July 1, 2025 2023, the
8Department of Human Services shall submit recommendations
9developed in consultation with stakeholders, including, but
10not limited to, organizations representing community-based
11providers serving children and adults with intellectual or
12developmental disabilities, and education practitioners,
13including, but not limited to, teachers, administrators,
14special education directors, and regional superintendents of
15schools, to the State Board for the training that would be
16required 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;
18103-175, eff. 6-30-23.)
 
19    Section 15. The Public Community College Act is amended by
20changing Section 2-27 as follows:
 
21    (110 ILCS 805/2-27)
22    Sec. 2-27. Direct support professional training program.
23By July 1, 2026 2025, the State Board shall submit
24recommendations for a model program of study, for credit, that

 

 

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1incorporates the training and experience necessary to serve as
2a direct support professional to the Department of Human
3Services. The model program of study shall be developed in
4consultation with stakeholders, including, but not limited to,
5organizations representing community-based providers serving
6children and adults with intellectual or developmental
7disabilities, and elementary and secondary education
8practitioners, including, but not limited to, teachers,
9administrators, special education directors, and regional
10superintendents of schools. Beginning with the 2026-2027
11academic year and continuing for not less than 2 academic
12years, the State Board shall make available to community
13colleges the model program of study developed under this
14Section.
15(Source: P.A. 103-92, eff. 1-1-24.)
 
16    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
17becoming law.