Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB3446

Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel

Filed: 5/2/2025

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AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 3446

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 3446 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"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) 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 and regularly update, at least once per year, a comprehensive list of college early childhood courses that qualify toward the attainment of the qualifications required under 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130 and 407.140 for an early childhood teacher or director on its website.

(b) 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" 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" 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 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 an early childhood teacher and director 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.

(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) Any 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.".