093_SB0565eng SB565 Engrossed LRB093 10048 NHT 10299 b 1 AN ACT relating to young children's learning and 2 development. 3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 4 represented in the General Assembly: 5 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 6 Illinois Early Learning Council Act. 7 Section 5. Illinois Early Learning Council. The Illinois 8 Early Learning Council is hereby created to coordinate 9 existing programs and services for children from birth to 5 10 years of age in order to better meet the early learning needs 11 of children and their families. The goal of the Council is to 12 fulfill the vision of a statewide, high-quality, accessible, 13 and comprehensive early learning system to benefit all young 14 children whose parents choose it. The Council shall guide 15 collaborative efforts to improve and expand upon existing 16 early childhood programs and services. This work shall 17 include making use of existing reports, research, and 18 planning efforts. 19 Section 10. Membership. The Illinois Early Learning 20 Council shall include representation from both public and 21 private organizations, and its membership shall reflect 22 regional, racial, and cultural diversity to ensure 23 representation of the needs of all Illinois children. One 24 member shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, one 25 member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, one 26 member appointed by the Speaker of the House of 27 Representatives, one member appointed by the Minority Leader 28 of the House of Representatives, and other members appointed 29 by the Governor. The Governor's appointments shall include 30 without limitation the following: SB565 Engrossed -2- LRB093 10048 NHT 10299 b 1 (1) A leader of stature from the Governor's office, 2 to serve as co-chairperson of the Council. 3 (2) The chief administrators of the following State 4 agencies: State Board of Education; Department of Human 5 Services; Department of Children and Family Services; 6 Department of Public Health; Department of Public Aid; 7 Board of Higher Education; and Illinois Community College 8 Board. 9 (3) Local government stakeholders and nongovernment 10 stakeholders with an interest in early childhood care and 11 education, including representation from the following 12 private-sector fields and constituencies: early childhood 13 education and development; child care; child advocacy; 14 parenting support; local community collaborations among 15 early care and education programs and services; maternal 16 and child health; children with special needs; business; 17 labor; and law enforcement. The Governor shall designate 18 one of the members who is a nongovernment stakeholder to 19 serve as co-chairperson. 20 In addition, the Governor shall request that the Region V 21 office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' 22 Administration for Children and Families appoint a member to 23 the Council to represent federal children's programs and 24 services. 25 Members appointed by General Assembly members and members 26 appointed by the Governor who are local government or 27 nongovernment stakeholders shall serve 3-year terms, except 28 that of the initial appointments, half of these members, as 29 determined by lot, shall be appointed to 2-year terms so that 30 terms are staggered. Members shall serve on a voluntary, 31 unpaid basis. 32 Section 15. Accountability. The Illinois Early Learning 33 Council shall annually report to the Governor and General SB565 Engrossed -3- LRB093 10048 NHT 10299 b 1 Assembly on the Council's progress towards its goals and 2 objectives. 3 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 4 becoming law.