Illinois Early Learning Council Act (20 ILCS 3933/)

Chapter 20 — Executive Branch

Boards and Commissions

This text is maintained by the Legislative Reference Bureau for legislative drafting purposes and is NOT the official text of the Illinois Compiled Statutes; the only official copy is the printed copy maintained by the Secretary of State.

Sec. 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Illinois Early Learning Council Act.

(Source: P.A. 93-380, eff. 7-24-03.)

Sec. 5. Illinois Early Learning Council

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 104-697)

Sec. 5. Illinois Early Learning Council. The Illinois Early Learning Council is hereby created to coordinate existing programs and services for children from birth to 5 years of age in order to better meet the early learning needs of children and their families. The goal of the Council is to fulfill the vision of a statewide, high-quality, accessible, and comprehensive early learning system to benefit all young children whose parents choose it. The Council shall guide collaborative efforts to improve and expand upon existing early childhood programs and services, including those related to nutrition, nutrition education, and physical activity, in coordination with the Interagency Nutrition Council. This work shall include making use of existing reports, research, and planning efforts.

(Source: P.A. 93-380, eff. 7-24-03; 94-124, eff. 1-1-06.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 104-697)

Sec. 5. Illinois Early Learning Council. The Illinois Early Learning Council is hereby created to advise on statewide programs and services for children from the prenatal period to 5 years of age in order to better meet the early learning needs of children and their families. The goal of the Council is to fulfill the vision of Illinois being the best state in the nation to raise young children by providing a statewide, high-quality, accessible, and comprehensive early learning system. The Council shall guide collaborative efforts to improve and expand upon existing early childhood programs and services, including those related to education and care, such as nutrition, nutrition education, and physical activity, in coordination with the Interagency Nutrition Council. This work shall include making use of existing reports, research, and planning efforts.

(Source: P.A. 104-697, eff. 1-1-27.)

Sec. 10. Membership

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 104-697)

Sec. 10. Membership. The Illinois Early Learning Council shall include representation from both public and private organizations, and its membership shall reflect regional, racial, and cultural diversity to ensure representation of the needs of all Illinois children. One member shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and other members appointed by the Governor. The Governor's appointments shall include without limitation the following:

(1) A leader of stature from the Governor's office, to serve as co-chairperson of the Council.

(2) The chief administrators of the following State agencies: Department of Early Childhood, State Board of Education; Department of Human Services; Department of Children and Family Services; Department of Public Health; Department of Healthcare and Family Services; Board of Higher Education; and Illinois Community College Board.

(3) Local government stakeholders and nongovernment stakeholders with an interest in early childhood care and education, including representation from the following private-sector fields and constituencies: early childhood education and development; child care; child advocacy; parenting support; local community collaborations among early care and education programs and services; maternal and child health; children with special needs; business; labor; and law enforcement. The Governor shall designate one of the members who is a nongovernment stakeholder to serve as co-chairperson.

In addition, the Governor shall request that the Region V office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families appoint a member to the Council to represent federal children's programs and services.

Members appointed by General Assembly members and members appointed by the Governor who are local government or nongovernment stakeholders shall serve 3-year terms, except that of the initial appointments, half of these members, as determined by lot, shall be appointed to 2-year terms so that terms are staggered. Members shall serve on a voluntary, unpaid basis.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 6-25-24.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 104-697)

Sec. 10. Membership. The Illinois Early Learning Council shall include representation from both public and private organizations, and its membership shall reflect regional, racial, and cultural diversity to ensure representation of the needs of all Illinois children. One member shall be appointed by the President of the Senate; one member shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; one member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; one member shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and other members shall be appointed by the Governor. The Governor's appointments shall include, without limitation, the following:

(1) The Secretary of Early Childhood or the Secretary's designee, who shall serve as co-chairperson of the Council.

(2) A leader of stature from the Governor's office.

(3) The chief administrators of the following State agencies or their designees: the State Board of Education; the Department of Human Services; the Department of Children and Family Services; the Department of Public Health; the Department of Healthcare and Family Services; the Board of Higher Education; and the Illinois Community College Board.

(4) Parents and caregivers of children 5 years of age or younger.

(5) A representative of a statewide advocacy organization that represents multiple Head Start and Early Head Start providers.

(6) The State Director of Head Start Collaboration.

(7) Local government stakeholders and nongovernment stakeholders with an interest in early childhood care and education, including representation from the following private-sector fields and constituencies: early childhood education and development; child care; child advocacy; parenting support; local community collaborations among early care and education programs and services; maternal and child health; children with special needs; business; labor; and law enforcement. The Governor shall designate one of the members who is a nongovernment stakeholder to serve as co-chairperson of the Council.

Members appointed by General Assembly members and members appointed by the Governor who are local government or nongovernment stakeholders shall serve 3-year terms, except that of the initial appointments, half of these members, as determined by lot, shall be appointed to 2-year terms so that terms are staggered. Members shall serve on a voluntary, unpaid basis.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 6-25-24; 104-697, eff. 1-1-27.)

Sec. 15. Accountability

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 104-697)

Sec. 15. Accountability. The Illinois Early Learning Council shall annually report to the Governor and General Assembly on the Council's progress towards its goals and objectives.

(Source: P.A. 93-380, eff. 7-24-03.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 104-697)

Sec. 15. Management and accountability. The Department of Early Childhood shall provide staffing and administrative support to the Council. The Illinois Early Learning Council shall annually report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Department of Early Childhood on the Council's progress toward its goals and objectives.

(Source: P.A. 104-697, eff. 1-1-27.)

Sec. 20. Conflicts of interest

(This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)

Sec. 20. Conflicts of interest. No member of the Council shall cast a vote on or participate substantially in any matter that would provide a direct financial benefit to that member or otherwise give the appearance of a conflict of interest under State law. All provisions and reporting requirements of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act shall apply to Council members.

(Source: P.A. 104-697, eff. 1-1-27.)

Sec. 99. Effective date

This Act takes effect upon becoming law.

(Source: P.A. 93-380, eff. 7-24-03.)