SB1705 Summary

• Amends Illinois Public Aid Code Section 9A-11 to expand child care assistance eligibility to include families not receiving TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) who need child care to participate in education and training activities.

• Establishes income eligibility thresholds based on state median income (through fiscal year 2007) and federal poverty level (beginning fiscal year 2008), with a minimum threshold of 50% of state median income or 185% of federal poverty level respectively.

• Removes the $7,500,000 annual allocation for a test program for non-TANF families and makes child care assistance a permanent program component rather than a pilot initiative.

• Designates child and day care home providers participating in the assistance program as public employees under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, enabling collective bargaining with the State while limiting State liability and excluding providers from State employee health insurance coverage.

• Requires the Department to develop a co-payment scale revision plan by February 1, 2008, addressing affordability for low-income families and access to Preschool for All and Head Start programs, with effective date of July 1, 2017.