Illinois Code § 3

§ 3.

(a) No person, group of persons or corporation may operate or conduct any facility for child care, as defined in this Act, without a license or permit issued by the Department or without being approved by the Department as meeting the standards established for such licensing, with the exception of facilities for whom standards are established by the Department of Corrections under Section 3-15-2 of the Unified Code of Corrections, with the exception of facilities defined in Section 2.10 of this Act, and with the exception of programs or facilities licensed by the Department of Human Services under the Substance Use Disorder Act. (b) No part day child care facility as described in Section 2.10 may operate without written notification to the Department or without complying with Section 7.1. Notification shall include a notarized statement by the facility that the facility complies with State or local health standards and State fire safety standards and shall be filed with the department every 2 years. (c) The Director of the Department shall establish policies and coordinate activities relating to child care licensing, licensing of day care homes and day care centers. (d) Any facility or agency which is exempt from licensing may apply for licensing if licensing is required for some government benefit. (e) A provider of day care described in items (a) through (j) of Section 2.09 of this Act is exempt from licensure. The Department shall provide written verification of exemption and description of compliance with standards for the health, safety, and development of the children who receive the services upon submission by the provider of, in addition to any other documentation required by the Department, a notarized statement that the facility complies with: (1) the standards of the Department of Public Health or local health department, (2) the fire safety standards of the State Fire Marshal, and (3) if operated in a public school building, the health and safety standards of the State Board of Education. (f) Through June 30, 2029, either a qualified child care director, as described in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130, or a qualified early childhood teacher, as described in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.140, with a minimum of 2,880 hours of experience as an early childhood teacher at the early childhood teacher's current facility must be present for the first and last hour of the workday and at the open or close of the facility. The Department shall adopt rules to implement this subsection. Such rules must be filed with the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules no later than January 1, 2025. (Source: P.A. 103-821, eff. 8-9-24; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25.) (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 103-594) Sec. 3. (a) No person, group of persons or corporation may operate or conduct any facility for child care, as defined in this Act, without a license or permit issued by the Department or without being approved by the Department as meeting the standards established for such licensing, with the exception of facilities for whom standards are established by the Department of Corrections under Section 3-15-2 of the Unified Code of Corrections, with the exception of facilities defined in Section 2.10 of this Act, with the exception of programs or facilities licensed by the Department of Human Services under the Substance Use Disorder Act, and with the exception of day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes. (b) (Blank). (c) (Blank). (d) Any facility or agency which is exempt from licensing may apply for licensing if licensing is required for some government benefit. (e) (Blank). (f) Through June 30, 2029, either a qualified child care director, as described in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130, or a qualified early childhood teacher, as described in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.140, with a minimum of 2,880 hours of experience as an early childhood teacher at the early childhood teacher's current facility must be present for the first and last hour of the workday and at the open or close of the facility. The Department shall adopt rules to implement this subsection. Such rules must be filed with the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules no later than January 1, 2025. (Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 7-1-26; 103-821, eff. 8-9-24; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25.)