SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — An Illinois grant program set up to help child care providers faced intense scrutiny Tuesday following an unusual implementation process.
Gov. JB Pritzker has championed the Smart Start Illinois program as a way to make Illinois the best state for young families. A major component? Increasing funding for child care providers to raise wages and quality.
The Smart Start grant program was created to help day care providers recruit and retain workers without burdening families by raising tuition or co-pays. However, the Illinois Department of Human Services implemented the grant program without a top committee of state lawmakers approving the rules.
"No agency rule is valid or effective until it has been made available for public inspection and filed with the Secretary of State," wrote the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. "Public Act 103-8, which the rulemaking implements, became effective on June 7, 2023 and gave the department until October 1, 2024 to adopt rules."
JCAR members noted that DHS did not file rules for the grant program until July 5, 2024. Yet, the agency had already opened and closed the application process for the grant program before filing the rules.
"While the department cited the need to negotiate with stakeholders and obtain appropriations for the program as the reason for the delay in promulgating rules, the consultation and rulemaking processes could have been started any time after the public act became effective," JCAR wrote.
The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules unanimously objected to the agency's actions Tuesday afternoon.
DHS spokesperson Rachel Otwell said the agency appreciates the committee's guidance and will respond quickly to their forthcoming letter.
"IDHS always strives for rulemaking that is timely and that includes the feedback and meets the needs of our providers and stakeholders," Otwell said. "IDHS will continue to do so."
Otwell explained there is no change for day care providers who applied for grant funding and DHS will ultimately proceed with the grants as planned.
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