Update: House Passes Bill Allocating Millions Toward Childcare

The bill did not appear likely to make it to the House floor for a vote, but was attached to another bill and given new life.

Update: House Passes Bill Allocating Millions Toward Childcare

The bill did not appear likely to make it to the House floor for a vote, but was attached to another bill and given new life.

Updated May 17, 2012: Illinois lawmakers passed House Bill 6164, Wednesday, after it was attached to Senate Bill 2450, according to State Rep. Anthony DeLuca. The bill would allocate more than $70 million toward childcare for low-income families all over the state. Out of 116 state representatives, 113 voted in favor of the move. House Bill 6164 was supported by Gov. Pat Quinn and aimed at making up for the state short-changing childcare facilities for the last three months of the fiscal year. As of Monday, Bill 6164 had missed all of the deadlines for making it to the floor for a vote and still sat in the rules committee. "It has not gone through a committee," DeLuca said Friday. "The only way that bill is going to be seen on the floor is…

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Janet Panico

2:08 pm on Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The state does "owe" providers for childcare tuition payments for children who attended their facility in April 2012 and now into May of 2012. Hopefully, funds will be available to cover childcare tuition in June 2012 also. This will cover the 4th quarter of the state's fiscal year which runs July 1 through June 30 annually. The state has an annual budget every year, just ran out this last …   more ›

Heights Childcare Facilities Fight to Keep Funding for Low-Income Families

Weary of getting shorted on state funds, several child-care facilities are bringing their voices to Springfield.

It has happened in the past, and it may happen in the future. The State of Illinois has told childcare facilities it is out of money and they are on their own for the rest of the fiscal year. Last week, the Illinois Department of Human Services sent letters to childcare facilities that included the following statements: "We have requested additional funds from the General Assembly but to date we have not received any additional dollars. Without additional money, we can't continue to pay for child care services. ... Without more money, bills for most of April services and all of May and June services will be held until July 2012.  Payments will resume in July when the FY13 budget is available.  We are sorry for the hardship this creates for…

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