Bill

HB 3618

IDEC-INTEGRATED DATA SYSTEM

104th Regular Session Introduced by Mary Beth Canty and 6 co-sponsors

Requires Illinois DEC to create ECIDS with public analytics portals, enabling cross‑agency data sharing to improve equity and policy for Illinois early childhood.

Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

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Bill Summary · HB 3618

HB 3618 — IDEC — Early Childhood Integrated Data System (ECIDS)

Overview / Purpose

HB 3618 directs the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (DEC) to establish an Early Childhood Integrated Data System (ECIDS). The ECIDS is intended to support equity-driven, inclusive, and data‑informed decision‑making so policymakers, the Department, parents, and communities can create a “simpler, better, and fairer” early childhood system for Illinois children and families.

Key provisions

Creates statutory authority (amending 325 ILCS 3/1-30) requiring the Department of Early Childhood to establish an Early Childhood Integrated Data System (ECIDS).
Requires the Department to develop public analytic portals and query tools so parents and communities can access aggregated, integrated ECIDS data — subject to State and federal confidentiality and privacy requirements.
House Amendment 001 (filed 3/18/2025; adopted in committee 3/20/2025) adds explicit language that the ECIDS shall be designed and maintained to allow data integration and sharing with other State agencies and other entities that maintain State data within the State early childhood ecosystem, as needed for cross‑agency collaboration and to the extent permitted by State and federal requirements.
Confers typical departmental authorities: hire personnel (subject to applicable collective bargaining), establish subdivisions, contract for goods/services, adopt administrative rules (with procedural notes regarding the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act), and conduct procurements under the Illinois Procurement Code (with identified exceptions). The Department is also subject to the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act.

Who would be affected

Primary: Illinois Department of Early Childhood (charged with building and operating ECIDS).
Beneficiaries/users: policymakers, state agencies involved in early childhood services, parents, communities, and organizations that rely on integrated early childhood data.
Indirectly affected: other state agencies and entities that hold relevant early childhood data (for cross‑agency sharing), and entities contracting with DEC to build or maintain the ECIDS.

Procedural status & timeline

Introduced: 2/18/2025 by Rep. Joyce Mason (filed 3/03/2025 per docket).
Committee actions: Assigned to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education; House Committee Amendment No. 1 filed 3/18/2025 and adopted 3/20/2025; reported Do Pass as Amended 3/20/2025.
Readings and calendar events: Second Reading and related actions in late March 2025; Rule 19(a) / Re‑referred to Rules Committee on 4/11/2025.
Public hearing: 4/30/2025 — testimony taken and bill left pending.
Companion: SB 1078.

Potential impact and considerations

Expected benefits: improved cross‑agency data sharing, more coordinated policy and program decisions, accessible aggregated information for parents/communities, and better measurement of equity and outcomes in early childhood services.
Key constraints/risks: must comply with State and federal confidentiality/privacy laws (limits on the granularity and type of publicly released data); implementation costs (technology, staffing, procurement) and ongoing maintenance; governance and data‑sharing agreements will be needed between agencies.
Implementation details (timelines, budgets, technical standards, governance, and privacy safeguards) will largely determine effectiveness and public privacy protections; many of these details are likely to be addressed in rulemaking and interagency agreements.