Bill
HB 3081
Creates an OST Advisory Council to guide funding, standards, and expansion of out-of-school-time programs for ages 6–19 across state agencies and providers.
Status & key dates
- Introduced in the House (Rep. Aarón M. Ortíz): February 2025 (filed Feb. 6); passed the House 107‑0 on April 11, 2025.
- Sent to the Senate (Chief Sponsor Sen. Celina Villanueva). Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 filed May 21, 2025 (amends original language).
- If enacted, the act’s effective date is July 1, 2025.
Purpose / intent
- Establish a permanent advisory body to collect regular, provider‑driven input and to advise the Governor, the State Board of Education, and other State agencies on state and federal policy and funding issues that affect out‑of‑school time (OST) programs. The bill expresses a legislative policy goal of expanding access to quality OST programs for youth ages 6–19 and strengthening ties between schools and community partners (community schools model).
What the bill does — key provisions
- Creates an Out‑of‑School Time (OST) Advisory Council (statutory addition to the School Code; introduced version: 105 ILCS 5/22‑101; Senate amendment replaces with 105 ILCS 5/22‑105 and revises membership/appointment details).
- Membership (Senate Amendment):
- Four legislators (appointed by legislative leaders).
- Representatives from State entities (State Board of Education — appointed by the State Superintendent; Dept. of Human Services; Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority; Dept. of Early Childhood).
- OST sector stakeholders: three OST providers (various settings), a community‑school lead partner, a private philanthropic funder, a principal and a superintendent from schools/districts with OST/community schools, an OST researcher/evaluator, plus additional public members (law enforcement, business, youth advocacy). Many of these members are appointed by the Governor under the amendment.
- The Governor designates one non‑government stakeholder as co‑chair; the State Board of Education representative serves as the other co‑chair.
- Council must meet at least four times per year.
- Duties of the Council (selected):
- Report annually on the status of OST funding each fiscal year (number of applications received, number funded, amounts and timing of committed funding).
- Recommend legislative/administrative changes to ensure timely allocation of funding to qualified OST providers.
- Advise on quality standards, accountability measures, reporting requirements, priority points, statewide evaluation, and licensure for OST programs.
- Identify challenges impeding service delivery and recommend steps to improve equitable reach to students most in need (including students of color, low‑income, rural and other marginalized communities).
- Produce an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly on statewide OST successes and growth areas.
Who is affected
- OST providers (before/after school, summer, weekend programs), schools and districts (especially community schools), youth ages 6–19 and their families, State education and human services agencies, philanthropic funders, and other stakeholders involved in OST delivery and oversight. The Council has no direct appropriation authority but will influence policy, funding priorities, and potential regulatory changes.
Potential impact
- Improved coordination, transparency and reporting about state OST funding and program quality.
- May inform future appropriations, program design, accountability standards, and licensure/ evaluation frameworks.
- Does not itself appropriate funds; implementation effects depend on subsequent administrative action and budgeting by State agencies and the General Assembly.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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