STATE CONTRACTING TASK FORCE

Amends the Task Force on Human Services Contracting Act. Modifies the appointment of members to the Task Force on State Contracting with Private Nonprofit Human Service Providers. Provides, among other appointments, that 7 (currently, 6) members shall be appointed by the Senate Minority Leader and 7 (currently, 6) members shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a preliminary report to the Auditor General, the General Assembly, and the Governor no later than October 1, 2020 (currently, October 1, 2019), and a final report, along with recommendations and any proposed legislation, to the General Assembly and the Governor by January 1, 2021 (currently, January 1, 2020). Dissolves the Task Force and repeals the Act on January 1, 2022 (currently, January 1, 2021). Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 5140/10 20 ILCS 5140/15 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 505/21.2a new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Contains findings concerning the Child Protection Training Academy (Academy) developed in 2015 by the Department of Children and Family Services in collaboration with the University of Illinois at Springfield and the Academy's innovative approach to training frontline child protection investigators using experiential learning through simulations. Provides that subject to appropriation, the training efforts of the Academy shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the continued development and implementation of simulation training for investigation, intact, and permanency supervisors; (ii) the development of simulation training for intact and permanency workers both in the Department and at private agencies; and (iii) laboratory training facilities that may include, but not be limited to, mock houses, mock courtrooms, mock medical facilities, and mock forensic interview rooms. Provides that by July 1, 2020, the Department of Children and Family Services may adopt procedures for the administration of the Child Protection Training Academy that establish certain competence, assessment, and training standards for child welfare service providers and other matters. Requires the Department to continue to arrange for an independent evaluation of the Child Protection Training Academy through June 2021, inclusive of the first 5 years of operation. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act prohibits the Department from administering simulation training with other entities outside of the University of Illinois at Springfield. Provides that the Department may contract with any entity to provide all aspects of child welfare training. Effective immediately.