Carbondale Reporter

Senator Dale Fowler recently stated, "Republican legislation that recently cleared the Illinois Senate would create a more flexible childcare system to meet the different needs of working parents." The bill he is referring to, Senate Bill 3207, proposes to allow daycare centers to operate around the clock and provide up to 12 hours of care for children whose parents work regularly scheduled shifts.

"Most daycare centers operate from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, presenting a significant problem for shift workers who often work overnight or early morning hours," said Fowler, State Senator, according to Facebook. "Republican legislation that recently cleared the Illinois Senate would create a more flexible childcare system to meet the different needs of working parents. Senate Bill 3207 authorizes daycare centers to operate for 24 hours and provide child care for up to 12 hours for parents employed in a position requiring regularly scheduled shifts."

Senate Bill 3207 seeks to amend the Child Care Act of 1969. According to the Illinois General Assembly (ILGA) web page for the bill, it "provides that a daycare center may operate for 24 hours or longer and may provide care for a child for a period up to 12 hours if the parent or guardian of the child is employed in a position that requires regularly scheduled shifts and a 10-hour period elapses between the daycare visits."

Screenshot of Sen. Dale Fowler's May 1 Facebook post | Senator Dale Fowler's Facebook page

The bill was introduced by Senator Jil Tracy on February 6, 2024, and moved to the House on April 12, 2024. As per information from ILGA's dedicated page for this bill, it was set for a second reading and short debate on May 2.

ABC20 covered this new bill in an article published on April 16. The piece highlighted a report by the Council for a Strong America which underscores the importance of early childhood education as a foundation for academic and career success. One author of this report stated that children "learning to do the simple task of lining up for recess has a direct correlation to what will be expected of them one day in the workforce."

The Council for a Strong America is described as a national bipartisan nonprofit organization. It unites various membership organizations with an aim to develop solutions that equip future generations with tools necessary for becoming successful, productive members of society.

Fowler represents constituents from Illinois' 59th Senate District. His official Senate biography states that before joining state senate, he served as mayor of Harrisburg. He is currently a business development officer for the People’s National Bank in Harrisburg, a position he took up after retiring from the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice in 2012. His previous political and civic experience includes roles as a city commissioner and as a Saline County Board member. Fowler also chairs the Midland Institute’s Saline County CEO program, which focuses on educating youths about entrepreneurial opportunities.