Section 20 ILCS 741/5 - Findings; legislative intent(a) The General Assembly finds that the State of Illinois and the federal government allocate millions of dollars annually to various job training and workforce development programs to enhance the skills and employability of residents of the State.(b) The General Assembly further finds that the effective utilization of public funds requires a transparent and accountable system to track the outcomes and impacts of State and federally funded job training programs.(c) It has come to the attention of the General Assembly that there are currently programs receiving substantial State funding that lack a systematic and comprehensive tracking mechanism for assessing their success and impact on the targeted populations.(d) The lack of standardized reporting on the allocation and effectiveness of these funds raises concerns regarding the State's ability to measure the return on investment, ensure equity in program access, and make informed decisions on resource allocation for future initiatives.(e) The intent of this Act is to require the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in collaboration with affected State agencies, to compile a detailed report within 18 months after the effective date of this Act, providing a comprehensive overview of all State-funded job training and workforce development programs in Illinois.(f) It is the intent of the General Assembly to ensure that Illinois residents receive maximum benefit from State and federally funded programs and that the State is able to make informed policy decisions based on a thorough understanding of the impact of these initiatives.(g) It is the further intent of the General Assembly that the reporting requirements established by this Act serve as a mechanism to identify successful programs, areas for improvement, and potential areas of duplication or overlap in order to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of State and federally funded job training and workforce development efforts.Added by P.A. 103-0928,§ 5, eff. 8/9/2024.