Section 325 ILCS 3/1-20 - Department; Secretary; organization(a) The Department of Early Childhood is created and shall begin operation on July 1, 2024.(b) The head officer of the Department is the Secretary. The Secretary shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The initial term of the Secretary shall run from the date of appointment until January 18, 2027, and until a successor has been appointed and qualified. Thereafter, the Secretary's term shall be as provided in Section 5-610 of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. The Department may employ or retain other persons to assist in the discharge of its functions, subject to the Personnel Code. (c) The Governor may, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint an appropriate number of persons to serve as Assistant Secretaries to head the major programmatic divisions of the Department. Assistant Secretaries shall not be subject to the Personnel Code.(d) The Secretary shall create divisions and administrative units within the Department and shall assign functions, powers, duties, and personnel as may now or in the future be required by State or federal law. The Secretary may create other divisions and administrative units and may assign other functions, powers, duties, and personnel as may be necessary or desirable to carry out the functions and responsibilities vested by law in the Department.Added by P.A. 103-0594,§ 1-20, eff. 6/25/2024.