Illinois Senate Joint Resolution 173 resulted in the appointment in 1994 of a 53-member Work Group on Early Childhood Education. This group was mandated to report to the Senate on the development and implementation of a statewide early childhood education and care program. The group identified key issues, delimited legislative objectives, offered policy recommendations, and drafted legislation. Some issues highlighted by the group were: (1) to support working families, all Illinois communities need year-round, full work-day and flexible part-day child care programs; (2) these programs should use family-centered approaches; and (3) current Illinois early childhood programs are not part of one integrated system. Objectives of legislation should include: (1) increasing the availability of quality child care for Illinois children; and (2) maximizing available resources, coordinating services, and eliminating ineffectiveness in order to create an integrated child care system. Policy recommendations include: (1) developing a statewide computer system to implement centralized waiting lists, billing procedures, and administrative efficiency; (2) increasing reimbursement rates for subsidized child care; and (3) establishing a new coordinating body for all state and federal early childhood programs. The full text of the Illinois Early Childhood Education and Care Act of 1995 is included. (Four appendices include data on Illinois' early childhood system and the text of the Senate Joint Resolution.) (JW)