,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gggh ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #bd1 #bjbj,mr4 ,johnson of ,south ,dakota introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor ,a ,,bill ,to provide for grants to support access to child care through the establishment and operation of child care programs by businesses4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,expanding ,child ,care ,access ,grants ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,expanding child care access grants 7a7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this section is to support the recovery of the ,united ,states economy by providing grants to businesses to aid in opening child care programs or establishing partnerships with existing providers to meet the demand for child care across the country as parents return to work4 7b7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,covid-#ai public health emergency ,the term ,,covid-#ai public health emergency means the public health emergency declared by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services under section #cai of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bdg;d7 on ,january #ca1 #bjbj1 with respect to ,,covid-#ai1 including any renewal of such declaration4 7#b7 ,eligible business ,the term eligible business means a business that does not currently provide child care services for the children of such business' employees1 offer care or oversight for the school age children of such employees1 or partner with an eligible child care provider for such services4 7#c7 ,eligible child care provider ,the term eligible child care provider means-- 7,a7 an eligible child care provider as defined in section #feh,p7#f77;,a7 of the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihehn7#f77;,a772 and 7,b7 a child care provider that-- 7i7 is license-exempt and operating legally in the ,state2 7ii7 is not providing child care services to relatives2 and 7iii7 satisfies ,state and local requirements1 including those referenced in section #feh;,e7c77#b77;,i7 of the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 77#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iheh;c77c77#b77;,i774 7#d7 ,indian tribe2 tribal organization ,the terms ,indian tribe and tribal organization have the meanings given the terms in section #feh,p of the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihehn74 7#e7 ,lead agency ,the term lead agency has the meaning given the term in section #feh,p of the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihehn74 7#f7 ,qualified business ,the term qualified business means an eligible business with an application approved under subsection 7g7 for the program involved4 7#g7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 7#h7 ,state ,the term ,state has the meaning given the term in section #feh,p of the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihehn74 7c7 ,grants for businesses ,to provide child care services ,from the funds appropriated to carry out this ,act1 the ,secretary shall make ,expanding ,child ,care ,access grants to ,states1 ,indian tribes1 and tribal organizations1 that submit notices of intent to provide assurances under subsection 7d77#b74 ,the grants shall provide for subgrants to businesses for a transition period of not more than #i months to assist in paying for the establishment and operation of child care services4 7d7 ,process for allocation of funds 7#a7 ,notice ,not later than #g days after funds are appropriated to carry out this ,act1 the ,secretary shall provide to ,states1 ,indian tribes1 and tribal organizations a notice of funding availability for ,expanding ,child ,care ,access grants under subsection 7c7 from allotments and payments under subsection 7e77#b74 ,the ,secretary shall issue a notice of the funding allocations for each ,state1 ,indian tribe1 and tribal organization not later than #ad days after funds are appropriated to carry out this ,act4 7#b7 ,notice of intent ,not later than #ad days after issuance of a notice of funding allocations under paragraph 7#a71 a ,state1 ,indian tribe1 or tribal organization that seeks such a grant shall submit to the ,secretary a notice of intent to provide assurances for such grant4 ,the notice of intent shall include a certification that the ,state1 ,indian tribe1 or tribal organization will repay the grant funds if such ,state1 ,indian tribe1 or tribal organization fails to provide assurances that meet the requirements of subsection 7f7 or to comply with such an assurance4 7#c7 ,grants to lead agencies ,the ,secretary may make grants under subsection 7c7 to the lead agency of each ,state1 ,indian tribe1 or tribal organization1 upon receipt of the notice of intent to provide assurances for such grant4 7#d7 ,provision of assurances ,not later than #ae days after receiving the grant1 the ,state1 ,indian tribe1 or tribal organization shall provide assurances that meet the requirements of subsection 7f74 7e7 ,federal reservation2 allotments and payments 7#a7 ,reservation ,the ,secretary shall reserve not more than #a percent of the amount appropriated to carry out this ,act to pay for the costs of the ,federal administration of this section4 ,the amount appropriated to carry out this ,act and reserved under this paragraph shall remain available through fiscal year #bjba4 7#b7 ,allotments and payments ,the ,secretary shall use the remaining portion of such amount to make allotments and payments1 to ,states1 ,indian tribes1 and tribal organizations that submit such a notice of intent to provide assurances1 in accordance with paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 of subsection 7a71 and subsection 7b71 of section #feh,o of the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihehm7 for the grants described in subsection 7c74 7f7 ,assurances ,a ,state1 ,indian tribe1 or tribal organization that receives a grant under subsection 7c7 shall provide to the ,secretary assurances that the lead agency will-- 7#a7 require as a condition of subgrant funding under subsection 7g7 that each business applying for a subgrant from the lead agency-- 7,a7 7i7 will use subgrant funds for the sole purpose of establishing a child care program and providing child care services for the children of such business' employees2 or 7ii7 will operate in partnership with an eligible child care provider serving children through a child care program prior to ,march #a1 #bjbj2 7,b7 agree to follow all applicable ,state1 local1 and tribal health and safety requirements and1 if applicable1 enhanced protocols for child care services related to ,,covid-#ai or another health or safety condition2 7,c7 agree to comply with the documentation and reporting requirements under subsection 7h72 and 7,d7 certify in good faith that the child care program of the business will remain open for not less than #a year after receiving such a subgrant unless such program is closed due to extraordinary circumstances1 including a state of emergency declared by the ,governor or a major disaster or emergency declared by the ,president under section #dja or #eja1 respectively1 of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj1 #eaia72 7#b7 ensure eligible businesses in urban1 suburban1 and rural areas can readily apply for and access funding under this section1 which shall include the provision of technical assistance either directly or through resource and referral agencies2 7#c7 through at least ,december #ca1 #bjbj1 continue to expend funds provided under the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iheg et seq47 for the purpose of continuing payments and assistance to qualified child care providers on the basis of tiered reimbursements prior to ,march #bjbj2 7#d7 give priority for subgrant awards according to geographically based child care service needs across the ,state or tribal community2 7#e7 undertake a review of burdensome ,state1 local1 and tribal regulations and requirements that hinder the opening of new licensed child care programs to meet the needs of the working families in the ,state or tribal community1 as applicable2 and 7#f7 make available to the public1 which shall include1 at a minimum1 posting to an internet website of the lead agency-- 7,a7 notice of funding availability through subgrants for qualified businesses under this section2 and 7,b7 the criteria for awarding subgrants for qualified businesses4 7g7 ,lead agency use of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,a lead agency that receives an ,expanding ,child ,care ,access grant under this section-- 7,a7 shall use a portion that is not less than #ig percent of the grant funds to award subgrants to qualified businesses as described in the lead agency's assurances pursuant to subsection 7f72 7,b7 shall reserve not more than #c percent of the funds to-- 7i7 use not less than #a percent of the funds to provide technical assistance and support in applying for and accessing funding through such subgrants to eligible businesses2 and 7ii7 use the remainder of the reserved funds to-- 7,i7 administer subgrants to qualified businesses under paragraph 7#c71 which shall include monitoring the compliance of qualified businesses with applicable ,state1 local1 and tribal health and safety requirements2 and 7,,ii7 comply with the reporting and documentation requirements described in subsection 7h72 and 7,c7 7i7 shall not make more than #a subgrant under paragraph 7#c7 to a qualified business4 7#b7 ,obligation and return of funds 7,a7 ,obligation ,the lead agency shall obligate at least #hj percent of the grant funds in the portion described in paragraph 7#a77;,a7 for subgrants to qualified businesses by the date that is #f months after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7,b7 ,return of funds ,not later than the date that is #ab months after a grant is awarded to a lead agency in accordance with this section1 the lead agency shall return to the ,secretary any of the grant funds that are not obligated by the lead agency by such date4 ,the ,secretary shall return any funds received under this subparagraph to the ,treasury of the ,united ,states4 7#c7 ,subgrants 7,a7 ,in general ,a lead agency that receives a grant under subsection 7c7 shall make subgrants to qualified businesses to assist in paying for the establishment and operation of child care services1 including fixed costs and operating expenses1 for a transition period of not more than #i months1 so that parents have a safe place for their children to receive child care as the parents return to the workplace4 7,b7 ,use of funds ,a qualified business may use subgrant funds for carrying out activities related to establishing a child care program or contracting with an eligible child care provider to offer child care services for the employees of such business4 7,c7 ,subgrant application ,to be qualified to receive a subgrant under this paragraph1 an eligible business shall submit an application to the lead agency in such form and containing such information as the lead agency may reasonably require1 including-- 7i7 a plan for offering access to child care services for the employees of such business that includes-- 7,i7 information describing how the eligible business will use the subgrant funds to cover slots for the children of their employees2 7,,ii7 if applicable1 the amount of tuition or copayments employees will be expected to pay2 7,,iii7 child care enrollment and attendance projections2 and 7,,iv7 a demonstration of how the eligible business will sustain its operations after the cessation of funding under this section2 7ii7 assurances that the eligible business will-- 7,i7 report to the lead agency data on current average enrollment and attendance2 7,,ii7 provide the necessary documentation under subsection 7h7 to the lead agency1 including providing documentation of expenditures of subgrant funds2 and 7,,iii7 implement all applicable ,state1 local1 and tribal health and safety requirements and1 if applicable1 enhanced protocols for child care services and related to ,,covid-#ai or another health or safety condition2 and 7iii7 a certification in good faith that the child care program will remain open for not less than #a year after receiving a subgrant under this paragraph unless such program is closed due to extraordinary circumstances described in subsection 7f77#a77;,d74 7,d7 ,subgrant disbursement ,in providing funds through a subgrant under this paragraph-- 7i7 the lead agency shall disburse such subgrant funds to a qualified business in an initial payment1 with additional installments for maintained operation1 as applicable2 7ii7 the lead agency may1 notwithstanding subparagraph 7,d77i71 disburse an initial subgrant installment to a provider in a greater amount than that subparagraph provides for1 as applicable4 7,e7 ,repayment of subgrant funds ,a qualified business that receives a subgrant under this paragraph shall be required to repay the subgrant funds if the lead agency determines that the business fails to provide the assurances described in subparagraph 7,c77ii77,,ii71 or to comply with such an assurance4 7#d7 ,supplement not supplant ,amounts made available to carry out this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant other ,federal1 ,state1 tribal1 and local public funds expended to provide child care services1 including funds provided under the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iheg et seq47 and ,state and tribal child care programs4 7h7 ,documentation and reporting requirements 7#a7 ,documentation ,a ,state1 ,indian tribe1 or tribal organization receiving a grant under subsection 7c7 shall provide documentation of any ,state or tribal expenditures from grant funds received under subsection 7c7 in accordance with section #feh,k7b7 of the ,child ,care ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iheh;i7b771 and to the independent entity described in that section4 7#b7 ,reports 7,a7 ,lead agency report ,a lead agency receiving a grant under subsection 7c7 shall1 not later than #ab months after receiving such grant1 submit a report to the ,secretary that includes for the ,state or tribal community involved a description of the program of subgrants carried out to meet the objectives of this section1 including-- 7i7 a description of how the lead agency determined-- 7,i7 the criteria for awarding subgrants for qualified businesses1 including the methodology the lead agency used to determine and disburse funds in accordance with subparagraph 7,d7 of subsection 7g77#c72 and 7,,ii7 the types of businesses that received priority for the subgrants1 including considerations related to geographically based child care service needs across the ,state or tribal community2 7ii7 the number of qualified businesses that received a subgrant under subsection 7g77#c71 disaggregated by age of children served1 geography1 region1 the average and range of the amounts of the subgrants awarded1 and whether such businesses were operating their own child care program or partnering with an eligible child care provider2 and 7iii7 information concerning how qualified businesses receiving subgrants under subsection 7g77#c7 used the subgrant funding received4 7,b7 ,report to congress ,not later than #ij days after receiving the lead agency reports required under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall make publicly available and provide to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,education and ,labor of the ,house of ,representatives a report summarizing the findings of the lead agency reports4 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated #a1jjj1jjj1jjj to carry out this ,act4