,i #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cede ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #be1 #bjba ,ms4 ,stefanik 7for herself and ,mr4 ,smucker7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor ,a ,,bill ,to amend section #bbjb of the ,american ,rescue ,plan ,act of #bjba to authorize ,states to expand the uses of the child care stabilization funds to include support for the creation or enhancement of family child care networks designed to increase1 or to improve the quality of1 child care provided by family child care providers1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,family ,child ,care ,networks ,act of #bjba4 #b4 ,amendments ,section #bbjb of the ,american ,rescue ,plan ,act of #bjba 7,public ,law #aag-b2 ,march #aa1 #bjba7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7e7 by striking such a subgrant and inserting a subgrant under subsection 7d71 7#b7 by redesignating subsection 7f7 as subsection 7h71 and 7#c7 by inserting after subsection 7e7 the following3 7f7 ,subgrants to family child care networks 7#a7 ,in general ,notwithstanding subsection 7d77#b77;,a7 and with the authorization of the ,state under paragraph 7#f71 the lead agency may use the remainder of grant funds awarded pursuant to subsection 7c7 to make subgrants to be obligated before ,october #a1 #bjbd1 and expended before ,october #a1 #bjbe1 to eligible entities to support the creation or enhancement of family child care networks to provide core services to family child care providers for the purpose of expanding the availability of family child care services4 7#b7 ,priority ,in making subgrants under this subsection1 the lead agency shall give priority to eligible entities that will offer core services to family childcare providers in geographical areas identified by the ,state as having high needs1 based on a comprehensive needs assessment of under-served areas and rural areas4 7#c7 ,definitions 7,a7 ,core ,services4 ,services provided to family child care providers that include the following3 7i7 ,consolidated business practices or administrative support4 7ii7 ,startup support for new family child care providers to reimburse the costs1 not to exceed #aj1jjj per provider1 to make facility improvements or modifications to meet health and safety requirements1 to form a small business1 to support initial marketing and communications1 to purchase technology and supplies1 and to participate in professional development4 7iii7 ,professional development of new family child care providers1 including support to obtain the advanced skills and certifications necessary to operate as a family child care provider4 7iv7 ,technical assistance1 and health and safety compliance assistance to support providers who seek to obtain a license2 or to support providers who seeking to provide services for which assistance is provided under the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iheg et seq47 and the child and adult care food program under section #ag of the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agff74 7,b7 ,eligible entities ,entities qualified to receive a subgrant under this subsection include community-based organizations1 private or public nonprofit organization1 and workforce development boards that will offer not fewer than #b of the core services4 7,c7 ,family child care provider ,the term family child care provider has the meaning given such term in section #feh,p of the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihehn74 7#d7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity that receives funds through such a subgrant shall use funds to provide at least #b of the core services described under paragraph 7#c7 to family child care providers and may use funds to provide additional services1 including-- 7,a7 monitoring support and improvement activities2 7,b7 peer networking and support activities2 7,c7 recruitment of new family child care providers2 7,d7 technical assistance to increase family child care services to support specialized populations1 including non-traditional hour care1 children with disabilities1 dual-language learners1 infants1 and toddlers2 7,e7 community outreach to families and employers to increase awareness of family child care opportunities2 and 7,f7 collaborative purchasing of supplies and technology to increase cost savings4 7#e7 ,reimbursements for providers ,any family child care provider seeking reimbursement for start-up expenses allowed pursuant to paragraph 7#c77;,a77ii7 shall provide the following documentation to the eligible entity3 7,a7 ,invoices of each expense for which the provider is seeking reimbursement4 7,b7 ,an assurance such expenses are necessary1 one-time expenses to operate a family child care center in accordance with local health and safety requirements4 7,c7 ,an assurance the provider cannot pay for the work without assistance and that there is not access to other ,federal or ,state funding to help with the costs4 7#f7 ,amended plan and report ,if a ,state elects to authorize the lead agency to provide subgrants to eligible entities under this subsection the ,state shall amend the ,state plan submitted under section #feh;,e of the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij to specify-- 7,a7 the goals and outcomes the ,state intends to achieve to improve the availability of services provided by family child care providers2 7,b7 how the ,state will measure and evaluate family child care networks in relation to these goals2 7,c7 how the ,state will continue to support family child care networks that are successful at achieving such goals after the expenditure of such subgrants1 including support of such networks under of the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iheg72 and 7,d7 after the expenditure of such subgrants by such networks1 the ,state shall submit to the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services a report that measures with respect to each supported eligible entity-- 7i7 the amount of the subgrant received by such entity2 7ii7 the period of time during which such subgrant was expended by such entity2 7iii7 which core services were offered by such entity during such period2 7iv7 the number of family childcare providers who received core services described in subparagraphs provided by such entity during such period2 7v7 the number of children who received services during such period from the supported family child care providers2 7vi7 the increase or decrease in the number of family child care providers in the geographical area served by such entity during such period2 and 7vii7 the extent to which such goals and outcomes improved the quality and availability of services provided by family child care providers served by such network4 7g7 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 acting through the ,national ,center on ,early ,childhood ,quality ,assurance of the ,office of ,child ,care1 shall disseminate best practices information and offer technical assistance to ,states1 ,territories1 ,indian ,tribes1 and eligible entities to help implement family child care networks and to support family child care providers1 to carry out the purposes and meet requirements of subsection 7f74 ,information and technical assistance provided under this subsection-- 7#a7 shall include supporting family child care networks in offering the core services described in subsection 7f77#c77;,a72 7#b7 may include supporting family child care networks to offer additional services described in subsection 7f77#d72 and 7#c7 may include any other topic the ,secretary identifies as important or necessary to fulfil the goals of subsection 7f71 including topics requested by ,states1 family child care networks1 and family child care providers4 4