,i #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cgig ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #h1 #bjba ,mrs4 ,spartz 7for herself and ,mr4 ,smith of ,nebraska7 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 to improve and increase the availability of safe child care facilities1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,increasing ,access to ,safe ,child ,care ,facilities ,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 7e77#a71 by striking such a subgrant and inserting a subgrant under subsection 7d72 7#b7 by redesignating subsection 7f7 as subsection 7h72 and 7#c7 by inserting after subsection 7e7 the following3 7f7 ,subgrants for safe child care facilities 7#a7 ,in general ,notwithstanding paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b77;,a7 of subsection 7d71 and with the authorization of the ,state under subparagraph 7#f71 the lead agency may use any unobligated grant funds awarded pursuant to subsection 7c7 7including unobligated funds otherwise reserved under subsection 7d77#a77 to make subgrants to eligible entities to improve and increase the availability of safe child care facilities4 ,any fund used for subgrants under this subsection shall be obligated before ,october #a1 #bjbd1 and expended before ,october #a1 #bjbe4 7#b7 ,selection of subgrantees ,in making subgrants under this subsection1 the lead agency shall select subgrantees based on demonstrated need4 ,in making such selection1 the lead agency shall-- 7,a7 give priority to eligible entities that-- 7i7 are new child care providers described in paragraph 7#c77;,c7 who agree to serve children receiving assistance under the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iheg72 or 7ii7 serve rural areas2 and 7,b7 give highest priority to eligible entities that are new child care providers described in paragraph 7#c77;,c7 who-- 7i7 agree to serve children receiving assistance under the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iheg72 and 7ii7 serve rural areas4 7#c7 ,eligible entity ,in this section1 the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 an eligible child care provider1 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 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;,i772 or 7,c7 a new child care provider that1 on or before the date such provider begins to provide child care services1 will-- 7i7 be licensed1 regulated1 or registered in the ,state1 territory1 or ,indian ,tribe2 and 7ii7 meet applicable ,state and local health and safety requirements4 7#d7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity that receives funds through a subgrant authorized under this subsection shall use such funds to modify1 renovate1 upgrade1 maintain1 or repair a child care facility to-- 7,a7 meet applicable ,state and local health and safety requirements2 or 7,b7 increase the capacity of the provider to offer child care services1 including modifications1 renovations1 upgrades1 maintenance1 or repairs necessary to-- 7i7 offer child care during nontraditional hours2 and 7ii7 provide services to more children or specific populations of children1 including infants and toddlers1 and children with disabilities4 7#e7 ,prohibited use ,funds received through a subgrant authorized under this subsection may not be used for the erection of a facility that does not currently exist4 7#f7 ,amended plan and report ,if a ,state elects to authorize the lead agency to provide subgrants to eligible entities under this subsection1 the ,state shall amend the ,state plan submitted under section #feh;,e of the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihei;c7 to specify-- 7,a7 the goals and outcomes the ,state intends to achieve to improve and increase the availability of safe child care facilities2 7,b7 how the ,state will measure and evaluate eligible entities in relation to these goals2 and 7,c7 after the expenditure of such subgrants by such eligible entities1 the ,state shall submit to the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services a report that measures1 with respect to each such eligible entity-- 7i7 the amount of the subgrant received by such entity2 7ii7 a list and description of the modifications1 renovations1 upgrades1 maintenance1 and repairs carried out by such entity during such period2 and 7iii7 using the metrics described in subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b71 the extent to which the ,state improved or increased the availability of safe child care facilities1 including-- 7,i7 in rural areas2 7,,ii7 for children receiving subsidies under the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iheg72 7,,iii7 offering care during nontraditional hours2 and 7,,iv7 providing services to more children or specific populations of children4 4