[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1154 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1154

  To enable States to use Federal funds more effectively on behalf of 
                young children, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 27, 1999

Mr. Voinovich (for himself, Mr. Graham, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Cochran, and Mr. 
    DeWine) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To enable States to use Federal funds more effectively on behalf of 
                young children, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Prenatal, Infant, 
and Child Development Act of 1999''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
    TITLE I--FUNDS PROVIDED UNDER THE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY 
                            FAMILIES PROGRAM

Sec. 101. Authority to transfer funds for other purposes.
Sec. 102. Bonus to reward high performance States.
  TITLE II--EXPANSION OF THE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES BLOCK 
                                 GRANT

Sec. 201. Authority to provide State programs for the development of 
                            children under age 5.
                     TITLE III--SATELLITE TRAINING

Sec. 301. Short title.
Sec. 302. Revision of part C of title III of the Elementary and 
                            Secondary Education Act of 1965.
Sec. 303. Satellite television network.
     TITLE IV--HEALTHY EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS OF CARE

Sec. 401. Block grants to States for healthy early childhood 
                            development systems of care.
                TITLE V--CREDENTIALING AND ACCREDITATION

Sec. 501. Definitions.
Sec. 502. Authorization of appropriation.
Sec. 503. State allotments.
Sec. 504. Application.
Sec. 505. State child care credentialing and accreditation incentive 
                            program.
Sec. 506. Administration.
Sec. 507. Credentialing, accreditation, and retention of qualified 
                            child care workers.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Babies are born with all of the 100,000,000,000 brain 
        cells, or neurons, that the babies will need as adults.
            (2) By age 3, children have nearly all of the necessary 
        connections, or synapses, between brain cells that cause the 
        brain to function properly.
            (3) The pace at which children grow and learn during the 
        first years of life makes that period the most critical in 
        their overall development.
            (4) Children who lack proper nutrition, health care, and 
        nurturing during their first years tend to also lack adequate 
        social, motor, and language skills needed to perform well in 
        school.
            (5) All young children, and parents and caregivers of these 
        children, should have access to information and support 
        services appropriate for promoting healthy early childhood 
        development in the first years of life, including health care, 
        early intervention services, child care, parenting education, 
        and other child development services.
            (6) The changing structure of the family requires that 
        States streamline and coordinate healthy early childhood 
        development systems of care to meet the needs of parents and 
        children in the 21st century.
            (7) The Federal Government's role in the development of 
        these systems of care should be minimal. The Federal Government 
        must give States the flexibility to implement systems involving 
        programs that respond to local needs and conditions.

    TITLE I--FUNDS PROVIDED UNDER THE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY 
                            FAMILIES PROGRAM

SEC. 101. AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER FUNDS FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

    (a) Transfer of Funds for Block Grants for Social Services.--
            (1) Elimination of reduction in amount transferable for 
        fiscal year 2001 and thereafter.--Section 404(d)(2) of the 
        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 604(d)(2)) is amended to read as 
        follows:
            ``(2) Limitation on amount transferable to title xx 
        programs.--A State may use not more than 10 percent of the 
        amount of any grant made to the State under section 403(a) for 
        a fiscal year to carry out State programs pursuant to title 
        XX.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
        takes effect on October 1, 1999.
    (b) Transfer of Funds for Early Childhood Collaborative Efforts 
Under the CCDBG.--
            (1) In general.--Section 404(d) of the Social Security Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 604(d)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``paragraph (2)'' 
                and inserting ``paragraphs (2) and (3)'';
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph 
                (4); and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (2), the 
                following:
            ``(3) Additional amounts transferable to early childhood 
        collaborative councils.--The percentage described in paragraph 
        (1) may be increased by up to 10 percentage points if the 
        additional funds resulting from that increase are provided to 
        local early childhood development coordinating councils 
        described in section 659H of the Child Care and Development 
        Block Grant Act of 1990 to carry out activities described in 
        section 659J of that Act.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
        take effect on October 1, 1999.
    (c) Transfer of Funds To Enhance Child Care Quality Under the 
CCDBG.--
            (1) In general.--Section 404(d) of the Social Security Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 604(d)), as amended by subsection (b), is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and (3)'' and 
                inserting ``(3), and (4)'';
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph 
                (5); and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (3), the 
                following:
            ``(4) Additional amounts transferable for the enhancement 
        of child care quality.--The percentage described in paragraph 
        (1) (determined without regard to any increase in that 
        percentage as a result of the application of paragraph (3)) may 
        be increased by up to 5 percentage points if the additional 
        funds resulting from that increase are used to enhance child 
        care quality under a State program pursuant to the Child Care 
        and Development Block Grant Act of 1990.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
        take effect on October 1, 1999.

SEC. 102. BONUS TO REWARD HIGH PERFORMANCE STATES.

    (a) Additional Measures of State Performance.--Section 403(a)(4)(C) 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(4)(C)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Not later'' and inserting the following:
                            ``(i) In general.--Not later'';
            (2) by inserting ``The formula shall provide for the 
        awarding of grants under this paragraph based on core national 
        and State-selected measures in accordance with clauses (ii) and 
        (iii).'' after the period; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(ii) Core national measures.--The 
                        majority of grants awarded under this paragraph 
                        shall be based on employment-related national 
                        measures using data that are consistently 
                        available in all States.
                            ``(iii) State-selected measures.--Not less 
                        than $20,000,000 of the amount appropriated for 
                        a fiscal year under subparagraph (F) shall be 
                        used to award grants to States under this 
                        paragraph for that fiscal year based on 
                        optional, State-selected measures that are 
                        related to the status of families and children. 
                        States may choose to compete from among such 
                        measures according to the policy priorities of 
                        the State and the ability of the State to 
                        provide data. Such State-selected measures may 
                        include--
                                    ``(I) successful diversion of 
                                applicants from a need for cash 
                                assistance under the State program 
                                under this title;
                                    ``(II) school attendance records of 
                                children in families receiving 
                                assistance under the State program 
                                under this title;
                                    ``(III) the degree of participation 
                                in the State in the head start program 
                                established under the Head Start Act 
                                (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) or public 
                                preschool programs;
                                    ``(IV) improvement of child and 
                                adult literacy rates;
                                    ``(V) improvement of long-term 
                                self-sufficiency rates by current and 
                                former recipients of assistance under 
                                the State program funded under this 
                                title;
                                    ``(VI) child support collection 
                                rates under the child support and 
                                paternity establishment program 
                                established under part D;
                                    ``(VII) increases in household 
                                income of current and former recipients 
                                of assistance under the State program 
                                funded under this title; and
                                    ``(VIII) improvement of child 
                                immunization rates.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) apply to 
each of fiscal years 2000 through 2003.

  TITLE II--EXPANSION OF THE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES BLOCK 
                                 GRANT

SEC. 201. AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE STATE PROGRAMS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF 
              CHILDREN UNDER AGE 5.

    (a) In General.--Section 501(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 701(a)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) as 
        subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A), the following:
                    ``(B) to design programs to address the physical, 
                cognitive, and social developmental needs of infants 
and children under age 5 by providing early child development services, 
parent education, and other tailored strategies to meet the needs of 
State and local populations;''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Paragraphs (1)(C) and (3)(B) of section 
505(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 705(a)) are each amended 
by striking ``501(a)(1)(D)'' and inserting ``501(a)(1)(E)''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section take 
effect on October 1, 1999.

                     TITLE III--SATELLITE TRAINING

SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Digital Education Act of 1999''.

SEC. 302. REVISION OF PART C OF TITLE III OF THE ELEMENTARY AND 
              SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT OF 1965.

    Part C of title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6921 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:

              ``PART C--READY-TO-LEARN DIGITAL TELEVISION

``SEC. 3301. FINDINGS.

    ``Congress makes the following findings:
            ``(1) In 1994, Congress and the Department collaborated to 
        make a long-term, meaningful and public investment in the 
        principle that high-quality preschool television programming 
        will help children be ready to learn by the time the children 
        entered first grade.
            ``(2) The Ready to Learn Television Program through the 
        Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and local public television 
        stations has proven to be an extremely cost-effective national 
        response to improving early childhood development and helping 
        parents, caregivers, and professional child care providers 
        learn how to use television as a means to help children learn, 
        develop, and play creatively.
            ``(3) Independent research shows that parents who 
        participate in Ready to Learn workshops are more critical 
        consumers of television and their children are more active 
        viewers. A University of Alabama study showed that parents who 
        had attended a Ready to Learn workshop read more books and 
        stories to their children and read more minutes each time than 
        nonattendees. The parents did more hands-on activities related 
        to reading with their children. The parents engaged in more 
        word activities and for more minutes each time. The parents 
        read less for entertainment and more for education. The parents 
        took their children to libraries and bookstores more than 
        nonattendees. For parents, participating in a Ready to Learn 
        workshop increases their awareness of and interest in 
        educational dimensions of television programming and is 
        instrumental in having their children gain exposure to more 
        educational programming. Moreover, 6 months after participating 
        in Ready to Learn workshops, parents who attended generally had 
        set rules for television viewing by their children. These rules 
        related to the amount of time the children were allowed to 
        watch television daily, the hours the children were allowed to 
        watch television, and the tasks or chores the children must 
        have accomplished before the children were allowed to watch 
        television.
            ``(4) The Ready to Learn (RTL) Television Program is 
        supporting and creating commercial-free broadcast programs for 
        young children that are of the highest possible educational 
        quality. Program funding has also been used to create hundreds 
        of valuable interstitial program elements that appear between 
        national and local public television programs to provide 
        developmentally appropriate messages to children and caregiving 
        advice to parents.
            ``(5) Through the Nation's 350 local public television 
        stations, these programs and programming elements reach tens of 
        millions of children, their parents, and caregivers without 
        regard to their economic circumstances, location, or access to 
        cable. In this way, public television is a partner with Federal 
        policy to make television an instrument, not an enemy, of 
        preschool children's education and early development.
            ``(6) The Ready to Learn Television Program extends beyond 
        the television screen. Funds from the Ready to Learn Television 
        Program have funded thousands of local workshops organized and 
        run by local public television stations, almost always in 
        association with local child care training agencies or early 
        childhood development professionals, to help child care 
        professionals and parents learn more about how to use 
        television effectively as a developmental tool. These workshops 
        have trained more than 320,000 parents and professionals who, 
        in turn, serve and support over 4,000,000 children across the 
        Nation.
            ``(7)(A) The Ready to Learn Television Program has 
        published and distributed millions of copies of a quarterly 
        magazine entitled `PBS Families' that contains--
                    ``(i) developmentally appropriate games and 
                activities based on Ready to Learn Television 
                programming;
                    ``(ii) parenting advice;
                    ``(iii) news about regional and national activities 
                related to early childhood development; and
                    ``(iv) information about upcoming Ready to Learn 
                Television activities and programs.
            ``(B) The magazine described in subparagraph (A) is 
        published 4 times a year and distributed free of charge by 
        local public television stations in English and in Spanish (PBS 
        para la familia).
            ``(8) Because reading and literacy are central to the ready 
        to learn principle Ready to Learn Television stations also have 
        received and distributed millions of free age-appropriate books 
        in their communities as part of the Ready to Learn Television 
        Program. Each station receives a minimum of 200 books each 
        month for free local distribution. Some stations are now 
        distributing more than 1,000 books per month. Nationwide, more 
        than 300,000 books are distributed each year in low-income and 
        disadvantaged neighborhoods free of charge.
            ``(9) In 1998, the Public Broadcasting Service, in 
        association with local colleges and local public television 
        stations, as well as the Annenberg Corporation for Public 
        Broadcasting Project housed at the Corporation for Public 
        Broadcasting, began a pilot program to test the formal awarding 
        of a Certificate in Early Childhood Development through 
        distance learning. The pilot is based on the local distribution 
        of a 13-part video courseware series developed by Annenberg 
        Corporation for Public Broadcasting and WTVS Detroit entitled 
        `The Whole Child'. Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Kentucky 
        Educational Television, Maine Public Broadcasting, and WLJT 
        Martin, Tennessee, working with local and State regulatory 
        agencies in the child care field, have participated in the 
        pilot program with a high level of success. The certificate 
        program is ready for nationwide application using the Public 
        Broadcasting Service's Adult Learning Service.
            ``(10) Demand for Ready To Learn Television Program 
        outreach and training has increased dramatically, with the base 
        of participating Public Broadcasting Service member stations 
        growing from a pilot of 10 stations to nearly 130 stations in 5 
        years.
            ``(11) Federal policy played a crucial role in the 
        evolution of analog television by funding the television 
        program entitled `Sesame Street' in the 1960's. Federal policy 
        should continue to play an equally crucial role for children in 
        the digital television age.

``SEC. 3302. READY-TO-LEARN.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to award grants to 
or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with eligible 
entities described in section 3303(b) to develop, produce, and 
distribute educational and instructional video programming for 
preschool and elementary school children and their parents in order to 
facilitate the achievement of the National Education Goals.
    ``(b) Availability.--In making such grants, contracts, or 
cooperative agreements, the Secretary shall ensure that eligible 
entities make programming widely available, with support materials as 
appropriate, to young children, their parents, child care workers, and 
Head Start providers to increase the effective use of such programming.

``SEC. 3303. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING.

    ``(a) Awards.--The Secretary shall award grants, contracts, or 
cooperative agreements under section 3302 to eligible entities to--
            ``(1) facilitate the development directly, or through 
        contracts with producers of children and family educational 
        television programming, of--
                    ``(A) educational programming for preschool and 
                elementary school children; and
                    ``(B) accompanying support materials and services 
                that promote the effective use of such programming;
            ``(2) facilitate the development of programming and digital 
        content especially designed for nationwide distribution over 
        public television stations' digital broadcasting channels and 
        the Internet, containing Ready to Learn-based children's 
        programming and resources for parents and caregivers; and
            ``(3) enable eligible entities to contract with entities 
        (such as public telecommunications entities and those funded 
        under the Star Schools Act) so that programs developed under 
        this section are disseminated and distributed--
                    ``(A) to the widest possible audience appropriate 
                to be served by the programming; and
                    ``(B) by the most appropriate distribution 
                technologies.
    ``(b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant, 
contract, or cooperative agreement under subsection (a), an entity 
shall be--
            ``(1) a public telecommunications entity that is able to 
        demonstrate a capacity for the development and national 
        distribution of educational and instructional television 
        programming of high quality for preschool and elementary school 
        children and their parents and caregivers; and
            ``(2) able to demonstrate a capacity to contract with the 
        producers of children's television programming for the purpose 
        of developing educational television programming of high 
        quality for preschool and elementary school children and their 
        parents and caregivers.
    ``(c) Cultural Experiences.--Programming developed under this 
section shall reflect the recognition of diverse cultural experiences 
and the needs and experiences of both boys and girls in engaging and 
preparing young children for schooling.

``SEC. 3304. DUTIES OF SECRETARY.

    ``The Secretary is authorized--
            ``(1) to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements 
        to eligible entities described in section 3303(b), local public 
        television stations, or such public television stations that 
        are part of a consortium with 1 or more State educational 
        agencies, local educational agencies, local schools, 
        institutions of higher education, or community-based 
        organizations of demonstrated effectiveness, for the purpose 
        of--
                    ``(A) addressing the learning needs of young 
                children in limited English proficient households, and 
                developing appropriate educational and instructional 
                television programming to foster the school readiness 
                of such children;
                    ``(B) developing programming and support materials 
                to increase family literacy skills among parents to 
                assist parents in teaching their children and utilizing 
                educational television programming to promote school 
                readiness; and
                    ``(C) identifying, supporting, and enhancing the 
                effective use and outreach of innovative programs that 
                promote school readiness; and
                    ``(D) developing and disseminating training 
                materials, including--
                            ``(i) interactive programs and programs 
                        adaptable to distance learning technologies 
                        that are designed to enhance knowledge of 
                        children's social and cognitive skill 
                        development and positive adult-child 
                        interactions; and
                            ``(ii) support materials to promote the 
                        effective use of materials developed under 
                        subparagraph (B) among parents, Head Start 
                        providers, in-home and center-based day care 
                        providers, early childhood development 
                        personnel, elementary school teachers, public 
                        libraries, and after- school program personnel 
                        caring for preschool and elementary school 
                        children;
            ``(2) to establish within the Department a clearinghouse to 
        compile and provide information, referrals, and model program 
        materials and programming obtained or developed under this part 
        to parents, child care providers, and other appropriate 
        individuals or entities to assist such individuals and entities 
        in accessing programs and projects under this part; and
            ``(3) to coordinate activities assisted under this part 
        with the Secretary of Health and Human Services in order to--
                    ``(A) maximize the utilization of quality 
                educational programming by preschool and elementary 
                school children, and make such programming widely 
                available to federally funded programs serving such 
                populations; and
                    ``(B) provide information to recipients of funds 
                under Federal programs that have major training 
                components for early childhood development, including 
                programs under the Head Start Act and Even Start, and 
                State training activities funded under the Child Care 
                Development Block Grant Act of 1990, regarding the 
                availability and utilization of materials developed 
                under paragraph (1)(D) to enhance parent and child care 
                provider skills in early childhood development and 
                education.

``SEC. 3305. APPLICATIONS.

    ``Each entity desiring a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement 
under section 3302 or 3304 shall submit an application to the Secretary 
at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as 
the Secretary may reasonably require.

``SEC. 3306. REPORTS AND EVALUATION.

    ``(a) Annual Report to Secretary.--An eligible entity receiving 
funds under section 3302 shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an 
annual report which contains such information as the Secretary may 
require. At a minimum, the report shall describe the program activities 
undertaken with funds received under section 3302, including--
            ``(1) the programming that has been developed directly or 
        indirectly by the eligible entity, and the target population of 
        the programs developed;
            ``(2) the support materials that have been developed to 
        accompany the programming, and the method by which such 
        materials are distributed to consumers and users of the 
        programming;
            ``(3) the means by which programming developed under this 
        section has been distributed, including the distance learning 
        technologies that have been utilized to make programming 
        available and the geographic distribution achieved through such 
        technologies; and
            ``(4) the initiatives undertaken by the eligible entity to 
        develop public-private partnerships to secure non-Federal 
        support for the development, distribution and broadcast of 
        educational and instructional programming.
    ``(b) Report to Congress.--The Secretary shall prepare and submit 
to the relevant committees of Congress a biannual report which 
includes--
            ``(1) a summary of activities assisted under section 
        3303(a); and
            ``(2) a description of the training materials made 
        available under section 3304(1)(D), the manner in which 
        outreach has been conducted to inform parents and child care 
        providers of the availability of such materials, and the manner 
        in which such materials have been distributed in accordance 
        with such section.

``SEC. 3307. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

    ``With respect to the implementation of section 3303, eligible 
entities receiving a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement from the 
Secretary may use not more than 5 percent of the amounts received under 
such section for the normal and customary expenses of administering the 
grant, contract, or cooperative agreement.

``SEC. 3308. DEFINITION.

    ``For the purposes of this part, the term `distance learning' means 
the transmission of educational or instructional programming to 
geographically dispersed individuals and groups via telecommunications 
(including through the Internet).

``SEC. 3309. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this part, $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, and such sums as may 
be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.
    ``(b) Funding Rule.--Not less than 60 percent of the amounts 
appropriated under subsection (a) for each fiscal year shall be used to 
carry out section 3303.''.

SEC. 303. SATELLITE TELEVISION NETWORK.

    Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 6801 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

                 ``PART G--SATELLITE TELEVISION NETWORK

``SEC. 3701. NETWORK.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Education and the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services shall award a grant to or enter into a 
contract with an eligible organization to establish and operate a 
satellite television network to provide training for personnel of Head 
Start programs carried out under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et 
seq.) and other child care providers, who serve children under age 5.
    ``(b) Eligible Organization.--To be eligible to receive a grant or 
enter into a contract under subsection (a), an organization shall--
            ``(1) administer a centralized child development and 
        national assessment program leading to recognized credentials 
        for personnel working in early childhood development and child 
        care programs, within the meaning of section 648(e) of the Head 
        Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843(e)); and
            ``(2) demonstrate that the organization has entered into a 
        partnership, to establish and operate the training network, 
        that includes--
                    ``(A) a nonprofit organization; and
                    ``(B) a public or private entity that specializes 
                in providing broadcast programs for parents and 
                professionals in fields relating to early childhood.
    ``(c) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant or contract 
under subsection (a), an organization shall submit an application to 
the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
as the Secretaries may require.
    ``(d) Cooperative Agreement.--The Secretary of Education and the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall enter into a cooperative 
agreement to carry out this section.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this part $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 
and such sums as may be necessary for each subsequent fiscal year.''.

     TITLE IV--HEALTHY EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS OF CARE

SEC. 401. BLOCK GRANTS TO STATES FOR HEALTHY EARLY CHILDHOOD 
              DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS OF CARE.

    (a) Block Grant.--The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 
1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by inserting after the subchapter heading the 
        following:

                    ``PART 1--CHILD CARE ACTIVITIES;

and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:

     ``PART 2--HEALTHY EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS OF CARE

``SEC. 659. PURPOSE.

    ``The purposes of this part are--
            ``(1) to help families seeking government assistance for 
        their children, in a manner that does not usurp the role of 
        parents, but streamlines and coordinates government services 
        for the families;
            ``(2) to establish a framework of support for local early 
        childhood development coordinating councils that--
                    ``(A) develop comprehensive, long-range strategic 
                plans for early childhood education, development, and 
                support services; and
                    ``(B) provide, through public and private means, 
                high-quality early childhood education, development, 
                and support services for children and families; and
            ``(3)(A) to support family environments conducive to the 
        growth and healthy development of children; and
            ``(B) to ensure that children under age 5 have proper 
        medical care and early intervention services when necessary.

``SEC. 659A. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this part:
            ``(1) Child in poverty.--The term `child in poverty' means 
        a young child who is an eligible child described in section 
        658P(4)(B).
            ``(2) Healthy early childhood development system of care.--
        The term `healthy early childhood development system of care' 
        means a system of programs that provides coordinated early 
        childhood development services.
            ``(3) Early childhood development services.--The term 
        `early childhood development services' means education, 
        development, and support services, such as all-day 
        kindergarten, parenting education and home visits, child care 
        and other child development services, and health services 
        (including prenatal care), for young children.
            ``(4) Eligible state.--The term `eligible State' means a 
        State that has submitted a State plan described in section 659E 
        to the Secretary and obtained the certification of the 
        Secretary for the plan.
            ``(5) Governor.--The term `Governor' means the chief 
        executive officer of a State.
            ``(6) Indian tribe; tribal organization.--The terms `Indian 
        tribe' and `tribal organization' have the meanings given the 
        terms in section 658P.
            ``(7) Local council.--The term `local council' means a 
        local early childhood development coordinating council 
        established or designated under section 659H.
            ``(8) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services.
            ``(9) State.--The term `State' means any of the several 
        States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
        Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, 
        and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
            ``(10) State council.--The term `State council' means a 
        State early childhood development coordinating council 
        established or designated under section 659D.
            ``(11) Young child.--The term `young child' mean an 
        individual under age 5.

``SEC. 659B. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this part $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2004.
    ``(b) Availability of Funds.--Funds appropriated for a fiscal year 
under subsection (a) shall remain available for the succeeding 2 fiscal 
years.

``SEC. 659C. ALLOTMENT TO STATES.

    ``(a) Reservation.--The Secretary shall reserve not less than 1 
percent, and not more than 2 percent, of the funds appropriated under 
section 659B for each fiscal year for payments to Indian tribes and 
tribal organizations to assist the tribes and organizations in 
supporting healthy early childhood development systems of care under 
this part. The Secretary shall by regulation issue requirements 
concerning the eligibility of Indian tribes and tribal organizations to 
receive funds under this subsection, and the use of funds made 
available under this subsection.
    ``(b) Allotment.--From the funds appropriated under section 659B 
for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each eligible State, to 
pay for the Federal share of the cost of supporting healthy early 
childhood development systems of care under this part, the sum of--
            ``(1) an amount that bears the same ratio to 50 percent of 
        such funds as the number of young children in the State bears 
        to the number of such children in all eligible States; and
            ``(2) an amount that bears the same ratio to 50 percent of 
        such funds as the number of children in poverty in the State 
        bears to the number of such children in all eligible States.
    ``(c) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost described in 
subsection (b) shall be 75 percent. The non-Federal share of the cost 
may be provided in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, 
equipment or services (provided from State or local public sources or 
through donations from private entities).

``SEC. 659D. STATE COUNCIL.

    ``(a) In General.--The Governor of a State seeking an allotment 
under section 659C may, at the election of the Governor--
            ``(1) establish and appoint the members of a State early 
        childhood development coordinating council, as described in 
        subsection (b); or
            ``(2) designate an entity to serve as such a council, as 
        described in subsection (c).
    ``(b) Appointed State Council.--The Governor may establish and 
appoint the members of a State council that--
            ``(1) may include--
                    ``(A) the State superintendent of schools, or the 
                designee of the superintendent;
                    ``(B) the chief State budget officer or the 
                designee of the officer;
                    ``(C) the head of the State health department or 
                the designee of the head;
                    ``(D) the heads of the State agencies with primary 
                responsibility for child welfare, child care, and the 
                medicaid program carried out under title XIX of the 
                Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), or the 
                designees of the heads;
                    ``(E) the heads of other State agencies with 
                primary responsibility for services for young children 
                or pregnant women, which may be agencies with primary 
                responsibility for alcohol and drug addiction services, 
                mental health services, mental retardation services, 
                food assistance services, and juvenile justice 
                services, or the designees of the heads;
                    ``(F) a representative of parents or consumers;
                    ``(G) representatives of early childhood 
                development agencies; and
                    ``(H) the Governor; and
            ``(2) may, in the discretion of the Governor, include other 
        members, including representatives of providers.
    ``(c) Designated State Council.--The Governor may designate an 
entity to serve as the State council if the entity--
            ``(1) includes members that are substantially similar to 
        the members described in subsection (b); and
            ``(2) provides integrated and coordinated early childhood 
        development services.
    ``(d) Chairperson.--The Governor shall serve as the chairperson of 
the State council.
    ``(e) Duties.--In a State with a State council, the State council--
            ``(1) shall submit the State plan described in section 
        659E;
            ``(2) shall make the allocation described in section 
        659F(b);
            ``(3) may carry out activities described in section 
        659F(c); and
            ``(4) shall prepare and submit the report described in 
        section 659F(e).

``SEC. 659E. STATE PLAN.

    ``(a) In General.--To be eligible to receive an allotment under 
section 659C, a State shall submit a State plan to the Secretary at 
such time, and in such manner, as the Secretary may require, 
including--
            ``(1) in the case of a State in which the Governor elects 
        to establish or designate a State council, sufficient 
        information about the entity established or designated under 
        section 659D to enable the Secretary to determine whether the 
        entity complies with the requirements of such section;
            ``(2) a description of the political subdivisions 
        designated by the State to receive funds under section 659G and 
        carry out activities under section 659J;
            ``(3)(A) comprehensive information describing how the State 
        will carry out activities described in section 659F and how 
        political subdivisions in the State will carry out activities 
        described in section 659J; and
            ``(B) State goals for the activities described in 
        subparagraph (A);
            ``(4) such information as the Secretary shall by regulation 
        require on the amount and source of State and local public 
        funds, and donations, expended in the State to provide the non-
        Federal share of the cost of supporting healthy early childhood 
        development systems of care under this part; and
            ``(5) an assurance that the State shall annually submit the 
        report described in section 659F(e).
    ``(b) Submission.--At the election of the State, the State may 
submit the State plan as a portion of the State plan submitted under 
section 658E. With respect to that State, references to a State plan--
            ``(1) in this part shall be considered to refer to the 
        portions of the plan described in this section; and
            ``(2) in part 1 shall be considered to refer to the 
        portions of the plan described in section 658E.
    ``(c) Certification.--The Secretary shall certify any State plan 
that meets the broad goals of this part.

``SEC. 659F. STATE ACTIVITIES.

    ``(a) In General.--A State that receives an allotment under section 
659C shall use the funds made available through the allotment to 
support healthy early childhood development systems of care, by--
            ``(1) making allocations to political subdivisions under 
        section 659G; and
            ``(2) carrying out State activities described in subsection 
        (c).
    ``(b) Mandatory Reservation for Local Allocations.--The State shall 
reserve 85 percent of the funds made available through the allotment to 
make allocations to political subdivisions under section 659G.
    ``(c) Permissible State Activities.--The State may use the 
remainder of the funds made available through the allotment to support 
healthy early childhood development systems of care by--
            ``(1) entering into interagency agreements with appropriate 
        entities to encourage coordinated efforts at the State and 
        local levels to improve the State delivery system for early 
        childhood development services;
            ``(2) advising local councils on the coordination of 
        delivery of early childhood development services to children;
            ``(3) developing programs and projects, including pilot 
        projects, to encourage coordinated efforts at the State and 
        local levels to improve the State delivery system for early 
        childhood development services;
            ``(4) providing technical support for local councils and 
        development of educational materials;
            ``(5) providing education and training for child care 
        providers; and
            ``(6) supporting research and development of best practices 
        for healthy early childhood development systems of care, 
        establishing standards for such systems, and carrying out 
        program evaluations for such systems.
    ``(d) Administration.--A State that receives an allotment under 
section 659C may use not more than 5 percent of the funds made 
available through the allotment to pay for the costs of administering 
the activities carried out under this part.
    ``(e) Report.--The State shall annually prepare and submit to the 
Secretary a report on the activities carried out under this part in the 
State, which shall include details of the use of Federal funds to carry 
out the activities and the extent to which the States and political 
subdivisions are making progress on State or local goals in carrying 
out the activities. In preparing the report, a State may require 
political subdivisions in the State to submit information to the State, 
and may compile the information.

``SEC. 659G. ALLOCATION TO POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.

    From the funds reserved by a State under section 659F(b) for a 
fiscal year, the State shall allot to each eligible political 
subdivision in the State the sum of--
            ``(1) an amount that bears the same ratio to 50 percent of 
        such funds as the number of young children in the political 
        subdivision bears to the number of such children in all 
        eligible political subdivisions in the State; and
            ``(2) an amount that bears the same ratio to 50 percent of 
        such funds as the number of children in poverty in the 
        political subdivision bears to the number of such children in 
        all eligible political subdivisions in the State.

``SEC. 659H. LOCAL COUNCILS.

    ``(a) In General.--The chief executive officer of a political 
subdivision that is located in a State with a State council and that 
seeks an allocation under section 659G may, at the election of the 
officer--
            ``(1) establish and appoint the members of a local early 
        childhood development coordinating council, as described in 
        subsection (b); or
            ``(2) designate an entity to serve as such a council, as 
        described in subsection (c).
    ``(b) Appointed Local Council.--The officer may establish and 
appoint the members of a local council that may include--
            ``(1) representatives of any public or private agency that 
        funds, advocates the provision of, or provides services to 
        children and families;
            ``(2) representatives of schools;
            ``(3) members of families that have received services from 
        an agency represented on the council;
            ``(4) representatives of courts; and
            ``(5) private providers of social services for families and 
        children.
    ``(c) Designated Local Council.--The officer may designate an 
entity to serve as the local council if the entity--
            ``(1) includes members that are substantially similar to 
        the members described in subsection (b); and
            ``(2) provides integrated and coordinated early childhood 
        development services.
    ``(d) Duties.--In a political subdivision with a local council, the 
local council--
            ``(1) shall submit the local plan described in section 
        659I;
            ``(2) shall carry out activities described in section 
        659J(a);
            ``(3) may carry out activities described in section 
        659J(b); and
            ``(4) shall submit such information as a State council may 
        require under section 659F(e).

``SEC. 659I. LOCAL PLAN.

    ``To be eligible to receive an allocation under section 659G, a 
political subdivision shall submit a local plan to the State at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the State may 
require.

``SEC. 659J. LOCAL ACTIVITIES.

    ``(a) Mandatory Activities.--A political subdivision that receives 
an allocation under section 659G shall use the funds made available 
through the allocation--
            ``(1) to provide assistance to entities carrying out early 
        childhood development services through a healthy early 
        childhood development system of care, in order to meet assessed 
        needs for the services, expand the number of children receiving 
        the services, and improve the quality of the services, both for 
        young children who remain in the home and young children that 
require services in addition to services offered in child care 
settings; and
            ``(2)(A) to establish and maintain an accountability system 
        to monitor the progress of the political subdivision in 
        achieving results for families and children through services 
        provided through the healthy early childhood development system 
        of care for the political subdivision; and
            ``(B) to establish and maintain a mechanism to ensure 
        ongoing input from a broad and representative set of families 
        who are receiving services through the healthy early childhood 
        development system of care for the political subdivision.
    ``(b) Permissible Activities.--A political subdivision that 
receives an allocation under section 659G may use the funds made 
available through the allocation--
            ``(1) to improve the healthy early childhood development 
        system of care by enhancing efforts and building new 
        opportunities for--
                    ``(A) innovation in early childhood development 
                services; and
                    ``(B) formation of partnerships with businesses, 
                associations, churches or other religious institutions, 
                and charitable or philanthropic organizations to 
                provide early childhood development services on behalf 
                of young children; and
            ``(2) to develop and implement a process that annually 
        evaluates and prioritizes services provided through the healthy 
        early childhood development system of care, fills service gaps 
        in that system where possible, and invests in new approaches to 
        achieve better results for families and children through that 
        system.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Part 1 of the Child Care and 
Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.) is 
amended--
            (1) in section 658A(a) (42 U.S.C. 9801 note), by striking 
        ``This subchapter'' and inserting ``This part'';
            (2) except as provided in the last sentence of section 
        658E(c)(2)(F) (42 U.S.C. 9858c(c)(2)(F)) and in section 
        658N(a)(3)(C) (42 U.S.C. 9858l(a)(3)(C)), by striking ``this 
        subchapter'' and inserting ``this part''; and
            (3) in section 658N(a)(3)(C), by striking ``under this 
        subchapter'' and inserting ``under this part''.

                TITLE V--CREDENTIALING AND ACCREDITATION

SEC. 501. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Accredited child care facility.--The term ``accredited 
        child care facility'' means--
                    (A) a facility that is accredited, by a child care 
                credentialing or accreditation entity recognized by a 
                State or national organization described in paragraph 
(2)(A), to provide child care (except children who a tribal 
organization elects to serve through a facility described in 
subparagraph (B));
                    (B) a facility that is accredited, by a child care 
                credentialing or accreditation entity recognized by a 
                tribal organization, to provide child care for children 
                served by the tribal organization;
                    (C) a facility that is used as a Head Start center 
                under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) and 
                is in compliance with applicable performance standards 
                established by regulation under such Act for Head Start 
                programs; or
                    (D) a military child development center (as defined 
                in section 1798(1) of title 10, United States Code) 
                that is in a facility owned or leased by the Department 
                of Defense or the Coast Guard.
            (2) Child care credentialing or accreditation entity.--The 
        term ``child care credentialing or accreditation entity'' means 
        a nonprofit private organization or public agency that--
                    (A) is recognized by a State agency, a tribal 
                organization, or a national organization that serves as 
                a peer review panel on the standards and procedures of 
                public and private child care or school accrediting 
                bodies; and
                    (B) accredits a facility or credentials an 
                individual to provide child care on the basis of--
                            (i) an accreditation or credentialing 
                        instrument based on peer-validated research;
                            (ii) compliance with applicable State and 
                        local licensing requirements, or standards 
                        described in section 658E(c)(2)(E)(ii) of the 
                        Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (42 
                        U.S.C. 9858c(c)(2)(E)(ii)), as appropriate, for 
                        the facility or individual;
                            (iii) outside monitoring of the facility or 
                        individual; and
                            (iv) criteria that provide assurances of--
                                    (I) compliance with age-appropriate 
                                health and safety standards at the 
                                facility or by the individual;
                                    (II) use of age-appropriate 
                                developmental and educational 
                                activities, as an integral part of the 
                                child care program carried out at the 
                                facility or by the individual; and
                                    (III) use of ongoing staff 
                                development or training activities for 
                                the staff of the facility or the 
                                individual, including related skills-
                                based testing.
            (3) Credentialed child care professional.--The term 
        ``credentialed child care professional'' means--
                    (A) an individual who--
                            (i) is credentialed, by a child care 
                        credentialing or accreditation entity 
                        recognized by a State or a national 
                        organization described in paragraph (2)(A), to 
                        provide child care (except children who a 
                        tribal organization elects to serve through an 
                        individual described in subparagraph (B)); or
                            (ii) successfully completes a 4-year or 
                        graduate degree in a relevant academic field 
                        (such as early childhood education, education, 
                        or recreation services);
                    (B) an individual who is credentialed, by a child 
                care credentialing or accreditation entity recognized 
                by a tribal organization, to provide child care for 
                children served by the tribal organization; or
                    (C) an individual certified by the Armed Forces of 
                the United States to provide child care as a family 
                child care provider (as defined in section 658P of the 
                Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 
                U.S.C. 9858n)) in military family housing.
            (4) Child in poverty.--The term ``child in poverty'' means 
        a child that is a member of a family with an income that does 
        not exceed 200 percent of the poverty line.
            (5) Poverty line.--The term ``poverty line'' means the 
        poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and 
        Budget, and revised annually in accordance with section 673(2) 
        of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2))) 
        applicable to a family of the size involved.
            (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services.
            (7) State; tribal organization.--The terms ``State'' and 
        ``tribal organization'' have the meaning given the term in 
        section 658P of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 9858n).

SEC. 502. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title, 
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2004.

SEC. 503. STATE ALLOTMENTS.

    From the funds appropriated under section 502 for a fiscal year, 
the Secretary shall allot to each eligible State, to pay for the cost 
of establishing and carrying out State child care credentialing and 
accreditation incentive programs, an amount that bears the same ratio 
to such funds as the number of children in poverty under age 5 in the 
State bears to the number of such children in all States.

SEC. 504. APPLICATION.

    To be eligible to receive an allotment under section 503, a State 
shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

SEC. 505. STATE CHILD CARE CREDENTIALING AND ACCREDITATION INCENTIVE 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--A State that receives an allotment under section 
503 shall use funds made available through the allotment to establish 
and carry out a State child care credentialing and accreditation 
incentive program. In carrying out the program, the State shall make 
payments to child care providers who serve children under age 5 to 
assist the providers in making financial assistance available for 
employees of the providers who are pursuing skills-based training to--
            (1) enable the employees to obtain credentialing as 
        credentialed child care professionals; or
            (2) enable the facility involved to obtain accreditation as 
        an accredited child care facility.
    (b) Application.--To be eligible to receive a payment under 
subsection (a), a child care provider shall submit an application to 
the State at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
as the State may require including, at a minimum--
            (1) information demonstrating that an employee of the 
        provider is pursuing skills-based training that will enable the 
        employee or the facility involved to obtain credentialing or 
        accreditation as described in subsection (a); and
            (2) an assurance that the provider will make available 
        contributions toward the costs of providing the financial 
        assistance described in subsection (a), in an amount that is 
        not less than $1 for every $1 of Federal funds provided through 
        the payment.

SEC. 506. ADMINISTRATION.

    A State that receives an allotment under section 503 may use not 
more than 5 percent of the funds made available through the allotment 
to pay for the costs of administering the program described in section 
505.

SEC. 507. CREDENTIALING, ACCREDITATION, AND RETENTION OF QUALIFIED 
              CHILD CARE WORKERS.

    Section 658G of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 
1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858e) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``and payments to encourage child care 
        providers who serve children under age 5 to obtain 
        credentialing as credentialed child care providers or 
        accreditation for their facilities as accredited child care 
        facilities or to encourage retention of child care providers 
        who serve those children and have obtained that credentialing 
        or accreditation, in areas that the State determines are 
        underserved'' after ``referral services''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following: ``In this section, 
        the terms `credentialed child care provider' and `accredited 
        child care facility' have the meanings given the terms in 
        section 501 of the Prenatal, Infant, and Child Development Act 
        of 1999.''.
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