1.This Act may be cited as the
Caring for Children
Act
.
<enum>I</enum><header>Child care
training through distance learning</header>
<section id="IDD2D082B8A10842008E67476B58A37673"><enum>101.</enum><header>Grants for the
development of a child care training infrastructure</header>
<subsection id="ID97F9FB4C675B4464AB272B9F8187C319"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authority to
award grants</header><text>The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
award grants to eligible entities to develop distance learning child care
training technology infrastructures and to develop model technology-based
training courses for child care providers and child care workers, to be
provided through distance learning programs made available through the
infrastructure. The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent possible, ensure
that such grants are awarded in those regions of the United States with the
fewest training opportunities for child care providers.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDE18D91BA11244C1E81A06BF3EEF596FB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligibility
requirements</header><text>To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection
(a), an entity shall—</text>
<paragraph id="ID9EEDD6D30B024A8FB9E72865AC09F486"><enum>(1)</enum><text>develop the
technological and logistical aspects of the infrastructure described in this
section and have the capability of implementing and maintaining the
infrastructure;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDD239759B4FF946FA89349B7705EA98EC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to the maximum
extent possible, develop partnerships with secondary schools, institutions of
higher education, State and local government agencies, and private child care
organizations for the purpose of sharing equipment, technical assistance, and
other technological resources, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID56417E07961C4BA698617BE9A3DE7C8E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>developing sites
from which individuals may access the training;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID357684DC49994E6EAF378675CB24D0BD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>converting
standard child care training courses to programs for distance learning;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID2FEF76E01754437395CAE35D81563900"><enum>(C)</enum><text>promoting ongoing
networking among program participants; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID1A676980CB034237A63E8646E8D5416D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>develop a
mechanism for participants to—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDBD612B33FBF848148E32305DEC7FA089"><enum>(A)</enum><text>evaluate the
effectiveness of the infrastructure, including the availability and
affordability of the infrastructure, and the training offered through the
infrastructure; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDF63E7FD404F441B5AA6D0570FE33368C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>make
recommendations for improvements to the infrastructure.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID32DB40E3132F470E9055DF99696549C9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Application</header><text>To
be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), an entity shall submit an
application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary
may require, and that includes—</text>
<paragraph id="ID09A18AF8305B4E179CAD2805DF7466E0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a description of
the partnership organizations through which the distance learning programs will
be made available;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDA57E0CEFC00F48EFAFAE297B59D18D72"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the capacity of
the infrastructure in terms of the number and type of distance learning
programs that will be made available;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID509C4AABBD39463E9B4113C07B222D00"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the expected
number of individuals to participate in the distance learning programs;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDFA788F902C04407BA08C99A9FCCCAA51"><enum>(4)</enum><text>such additional
information as the Secretary may require.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID9CA7CAE38B4C40A0817E9571D91CE3CD"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Limitation on
fees</header><text>No entity receiving a grant under this section may collect
fees from an individual for participation in a distance learning program funded
in whole or in part under this section that exceed the pro rata share of the
amount expended by the entity to provide materials for the program and to
develop, implement, and maintain the infrastructure (minus the amount of the
grant awarded under this section).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDEC019EB363584878984C45005381F2A0"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Rule of
construction</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be construed as
requiring a child care provider to subscribe to or complete a distance learning
program made available under this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="IDA3EBFA5EA2D446DCA07FCACED293364F"><enum>102.</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title $50,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2006 through 2010.</text>
</section><enum>II</enum><header>Removal of
barriers to increasing the supply of quality child care</header>
<section id="IDEDFBB4F96D7A4D8BB7F7ED9F96FF2C00"><enum>201.</enum><header>Small business
child care grant program</header>
<subsection id="ID34DE20CFA88F410189BF5695AF365C88"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The
Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the
<quote>Secretary</quote>) shall establish a program to award grants to States,
on a competitive basis, to assist States in providing funds to encourage the
establishment and operation of employer operated child care programs.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID75C8F8C339BF4E6AB3BBB1256574EAED"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Application</header><text>To
be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a State shall prepare and
submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may require, including an
assurance that the funds required under subsection (e) will be provided.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID0B350CD1FFAE43818463AF4D368F59D1"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Amount of
grant</header><text>The Secretary shall determine the amount of a grant to a
State under this section based on the population of the State as compared to
the population of all States receiving grants under this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDA1C87C85F8F34ABFAA30B39E4397B429"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Use of
funds</header>
<paragraph id="IDD756A2BD663143E7ADE82CF88FCCF58E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>A State shall use amounts provided under a grant awarded
under this section to provide assistance to small businesses located in the
State to enable the small businesses to establish and operate child care
programs. Such assistance may include—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDE3A1D2C7900842C3B1C5B142A8D775B9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>technical
assistance in the establishment of a child care program;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID23C5E5C8E5F44D4CB9AC28A26715E544"><enum>(B)</enum><text>assistance for
the startup costs related to a child care program;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDD9181D0E5F6B43B2BAA0E86520DFDBB3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>assistance for
the training of child care providers;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDE4BD364B33F345A1A49D6C6D7B7373E0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>scholarships for
low-income wage earners;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID39E558F08AAE4FECB5A0B9D2078B54EB"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the provision of
services to care for sick children or to provide care to school aged
children;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDF659405D37154995AE653148BCC3BADA"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the entering into
of contracts with local resource and referral or local health
departments;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID6D65C186FE4B4480AEA599F85EE79CC9"><enum>(G)</enum><text>assistance for
care for children with disabilities; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID304BCCD341364D31A6F74BA9E01EAF68"><enum>(H)</enum><text>assistance for
any other activity determined appropriate by the State.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDC713B59488EE45F6001EE5BE2E5E1B68"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Application</header><text>To
be eligible to receive assistance from a State under this section, a small
business shall prepare and submit to the State an application at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the State may require.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDF61BB2E78CF44839BDEDED1F6B115C6C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Preference</header>
<subparagraph id="IDB1FDD39F6E5C4F31B71E2429A3E13B40"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In providing assistance under this section, a State shall
give priority to applicants that desire to form a consortium to provide child
care in a geographic area within the State where such care is not generally
available or accessible.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDB273ABB1B2A743F9A30035AC2FB19966"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Consortium</header><text>For
purposes of subparagraph (A), a consortium shall be made up of 2 or more
entities that may include businesses, nonprofit agencies or organizations,
local governments, or other appropriate entities.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID70E7ED219EB94A4A87D4F6AC5305C4B5"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>With
respect to grant funds received under this section, a State may not provide in
excess of $250,000 in assistance from such funds to any single
applicant.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDCD085C08D49C480C002DFC6D7BB66E63"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Matching
requirement</header><text>To be eligible to receive a grant under this section
a State shall provide assurances to the Secretary that, with respect to the
costs to be incurred by an entity receiving assistance in carrying out
activities under this section, the entity will make available (directly or
through donations from public or private entities) non-Federal contributions to
such costs in an amount equal to—</text>
<paragraph id="IDAE6A5BF2337A43A2B3C1E7A012238F57"><enum>(1)</enum><text>for the first
fiscal year in which the entity receives such assistance, not less than 50
percent of such costs ($1 for each $1 of assistance provided to the entity
under the grant);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDF636D8443F864A1694B858C308C67E71"><enum>(2)</enum><text>for the second
fiscal year in which the entity receives such assistance, not less than
66<fraction>2/3</fraction> percent of such costs ($2 for each $1 of assistance
provided to the entity under the grant); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID96DA51F691384F7CBBE38D9803D54085"><enum>(3)</enum><text>for the third
fiscal year in which the entity receives such assistance, not less than 75
percent of such costs ($3 for each $1 of assistance provided to the entity
under the grant).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDC0DEC902A0F9428D8F704210D4EF911C"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Requirements of
providers</header><text>To be eligible to receive assistance under a grant
awarded under this section a child care provider shall comply with all
applicable State and local licensing and regulatory requirements and all
applicable health and safety standards in effect in the State.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idAD5468CF4BAD4431A193C23897C8F189"><enum>(g)</enum><header>State-Level
activities</header><text>A State may not retain more than 3 percent of funds
for State administration and other State-level activities.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID74351E0DB3AB4839A8092FC253457C31"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Administration</header>
<paragraph id="ID75E77DB3B78C4CFC92FEA621E16C778F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>State
responsibility</header><text>A State shall have responsibility for
administering a grant awarded for the State under this section and for
monitoring entities that receive assistance under such grant.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID14C6EAF6F7F84AFABC37487B00E1CB27"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Audits</header><text>A
State shall require each entity receiving assistance under the grant awarded
under this section to conduct an annual audit with respect to the activities of
the entity. Such audits shall be submitted to the State.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID8D1A188250504135A58277E736B55566"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Misuse of
funds</header>
<subparagraph id="ID454D4D4FCCB34AEAAB2F898443B7BB34"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Repayment</header><text>If
the State determines, through an audit or otherwise, that an entity receiving
assistance under a grant awarded under this section has misused the assistance,
the State shall notify the Secretary of the misuse. The Secretary, upon such a
notification, may seek from such an entity the repayment of an amount equal to
the amount of any such misused assistance plus interest.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDAB18C648FBDA4048A500BBE3D2B6C3D1"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Appeals
process</header><text>The Secretary shall by regulation provide for an appeals
process with respect to repayments under this paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID6F3844DDC75F4BB8A1F0AEEBDE5F00C7"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Reporting
requirements</header>
<paragraph id="IDC5784D5ED961424B84FCA84B00F085F4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>2-year
study</header>
<subparagraph id="ID9A48E10217774F8B917F20D46924D053"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date on which the
Secretary first awards grants under this section, the Secretary shall conduct a
study to determine—</text>
<clause id="ID4097F493EFC64EF0988943E84F7D286E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the
capacity of entities to meet the child care needs of communities within
States;</text>
</clause><clause id="IDAA2DB37AB8794B308CE42796549400DA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the kinds of
partnerships that are being formed with respect to child care at the local
level to carry out programs funded under this section; and</text>
</clause><clause id="IDF82F8E1AEECB42758320A62D64D7D1C4"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>who is using
the programs funded under this section and the income levels of such
individuals.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID341180EAFD0F4FCF9ECB00C2B163327B"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 28 months after the date on which the Secretary first awards grants
under this section, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report on the results of the study conducted in
accordance with subparagraph (A).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID35D2056323564303AAFBC1B6265E8BFC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>4-year
study</header>
<subparagraph id="IDC1BD19010954442DA674B957ED2549D1"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 4 years after the date on which the
Secretary first awards grants under this section, the Secretary shall conduct a
study to determine the number of child care facilities funded through entities
that received assistance through a grant awarded under this section that remain
in operation and the extent to which such facilities are meeting the child care
needs of the individuals served by such facilities.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID516859D097AA47E0B85E2DE8D7D02ED1"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 52 months after the date on which the Secretary first awards grants
under this section, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report on the results of the study conducted in
accordance with subparagraph (A).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id43A5FF4D3DFE490CAAC35459330D4271"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In
this section, the term <term>small business</term> means an employer who
employed an average of at least 2 but not more than 50 employees on business
days during the preceding calendar year.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID965C5A44D55945AAA2FE0083948D7DD1"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header>
<paragraph id="ID2ADE6ACFFECD4209A37F301F0037E475"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
section, $50,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2006 through 2010.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDB2EB834833B14AE9B0DA4F4DBE74E0F1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Evaluations and
administration</header><text>With respect to the total amount appropriated for
such period in accordance with this subsection, not more than $2,500,000 of
that amount may be used for expenditures related to conducting evaluations
required under, and the administration of, this section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDBA0AF4AD5D914C0F833D2BF6731D97F2"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Termination of
program</header><text>The program established under subsection (a) shall
terminate on September 30, 2011.</text>
</subsection></section>