### §1798. Child care services and youth program services for dependents: financial assistance for providers

(a) Authority.—The Secretary of Defense may provide financial assistance to an eligible civilian provider of child care services or youth program services that furnishes such services for members of the armed forces, survivors of members of the armed forces who die in combat-related incidents in the line of duty, and employees of the United States if the Secretary determines that providing such financial assistance—

(1) is in the best interest of the Department of Defense;

(2) enables supplementation or expansion of furnishing of child care services or youth program services for military installations, while not supplanting or replacing such services; and

(3) ensures that the eligible provider is able to comply, and does comply, with the regulations, policies, and standards of the Department of Defense that are applicable to the furnishing of such services.

(b) Eligible Providers.—A provider of child care services or youth program services is eligible for financial assistance under this section if the provider—

(1) is licensed to provide those services under applicable State and local law;

(2) has previously provided such services for members of the armed forces or employees of the United States; and

(3) either—

(A) is a family home day care provider; or

(B) is a provider of family child care services that—

(i) otherwise provides federally funded or sponsored child development services;

(ii) provides the services in a child development center owned and operated by a private, not-for-profit organization;

(iii) provides before-school or after-school child care program in a public school facility;

(iv) conducts an otherwise federally funded or federally sponsored school age child care or youth services program;

(v) conducts a school age child care or youth services program that is owned and operated by a not-for-profit organization; or

(vi) is a provider of another category of child care services or youth services determined by the Secretary of Defense as appropriate for meeting the needs of members of the armed forces or employees of the Department of Defense.

(c) Funding.—To provide financial assistance under this subsection, the Secretary of Defense may use any funds appropriated to the Department of Defense for operation and maintenance.

(Added Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title V, §584(a)(1)(B), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 634; amended Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title X, §1041(a)(6), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2645; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VI, §624, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1428.)

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### Prior Provisions

A prior section 1798 was renumbered section 1800 of this title.

#### Amendments

2019—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–92 inserted ", survivors of members of the armed forces who die in combat-related incidents in the line of duty," after "armed forces" in introductory provisions.

2002—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 107–314 struck out heading and text of subsec. (d). Text read as follows:

"(1) Every two years the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the exercise of authority under this section. The report shall include an evaluation of the effectiveness of that authority for meeting the needs of members of the armed forces or employees of the Department of Defense for child care services and youth program services. The report may include any recommendations for legislation that the Secretary considers appropriate to enhance the capability of the Department of Defense to meet those needs.

"(2) A biennial report under this subsection may be combined with the biennial report under section 1799(d) of this title into a single report for submission to Congress."

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Promotion of Certain Child Care Assistance

Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title V, §577, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2606, provided that:

"(a) In General.—Each Secretary concerned shall promote, to members of the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of such Secretary concerned, awareness of child care assistance available under—

"(1) section 1798 of title 10, United States Code; and

"(2) section 589 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 10 U.S.C. 1791 note).

"(b) Reporting.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2022], each Secretary concerned shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report summarizing activities taken by such Secretary concerned to carry out subsection (a).

"(c) Secretary Concerned Defined.—In this section, the term 'Secretary concerned' has the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code."

#### First Biennial Reports

Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title V, §584(b), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 636, provided that the first biennial reports under former sections 1798(d) and 1799(d) of this title were to be submitted not later than Mar. 31, 2002, and were to cover fiscal years 2000 and 2001.