ACCESS Act

To amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to make projects that directly or indirectly increase the accessibility of affordable, quality child care eligible for certain grants, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Affordable Child Care for Economic Strategies and Success Act ACCESS Act 2. Grants for public works and economic development (a) In general Section 201 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3141 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1) by striking ; and (B) in paragraph (2) by striking the period and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (3) planning, developing, or creating a project or facility that will directly or indirectly increase the accessibility of affordable, quality child care. ; and (2) in subsection (b)(1)— (A) in subparagraph (B) by striking ; or (B) in subparagraph (C) by striking the semicolon and inserting ; or (C) by adding at the end the following: (D) increase the accessibility of affordable, quality child care; . (b) Regulations Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall issue such regulations as are necessary to establish criteria for whether a project directly or indirectly increases the accessibility of affordable, quality child care. Such criteria shall consider: (1) The availability, validity, and accessibility of timely data. (2) The extent to which a project contributes to a family’s financial security. (3) The extent to which a project address child care needs in child care deserts or areas otherwise recognized as being in shortage. (c) Child care desert defined In this section, the term child care desert (1) an area— (A) within a census tract; and (B) in which the number of children who are under age 5 (as determined using the most recent American Community Survey 1-year Estimates, as published by the Bureau of the Census) is more than 3 times the number of slots provided by child care providers who are licensed or registered by the State involved; or (2) a community that the State or tribal entity involved determines has a low supply of quality, affordable child care. 3. Grants for planning and grants for administrative expenses Section 203(b)(4) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3143(b)(4) (4) formulating and implementing an economic development program that includes systematic efforts to— (A) reduce unemployment and increase incomes; or (B) increase the accessibility of affordable, quality child care. . 4. Grants for training, research, and technical assistance Section 207(a)(2) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3147(a)(2) (1) in subparagraph (H) by striking ; and (2) by redesignating subparagraph (I) as subparagraph (J); and (3) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the following: (I) the planning, development, or creation of a project or facility that will directly or indirectly increase the accessibility of affordable, quality child care; and . 5. Comprehensive economic development strategies (a) In general Section 302(a)(3)(A) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3162(a)(3)(A) (including by directly or indirectly increasing the accessibility of affordable, quality child care) promotes economic development and opportunity (b) Guidance In carrying out the amendment made under subsection (a), the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall issue guidance on how to include the accessibility of affordable, quality child care in a comprehensive economic development strategy developed under section 302 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3162

Summary: Affordable Child Care for Economic Strategies and Success Act or the ACCESS Act This bill authorizes the Department of Commerce to provide grants for public works and economic development projects that will directly or indirectly increase the accessibility of affordable, quality child care, including grants for planning, and training, research, and technical assistance related to such projects. Commerce must issue regulations to establish criteria for whether a project directly or indirectly increases the accessibility of affordable, quality child care. Such criteria shall consider (1) the availability, validity, and accessibility of timely data, (2) the extent to which a project contributes to a family's financial security, and (3) the extent to which a project addresses child care needs in child care deserts or areas otherwise recognized as being in shortage. A child care desert is an area in which the number of children who are under age five is more than three times the number of slots provided by child care providers who are licensed or registered by the state involved, or a community that the state or tribal entity involved determines has a low supply of quality, affordable child care. Commerce must also issue guidance on how to include the accessibility of affordable, quality child care in a comprehensive economic development strategy.