Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014

To reauthorize and improve the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2013 2. Short title and purposes Section 658A of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9801 658A. Short title and purposes (a) Short title This subchapter may be cited as the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (b) Purposes The purposes of this subchapter are— (1) to allow each State maximum flexibility in developing child care programs and policies that best suit the needs of children and parents within that State; (2) to promote parental choice to empower working parents to make their own decisions regarding the child care that best suits their family’s needs; (3) to assist States in providing high-quality child care services to parents trying to achieve independence from public assistance; (4) to assist States in improving the overall quality of child care services and programs by implementing the health, safety, licensing, training, and oversight standards established in this subchapter and in State law (including regulations); (5) to improve school readiness by having children, families, and child care providers engage in activities, in child care settings, that are developmentally appropriate and age-appropriate for the children and that promote children's language and literacy and mathematics skills, social and emotional development, physical health and development, and approaches to learning; (6) to encourage States to provide consumer education information to help parents make informed choices about child care services and to promote involvement by parents and family members in the education of their children in child care settings; (7) to increase the number and percentage of low-income children in high-quality child care settings; and (8) to improve the coordination and delivery of early childhood education and care (including child care). . 3. Authorization of appropriations Section 658B of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9801 subchapter subchapter, such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2019. 4. Lead agency Section 658D(a) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9858b(a) (1) by striking chief executive officer Governor (2) by striking designate designate an agency (which may be an appropriate collaborative agency), or establish a joint interagency office, that complies with the requirements of subsection (b) to serve as the lead agency for the State under this subchapter. 5. Application and plan (a) Period Section 658E(b) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858c(b)) is amended, by striking 2-year 3-year (b) Policies and procedures Section 658E(c) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9858c(c) (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting or established designated (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) in subparagraph (B), by inserting a comma after care of such providers (B) by striking subparagraphs (D) through (H); and (C) by adding at the end the following: (D) Monitoring and inspection reports The plan shall include a certification that the State, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2013 (E) Consumer education information The plan shall include a certification that the State will collect and disseminate (which dissemination may be done, except as otherwise specified in this subparagraph, through resource and referral organizations and other means as determined by the State) to parents of eligible children and the general public— (i) information that will promote informed child care choices and that concerns— (I) the availability of child care services provided through programs authorized under this subchapter and, if feasible, other child care services provided in the State; (II) if available, information about the quality of providers, including information from a Quality Rating and Improvement System; (III) information, made available through a State website, describing the State process for licensing child care providers, the State processes for conducting background checks, and monitoring and inspections, of child care providers, and the offenses that prevent individuals and entities from serving as child care providers in the State; (IV) the availability of assistance to obtain child care services; (V) other programs for which families that receive child care services for which financial assistance is provided in accordance with this subchapter may be eligible, including the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families established under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq. 42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq. 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. 42 U.S.C. 1786 42 U.S.C. 1766 (VI) programs carried out under section 619 and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419 and 1431 et seq.); and (VII) research and best practices concerning children's development, including language and cognitive development, development of early language and literacy and mathematics skills, social and emotional development, meaningful parent and family engagement, and physical health and development; (ii) information on developmental screenings, including— (I) information on existing (as of the date of submission of the application containing the plan) resources and services the State can deploy, including the coordinated use of the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment program under the Medicaid program carried out under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) and developmental screening services available under section 619 and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.), in conducting developmental screenings and providing referrals to services, when appropriate, for children who receive assistance under this subchapter; and (II) a description of how a family or eligible child care provider may utilize the resources and services described in subclause (I) to obtain developmental screenings for children who receive assistance under this subchapter who may be at risk for cognitive or other developmental delays; and (iii) information, for parents receiving assistance under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq. (F) Compliance with State licensing requirements (i) In general The plan shall include a certification that the State involved has in effect licensing requirements applicable to child care services provided within the State, and provide a detailed description of such requirements and of how such requirements are effectively enforced. (ii) License exemption If the State uses funding received under this subchapter to support a child care provider that is exempt from the corresponding licensing requirements described in clause (i), the plan shall include a description stating— (I) how children receiving services from such a provider will receive services that are comparable in safety and quality to the services received by children served by licensed child care providers; and (II) why such licensing exemption does not endanger the health, safety, or development of children who receive services from child care providers who are exempt from such requirements. (G) Training requirements (i) In general The plan shall describe the training requirements that are in effect within the State that are designed to enable child care providers to promote the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of children and that are applicable to child care providers that provide services for which assistance is provided in accordance with this subchapter in the State. (ii) Requirements The plan shall provide an assurance that such training requirements— (I) provide a set of workforce and competency standards for child care providers that provide services described in clause (i); (II) are developed in consultation with the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care (designated or established pursuant to section 642B(b)(1)(A) of the Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9837b(b)(1)(A) (III) include an evidence-based training framework that is designed to promote children's learning and development and school readiness and to improve child outcomes, including school readiness; (IV) incorporate knowledge and application of the State's early learning and developmental guidelines and, where applicable, the State's child development and health standards; and (V) to the extent practicable, are appropriate for a population of children that includes— (aa) different age groups (such as infants, toddlers, and preschoolers); (bb) English learners; and (cc) children with disabilities. (iii) Progression of professional development In developing the requirements, the State shall develop a statewide progression of professional development designed to improve the skills and knowledge of the workforce, which may include the acquisition of course credit in postsecondary education or of a credential, aligned with the framework. (iv) Alignment The State shall engage the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care, and may engage institutions of higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002 (v) Credentials The Secretary shall not require an individual or entity that provides child care services for which assistance is provided in accordance with this subchapter to acquire a credential to provide such services. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a State from requiring a credential. (H) Child-to-provider ratio standards (i) Standards The plan shall describe child care standards, for child care for which assistance is made available in accordance with this subchapter, appropriate to the type of child care setting involved, that address— (I) group size limits for specific age populations; (II) the appropriate ratio between the number of children and the number of providers, in terms of the age of the children in child care, as determined by the State; and (III) required qualifications for such providers. (ii) Construction The Secretary may offer guidance to States on child-to-provider ratios described in clause (i) according to setting and age group but shall not require that States maintain specific child-to-provider ratios for providers who receive assistance under this subchapter. (I) Health and safety requirements The plan shall include a certification that there are in effect within the State, under State or local law, requirements designed to protect the health and safety of children that are applicable to child care providers that provide services for which assistance is made available in accordance with this subchapter. Such requirements— (i) shall relate to matters including health and safety topics (including prevention of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma) consisting of— (I) the prevention and control of infectious diseases (including immunization) and the establishment of a grace period that allows homeless children to receive services under this subchapter while their families are taking any necessary action to comply with immunization and other health and safety requirements; (II) handwashing and universal health precautions; (III) the administration of medication, consistent with standards for parental consent; (IV) the prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and other allergic reactions; (V) prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and use of safe sleeping practices; (VI) sanitary methods of food handling; (VII) building and physical premises safety; (VIII) emergency response planning including disaster preparation; (IX) the handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of biocontaminants; (X) identification of and protection from hazards that can cause bodily injury such as electrical hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic; (XI) for providers that offer transportation, if applicable, appropriate precautions in transporting children; (XII) first aid and car­dio­pul­mo­nary resuscitation; and (XIII) minimum health and safety training, to be completed pre-service or during an orientation period, appropriate to the provider setting involved that addresses each of the requirements relating to matters described in subclauses (I) through (XII); and (ii) may include requirements relating to nutrition and access to physical activity. (J) Compliance with State and local health and safety requirements The plan shall include a certification that procedures are in effect to ensure that child care providers within the State, that provide services for which assistance is made available in accordance with this subchapter, comply with all applicable State and local health and safety requirements as described in subparagraph (I). (K) Enforcement of licensing and other regulatory requirements The plan shall include a certification that the State, not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2013 (i) ensure that individuals who are hired as licensing inspectors in the State are qualified to inspect those child care providers and facilities and have received training in related health and safety requirements, child development, child abuse prevention and detection, program management, and relevant law enforcement; (ii) require licensing inspectors of those child care providers and facilities to perform inspections, with— (I) not less than 1 prelicensure health, safety, and fire inspection of each such child care provider and facility in the State; and (II) not less than annually, a health, safety, and fire inspection (which shall be unannounced) of each such child care provider and facility in the State; and (iii) require the ratio of licensing inspectors to such child care providers and facilities in the State to be maintained at a level sufficient to enable the State to conduct inspections of such child care providers and facilities on a timely basis in accordance with Federal and State law. (L) Compliance with child abuse reporting requirements The plan shall include a certification that child care providers within the State will comply with the child abuse reporting requirements of section 106(b)(2)(B)(i) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5106a(b)(2)(B)(i) (M) Meeting the needs of certain populations The plan shall describe how the State will develop and implement strategies (which may include the provision of compensation at higher payment rates and bonuses to child care providers, the provision of direct contracts or grants to community-based organizations, or other means determined by the State) to increase the supply and improve the quality of child care for— (i) children in underserved areas; (ii) infants and toddlers; (iii) children with disabilities, as defined in subparagraphs (A) and (D) of section 658P(3); and (iv) children who receive care during nontraditional hours. (N) Protection for working parents (i) Redetermination process The plan shall describe the procedures and policies that are in place to ensure that working parents (especially parents in families receiving assistance under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq. (ii) Minimum period (I) 12-month period The plan shall demonstrate that each child who receives assistance under this subchapter in the State will be considered to meet all eligibility requirements for such assistance (except for a factor described in clause (iii), for a State not covered by clause (iii)) and will receive such assistance, for not less than 12 months before the State redetermines the eligibility of the child under this subchapter, regardless of a change in the status of the child's parent as working or attending a job training or educational program or a change in family income for the child's family, if that family income does not exceed 85 percent of the State median income for a family of the same size. (II) Fluctuations in earnings The plan shall demonstrate how the State's processes for initial determination and redetermination of such eligibility take into account irregular fluctuations in earnings. (iii) Period before termination At the option of the State, the plan shall demonstrate that the State will not terminate assistance provided to carry out this subchapter based on a factor consisting of a parent's loss of work or cessation of attendance at a job training or educational program for which the family was receiving the assistance, without continuing the assistance for a reasonable period of time, of not less than 3 months, after such loss or cessation in order for the parent to engage in a job search and resume work, or resume attendance at a job training or educational program, as soon as possible. (iv) Graduated phaseout of care The plan shall describe the policies and procedures that are in place to allow for provision of continued assistance to carry out this subchapter, for a period of not to exceed 12 months, for children of working parents who become ineligible for assistance to carry out this subchapter during the redetermination process due to a modest increase in the parents’ income, if the family income for the family involved does not exceed 85 percent of the State median income for a family of the same size. (O) Coordination with other programs (i) In general The plan shall describe how the State, in order to expand accessibility and continuity of quality early childhood education and care, and assist children enrolled in part-day prekindergarten or part-day Head Start programs to receive full-day services, will coordinate the services supported to carry out this subchapter with— (I) programs carried out under the Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq. (II) programs carried out under part A of title I, and part B of title IV, of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq., 7171 et seq.); (III) programs carried out under section 619 and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1419 (IV) the maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting programs authorized under section 511 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 711 (V) State and locally funded early childhood education and care programs; (VI) programs serving homeless children and services of local educational agency liaisons for homeless children and youths designated under subsection (g)(1)(J)(ii) of section 722 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432); and (VII) other Federal programs supporting early childhood education and care activities. (ii) Rule of construction Nothing in clause (i) shall be construed to affect the priority of children described in clause (i) to receive full-day prekindergarten or Head Start program services. (P) Public-private partnerships The plan shall demonstrate how the State encourages partnerships among State agencies, other public agencies, and private entities to leverage existing service delivery systems (as of the date of the submission of the application containing the plan) for early childhood education and care and to increase the supply and quality of child care services for children who are less than 13 years of age, such as by implementing voluntary shared services alliance models to allow providers more time and resources to provide higher quality of care at lower cost by realizing small economies of scale. (Q) Priority for low-income populations The plan shall describe the process the State proposes to use, with respect to investments made to increase access to programs providing high-quality early childhood education and care, to give priority for those investments to children of families in areas that have significant concentrations of poverty and unemployment and that do not have such programs. (R) Consultation The plan shall include a certification that the State has developed the plan in consultation with the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care established pursuant to section 642B(b)(1)(A) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837b(b)(1)(A)). (S) Payment practices The plan shall include a certification that the payment practices of child care providers in the State that serve children who receive assistance under this subchapter reflect generally accepted payment practices of child care providers in the State that serve children who do not receive assistance under this subchapter, so as to provide stability of funding and encourage more child care providers to serve children who receive assistance under this subchapter. (T) Early learning and developmental guidelines (i) In general The plan shall include an assurance that the State will develop or implement early learning and developmental guidelines that are appropriate for children from birth through entry into kindergarten, describing what such children should know and be able to do, and covering the essential domains of early childhood education and care and early childhood development for use statewide by child care providers. Such child care providers shall— (I) be licensed or regulated under State law; and (II) not be a relative of all children for whom the provider provides child care services. (ii) Alignment The guidelines shall be research-based, be developmentally appropriate, and be aligned with State standards for education in kindergarten through grade 3. (iii) Prohibition on use of funds The plan shall include an assurance that funds received by the State to carry out this subchapter will not be used to develop or implement an assessment for children that— (I) will be the sole basis for a child care provider being determined to be ineligible to participate in the program carried out under this subchapter; (II) will be used as the primary or sole basis to provide a reward or sanction for an individual provider; or (III) will be used as the primary or sole method for assessing program effectiveness. (iv) Exceptions Nothing in this subchapter shall preclude the State using a single assessment for children for— (I) improving instruction or a classroom environment; (II) targeting professional development to a provider; (III) determining the need for health, mental health, disability, developmental delay, or family support services; (IV) obtaining information for the quality improvement process at the State level; or (V) conducting a program evaluation for the purposes of providing program improvement and parent information. (v) No Federal control Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize an officer or employee of the Federal Government to— (I) mandate, direct, or control a State's early learning and developmental guidelines, developed in accordance with this section; (II) establish any criterion that specifies, defines, or prescribes the standards or measures that a State uses to establish, implement, or improve— (aa) early learning and developmental guidelines, or early learning standards, assessments, or accountability systems; or (bb) alignment of early learning and developmental guidelines with State standards for education in kindergarten through grade 3; or (III) require a State to submit such standards or measures for review. ; (3) in paragraph (3)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking as required under in accordance with (B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) by striking The State (i) In general The State ; (ii) by striking and any other activity that the State deems appropriate to realize any of the goals specified in paragraphs (2) through (5) of section 658A(b) activities that improve access to child care services, including use of procedures to permit immediate enrollment (after the initial eligibility determination and after a child is determined to be eligible) of homeless children while required documentation is obtained, training and technical assistance on identifying and serving homeless children and their families, and specific outreach to homeless families, and any other activity that the State determines to be appropriate to meet the purposes of this subchapter (which may include an activity described in clause (ii)) (iii) by adding at the end the following: (ii) Child care resource and referral system (I) In general A State may use amounts described in clause (i) to establish or support a system of local or regional child care resource and referral organizations that is coordinated, to the extent determined appropriate by the State, by a statewide public or private nonprofit, community-based or regionally based, lead child care resource and referral organization. (II) Local or regional organizations The local or regional child care resource and referral organizations supported as described in subclause (I) shall— (aa) provide parents in the State with consumer education information referred to in paragraph (2)(E) (except as otherwise provided in that paragraph), concerning the full range of child care options, analyzed by provider, including child care provided during nontraditional hours and through emergency child care centers, in their political subdivisions or regions; (bb) to the extent practicable, work directly with families who receive assistance under this subchapter to offer the families support and assistance, using information described in item (aa), to make an informed decision about which child care providers they will use, in an effort to ensure that the families are enrolling their children in high-quality care; (cc) collect and analyze data on the coordination of services and supports, including services under section 619 and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1419 20 U.S.C. 1401 (dd) collect and analyze data on the supply of and demand for child care in political subdivisions or regions within the State and submit such data and analysis to the State; (ee) work to establish partnerships with public agencies and private entities to increase the supply and quality of child care services in the State; and (ff) as appropriate, coordinate their activities with the activities of the State lead agency and local agencies that administer funds made available in accordance with this subchapter. ; (C) in subparagraph (D)— (i) by striking 1997 through 2012 2014 through 2019 (ii) by striking paragraph (2)(H) paragraph (2)(M) (D) by adding at the end the following: (E) Direct services From amounts provided to a State for a fiscal year to carry out this subchapter, the State shall— (i) reserve the minimum amount required to be reserved under section 658G, and the funds for costs described in subparagraph (C); and (ii) from the remainder, use not less than 70 percent to fund direct services (provided by the State) in accordance with paragraph (2)(A). ; (4) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: (4) Payment rates (A) In general The State plan shall certify that payment rates for the provision of child care services for which assistance is provided in accordance with this subchapter are sufficient to ensure equal access for eligible children to child care services that are comparable to child care services in the State or substate area involved that are provided to children whose parents are not eligible to receive assistance under this subchapter or to receive child care assistance under any other Federal or State program and shall provide a summary of the facts relied on by the State to determine that such rates are sufficient to ensure such access. (B) Survey The State plan shall— (i) demonstrate that the State has, after consulting with the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care, local child care program administrators, local child care resource and referral agencies, and other appropriate entities, developed and conducted (not earlier than 2 years before the date of the submission of the application containing the State plan) a statistically valid and reliable survey of the market rates for child care services in the State (that reflects variations in the cost of child care services by geographic area, type of provider, and age of child); (ii) demonstrate that the State prepared a detailed report containing the results of the State market rates survey conducted pursuant to clause (i), and made the results of the survey widely available (not later than 30 days after the completion of such survey) through periodic means, including posting the results on the Internet; (iii) describe how the State will set payment rates for child care services, for which assistance is provided in accordance with this subchapter, in accordance with the results of the market rates survey conducted pursuant to clause (i) without, to the extent practicable, reducing the number of families in the State receiving such assistance to carry out this subchapter, relative to the number of such families on the date of enactment of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2013 (iv) describe how the State will provide for timely payment for child care services provided in accordance with this subchapter. (C) Construction (i) No private right of action Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to create a private right of action. (ii) No prohibition of certain different rates Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to prevent a State from differentiating the payment rates described in subparagraph (B)(iii) on the basis of such factors as— (I) geographic location of child care providers (such as location in an urban or rural area); (II) the age or particular needs of children (such as the needs of children with disabilities and children served by child protective services); (III) whether the providers provide child care during weekend and other nontraditional hours; or (IV) the State's determination that such differentiated payment rates are needed to enable a parent to choose child care that is of high quality. ; and (5) in paragraph (5), by inserting that is not a barrier to families receiving assistance under this subchapter cost sharing (c) Technical amendment Section 658F(b)(2) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9858d(b)(2) section 658E(c)(2)(F) section 658E(c)(2)(I) 6. Activities to improve the quality of child care Section 658G of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9858e 658G. Activities to improve the quality of child care (a) Reservation (1) Reservation for activities relating to the quality of child care services A State that receives funds to carry out this subchapter for a fiscal year shall reserve and use a portion of such funds, in accordance with paragraph (2), for activities provided directly, or through grants or contracts with local child care resource and referral organizations or other appropriate entities, that are designed to improve the quality of child care services and increase parental options for, and access to, high-quality child care, provided in accordance with this subchapter. (2) Amount of reservations Such State shall reserve and use for the activities described in paragraph (1), not less than— (A) 6 percent of such funds in 2014; (B) 8 percent of such funds in 2016; (C) 10 percent of such funds in 2018 and each succeeding year; and (D) 3 percent of such funds in 2014 and each succeeding year to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1), as such activities relate to the quality of care for infants and toddlers. (b) Activities Funds reserved under subsection (a) shall be used to carry out not less than 2 of the following activities: (1) Supporting the training, professional development, and professional advancement of the child care workforce through activities such as— (A) offering child care providers training and professional development that is intentional and sequential and leads to a higher level of skill or certification; (B) establishing or supporting programs designed to increase the retention and improve the competencies of child care providers, including wage incentive programs and initiatives that establish tiered payment rates for providers that meet or exceed child care services guidelines, as defined by the State; (C) offering training, professional development, and educational opportunities for child care providers that relate to the use of developmentally appropriate and age-appropriate curricula, and early childhood teaching strategies, that are scientifically based and aligned with the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of children, including offering specialized training for child care providers who care for infants and toddlers, children who are English learners, and children with disabilities (as defined in section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1401 (D) providing training in early mathematics and early language and literacy development and effective instructional practices to support mathematics and language and literacy development in young children; (E) incorporating effective use of data to guide instruction and program improvement; (F) including effective behavior management strategies, including positive behavioral interventions and supports, that promote positive social and emotional development and reduce challenge behaviors; (G) at the option of the State, incorporating feedback from experts at the State’s institutions of higher education, as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002 (H) providing training corresponding to the nutritional and physical activity needs of children to promote healthy development; and (I) providing training or professional development for child care providers to serve and support children with disabilities. (2) Supporting the use of the early learning and developmental guidelines described in section 658E by— (A) developing and implementing such early learning and developmental guidelines for early language and literacy skills and activities and pre-numeracy and mathematics skills and activities, for child care programs in the State, that are aligned with State standards for education in kindergarten through grade 12 education or the State’s general goals for school readiness; and (B) providing technical assistance to enhance early learning for preschool and school-aged children in order to promote language and literacy skills, foster school readiness, and support later school success. (3) Developing and implementing a tiered quality rating system for child care providers, which shall— (A) support and assess the quality of child care providers in the State; (B) build on licensing standards and other State regulatory standards for such providers; (C) be designed to improve the quality of different types of child care providers; (D) describe the quality of early learning facilities; (E) build the capacity of State early learning programs and communities to promote parents’ and families’ understanding of the State’s early learning system and the ratings of the programs in which the child is enrolled; and (F) provide, to the maximum extent practicable, financial incentives and other supports designed to achieve and sustain higher levels of quality. (4) Improving the supply and quality of child care programs and services for infants and toddlers through activities which may include— (A) establishing or expanding neighborhood-based high-quality comprehensive family and child development centers, which may serve as resources to child care providers in order to improve the quality of early childhood education and care and early childhood development services provided to infants and toddlers from low-income families and to help eligible child care providers improve their capacity to offer high-quality care to infants and toddlers from low-income families; (B) establishing or expanding the operation of community or neighborhood-based family child care networks; (C) supporting statewide networks of infant and toddler child care specialists, including specialists who have knowledge regarding infant and toddler development and curriculum and program implementation for children with disabilities, which may include specialists who provide such services through part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq. (D) carrying out initiatives to improve the quality of the infant and toddler child care workforce, such as providing relevant training, professional development, or mentoring opportunities and linking such opportunities to career pathways, developing career pathways for such providers, and improving the State cre­den­tial­ing of eligible providers caring for infants and toddlers; and (E) if applicable, developing infant and toddler components within the State’s quality rating system described in paragraph (3) for child care providers for infants and toddlers, or the development of infant and toddler components in a State’s child care licensing regulations or early childhood guidelines; (F) improving the ability of parents to access information about high-quality infant and toddler care; and (G) carrying out other activities determined by the State to improve the quality of infant and toddler care provided in the State, and for which there is evidence that the activities will lead to improved infant and toddler safety, infant and toddler development, or infant and toddler well-being. (5) Promoting broad child care provider participation in the quality rating system described in paragraph (3). (6) Establishing or expanding a statewide system of child care resource and referral services. (7) Facilitating compliance with State requirements for inspection, monitoring, training, and health and safety, and with State licensing standards. (8) Evaluating and assessing the quality and effectiveness of child care programs and services offered in the State, including evaluating how such programs and services may improve the overall school readiness of young children. (9) Supporting child care providers in the pursuit of accreditation by an established national accrediting body with demonstrated, valid and reliable program standards of high quality. (10) Supporting State or local efforts to develop or adopt high-quality program standards relating to health, mental health, nutrition, physical activity, and physical development and providing resources to enable eligible child care providers to meet, exceed, or sustain success in meeting or exceeding such standards. (11) Carrying out other activities determined by the State to improve the quality of child care services provided in the State, and for which measurement of outcomes relating to improved provider preparedness, child safety, child well-being, or school readiness is possible. (c) Certification Beginning with fiscal year 2014, at the beginning of each fiscal year, the State shall annually submit to the Secretary a certification containing an assurance that the State was in compliance with subsection (a) during the preceding fiscal year and describes how the State used funds received under this subchapter to comply with subsection (a) during that preceding fiscal year. (d) Reporting Requirements Each State receiving funds under this subchapter shall prepare and submit an annual report to the Secretary, which shall include information about— (1) the amount of funds that are reserved under subsection (a); (2) the activities carried out under this section; and (3) the measures that the State will use to evaluate the State's progress in improving the quality of child care programs and services in the State. (e) Technical assistance The Secretary shall offer technical assistance, in accordance with section 658I(a)(3), which may include technical assistance through the use of grants or cooperative agreements, to States for the activities described in subsection (b). (f) Construction Nothing in this section shall be construed as providing the Secretary the authority to regulate, monitor, or dictate State child care quality activities or progress in implementing those activities. . 7. Criminal background checks The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq. 658H. Criminal background checks (a) In general A State that receives funds to carry out this subchapter shall have in effect— (1) requirements, policies, and procedures to require and conduct criminal background checks for child care staff members (including prospective child care staff members) of child care providers described in subsection (c)(1); and (2) licensing, regulation, and registration requirements, as applicable, that prohibit the employment of child care staff members as described in subsection (c). (b) Requirements A criminal background check for a child care staff member under subsection (a) shall include— (1) a search of each State criminal and sex offender registry or repository in the State where the child care staff member resides and each State where such staff member resided during the preceding 10 years; (2) a search of State-based child abuse and neglect registries and databases in the State where the child care staff member resides and each State where such staff member previously resided during the preceding 10 years; (3) a search of the National Crime Information Center; (4) a Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint check using the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System; and (5) a search of the National Sex Offender Registry established under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 ( 42 U.S.C. 16901 et seq. (c) Prohibitions (1) Child care staff members A child care staff member shall be ineligible for employment by a child care provider that is licensed, regulated, or registered by the State or for which assistance is provided in accordance with this subchapter, if such individual— (A) refuses to consent to the criminal background check described in subsection (b); (B) knowingly makes a materially false statement in connection with such criminal background check; (C) is registered, or is required to be registered, on a State sex offender registry or the National Sex Offender Registry established under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 ( 42 U.S.C. 16901 et seq. (D) has been convicted of a felony consisting of— (i) murder, as described in section 1111 (ii) child abuse or neglect; (iii) a crime against children, including child pornography; (iv) spousal abuse; (v) a crime involving rape or sexual assault; (vi) kidnapping; (vii) arson; (viii) physical assault or battery; or (ix) subject to subsection (e)(4), a drug-related offense committed during the preceding 5 years. (2) Child care providers A child care provider described in paragraph (1) shall be ineligible for assistance provided in accordance with this subchapter if the provider employs a staff member who is ineligible for employment under paragraph (1). (d) Submission of requests for background checks (1) In general A child care provider covered by subsection (c) shall submit a request, to the appropriate State agency designated by a State, for a criminal background check described in subsection (b), for each child care staff member (including prospective child care staff members) of the provider. (2) Staff members Subject to paragraph (4), in the case of an individual who became a child care staff member before the date of enactment of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2013, the provider shall submit such a request— (A) prior to the last day described in subsection (i)(1); and (B) not less often than once during each 5-year period following the first submission date under this paragraph for that staff member. (3) Prospective staff members Subject to paragraph (4), in the case of an individual who is a prospective child care staff member on or after that date of enactment, the provider shall submit such a request— (A) prior to the date the individual becomes a child care staff member of the provider; and (B) not less often than once during each 5-year period following the first submission date under this paragraph for that staff member. (4) Background check for another child care provider A child care provider shall not be required to submit a request under paragraph (2) or (3) for a child care staff member if— (A) the staff member received a background check described in subsection (b)— (i) within 5 years before the latest date on which such a submission may be made; and (ii) while employed by or seeking employment by another child care provider within the State; and (B) the State provides to the provider a qualifying background check result, consistent with this subchapter, for the child care staff member, who may have become separated from employment from a child care provider within the State for a period of not more than 180 consecutive days. (e) Background check results and appeals (1) Background check results The State shall carry out the request of a child care provider for a criminal background check as expeditiously as possible and shall provide the results of the criminal background check to such provider and to the current or prospective staff member. (2) Privacy (A) In General The State shall provide the results of the criminal background check to the provider in a statement that indicates whether a child care staff member (including a prospective child care staff member) is eligible or ineligible for employment described in subsection (c), without revealing any disqualifying crime or other related information regarding the individual. (B) Ineligible staff member If the child care staff member is ineligible for such employment due to the background check, the State will, when providing the results of the background check, include information related to each disqualifying crime, in a report to the staff member or prospective staff member. (C) Public release of results No State shall publicly release or share the results of individual background checks, however such results of background checks may be included in the development or dissemination of local or statewide data related to background checks, if such results are not individually identifiable. (3) Appeals (A) In General The State shall provide for a process by which a child care staff member (including a prospective child care staff member) may appeal the results of a criminal background check conducted under this section to challenge the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in such member’s criminal background report. (B) Appeals process The State shall ensure that— (i) the appeals process is completed in a timely manner for each child care staff member; (ii) each child care staff member shall be given notice of the opportunity to appeal; and (iii) a child care staff member will receive instructions about how to complete the appeals process if the child care staff member wishes to challenge the accuracy or completeness of the information in his or her criminal background report. (4) Review The State may allow for a review process through which the State may determine that a child care staff member (including a prospective child care staff member) disqualified for a crime specified in subsection (c)(1)(D)(ix) is eligible for employment described in subsection (c)(1), notwithstanding subsection (c). The review process shall be consistent with title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq. (5) No private right of action Nothing in this section shall be construed to create a private right of action if the provider is in compliance with State regulations and requirements. (f) Fees for background checks Fees that a State may charge for the costs of processing applications and administering a criminal background check as required by this section shall not exceed the actual costs to the State for the processing and administration. (g) Construction (1) Disqualification for other crimes Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a State from disqualifying individuals as child care staff members based on their conviction for crimes not specifically listed in this section that bear upon the fitness of an individual to provide care for and have responsibility for the safety and well-being of children. (2) Rights and Remedies Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter or otherwise affect the rights and remedies provided for child care staff members residing in a State that disqualifies individuals as child care staff members for crimes not specifically provided for under this subchapter. (h) Definitions In this section— (1) the term child care provider (A) is not an individual who is related to all children for whom child care services are provided; and (B) is licensed, regulated, or registered under State law or receives assistance provided in accordance with this subchapter; and (2) the term child care staff member (A) who is employed by a child care provider for compensation; (B) whose activities involve the care or supervision of children for a child care provider or unsupervised access to children who are cared for or supervised by a child care provider; or (C) who is a family child care provider. (i) Effective date (1) In general A State that receives funds under this subchapter shall meet the requirements of this section for the provision of criminal background checks for child care staff members described in subsection (d)(1) not later than the last day of the second full fiscal year after the date of enactment of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990. (2) Extension The Secretary may grant a State an extension of time, of not more than 1 fiscal year, to meet the requirements of this section if the State demonstrates a good faith effort to comply with the requirements of this section. (3) Penalty for noncompliance Except as provided in paragraphs (1) and (2), for any fiscal year that a State fails to comply substantially with the requirements of this section, the Secretary shall withhold 5 percent of the funds that would otherwise be allocated to that State in accordance with this subchapter for the following fiscal year. . 8. Reports and information (a) Administration Section 658I(a)(2) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858g(a)(2)) is amended by inserting a comma after publish (b) Reports Section 658K(a) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9858i(a) (1) in paragraph (1)(B)— (A) in clause (ix), by striking and (B) in clause (x), by striking the period and inserting ; and (C) by inserting after clause (x), the following: (xi) whether the children receiving assistance under this subchapter are homeless children; ; and (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 1997 2014 (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking section 658P(5) section 658P(6) (c) Report by Secretary Section 658L of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9858j (1) by striking the section heading and inserting the following: 658L. Reports, hotline, and Web site ; (2) by striking Not later (a) Report by Secretary Not later ; (3) by striking 1998 2015 (4) by striking to the Committee of the Senate to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate (5) by adding at the end the following: (b) National toll-Free hotline and Web site (1) In general The Secretary shall operate a national toll-free hotline and Web site, to— (A) develop and disseminate publicly available child care consumer education information for parents and help parents access safe, affordable, and quality child care in their community; and (B) to allow persons to report (anonymously if desired) suspected child abuse or neglect, or violations of health and safety requirements, by an eligible child care provider that receives assistance under this subchapter. (2) Requirements The Secretary shall ensure that the hotline and Web site meet the following requirements: (A) Referral to local child care providers The Web site shall be hosted by childcare.gov (B) Information The Web site shall provide to consumers, directly or through linkages to State databases, at a minimum— (i) a localized list of all State licensed child care providers; (ii) any provider-specific information from a Quality Rating and Improvement System or information about other quality indicators, to the extent the information is publicly available and to the extent practicable; (iii) any other provider-specific information about compliance with licensing, and health and safety, requirements to the extent the information is publicly available and to the extent practicable; (iv) referrals to local resource and referral organizations from which consumers can find more information about child care providers, and a recommendation that consumers consult with the organizations when selecting a child care provider; and (v) State information about child care subsidy programs and other financial supports available to families. (C) Nationwide capacity The Web site and hotline shall have the capacity to help families in every State and community in the Nation. (D) Information at all hours The Web site shall provide, to parents and families, access to information about child care 24 hours a day. (E) Services in different languages The Web site and hotline shall ensure the widest possible access to services for families who speak languages other than English. (F) High-quality consumer education and referral The Web site and hotline shall ensure that families have access to child care consumer education and referral services that are consistent and of high quality. (3) Prohibition Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to allow the Secretary to compel States to provide additional data and information that is currently (as of the date of enactment of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2013 . 9. Toll-free hotline and Web site Section 658O(a) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858m(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: (3) National toll-free hotline and Web site The Secretary shall reserve not less than $1,000,000 of the amount appropriated under this subchapter for each fiscal year for the operation of a national toll-free hotline and Web site, under section 658L(b). . 10. Definitions Section 658P of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9858n (1) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: (3) Child with a disability The term child with a disability (A) a child with a disability, as defined in section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1401 (B) a child who is eligible for early intervention services under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq. (C) a child who is less than 13 years of age and who is eligible for services under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ( 29 U.S.C. 794 (D) a child with a disability, as defined by the State involved. (4) Eligible child The term eligible child (A) who is less than 13 years of age; (B) whose family income does not exceed 85 percent of the State median income for a family of the same size; and (C) who— (i) resides with a parent or parents who are working or attending a job training or educational program; or (ii) is receiving, or needs to receive, protective services and resides with a parent or parents not described in clause (i). ; (2) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (9) as paragraphs (6) through (10), respectively; (3) by inserting before paragraph (6), as redesignated by paragraph (2), the following: (5) English learner The term English learner 20 U.S.C. 7801 ; (4) in paragraph (6)(A), as redesignated by paragraph (2)— (A) in clause (i), by striking section 658E(c)(2)(E) section 658E(c)(2)(F) (B) in clause (ii), by striking section 658E(c)(2)(F) section 658E(c)(2)(I) (5) in paragraph (9), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by striking designated designated or established under section 658D(a). (6) in paragraph (10), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by inserting , foster parent, guardian 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 2. Short title and purposes Section 658A of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9801 note) is amended to read as follows: 658A. Short title and purposes (a) Short title This subchapter may be cited as the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (b) Purposes The purposes of this subchapter are— (1) to allow each State maximum flexibility in developing child care programs and policies that best suit the needs of children and parents within that State; (2) to promote parental choice to empower working parents to make their own decisions regarding the child care that best suits their family’s needs; (3) to assist States in providing high-quality child care services to parents trying to achieve independence from public assistance; (4) to assist States in improving the overall quality of child care services and programs by implementing the health, safety, licensing, training, and oversight standards established in this subchapter and in State law (including regulations); (5) to improve school readiness by having children, families, and child care providers engage in activities, in child care settings, that are developmentally appropriate and age-appropriate for the children and that promote children's language and literacy and mathematics skills, social and emotional development, physical health and development, and approaches to learning; (6) to encourage States to provide consumer education information to help parents make informed choices about child care services and to promote involvement by parents and family members in the education of their children in child care settings; (7) to increase the number and percentage of low-income children in high-quality child care settings; and (8) to improve the coordination and delivery of early childhood education and care (including child care). . 3. Authorization of appropriations Section 658B of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9858 subchapter subchapter, such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2020. 4. Lead agency (a) Designation Section 658D(a) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9858b(a) (1) by striking chief executive officer Governor (2) by striking designate designate an agency (which may be an appropriate collaborative agency), or establish a joint interagency office, that complies with the requirements of subsection (b) to serve as the lead agency for the State under this subchapter. (b) Collaboration with tribes Section 658D(b)(1) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9858b(b)(1) (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking and (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period and inserting ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (E) at the option of an Indian tribe or tribal organization in the State, collaborate and coordinate with such Indian tribe or tribal organization in the development of the State plan. . 5. Application and plan (a) Period Section 658E(b) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858c(b)) is amended, by striking 2-year 3-year (b) Policies and procedures Section 658E(c) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9858c(c) (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting or established designated (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) in subparagraph (B), by inserting a comma after care of such providers (B) by striking subparagraphs (D) through (H); and (C) by adding at the end the following: (D) Monitoring and inspection reports The plan shall include a certification that the State, not later than 1 year after the State has in effect the policies and practices described in subparagraph (K)(i), will make public by electronic means, in a consumer-friendly and easily accessible format, organized by provider, the results of monitoring and inspection reports, including those due to major substantiated complaints about failure to comply with this subchapter and State child care policies, as well as the number of deaths, serious injuries, and instances of substantiated child abuse that occurred in child care settings each year, for eligible child care providers within the State. The results shall also include information on the date of such an inspection and, where applicable, information on corrective action taken. (E) Consumer education information The plan shall include a certification that the State will collect and disseminate (which dissemination may be done, except as otherwise specified in this subparagraph, through resource and referral organizations or other means as determined by the State) to parents of eligible children and the general public— (i) information that will promote informed child care choices and that concerns— (I) the availability of child care services provided through programs authorized under this subchapter and, if feasible, other child care services and other programs provided in the State for which the family may be eligible; (II) if available, information about the quality of providers, including information from a Quality Rating and Improvement System; (III) information, made available through a State website, describing the State process for licensing child care providers, the State processes for conducting background checks, and monitoring and inspections, of child care providers, and the offenses that prevent individuals and entities from serving as child care providers in the State; (IV) the availability of assistance to obtain child care services; (V) other programs for which families that receive child care services for which financial assistance is provided in accordance with this subchapter may be eligible, including the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families established under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq. 42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq. 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. 42 U.S.C. 1786 42 U.S.C. 1766 (VI) programs carried out under section 619 and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1419 (VII) research and best practices concerning children's development, including language and cognitive development, development of early language and literacy and mathematics skills, social and emotional development, meaningful parent and family engagement, and physical health and development (particularly healthy eating and physical activity); (ii) information on developmental screenings, including— (I) information on existing (as of the date of submission of the application containing the plan) resources and services the State can deploy, including the coordinated use of the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment program under the Medicaid program carried out under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) and developmental screening services available under section 619 and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.), in conducting developmental screenings and providing referrals to services, when appropriate, for children who receive assistance under this subchapter; and (II) a description of how a family or eligible child care provider may utilize the resources and services described in subclause (I) to obtain developmental screenings for children who receive assistance under this subchapter who may be at risk for cognitive or other developmental delays, which may include social, emotional, physical, or linguistic delays; and (iii) information, for parents receiving assistance under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq. (F) Compliance with State licensing requirements (i) In general The plan shall include a certification that the State involved has in effect licensing requirements applicable to child care services provided within the State, and provide a detailed description of such requirements and of how such requirements are effectively enforced. (ii) License exemption If the State uses funding received under this subchapter to support a child care provider that is exempt from the corresponding licensing requirements described in clause (i), the plan shall include a description stating why such licensing exemption does not endanger the health, safety, or development of children who receive services from child care providers who are exempt from such requirements. (iii) Requests for relief As described in section 658I(d), a State may request relief from a provision of Federal law other than this subchapter that might conflict with a requirement of this subchapter, including a licensing requirement. (G) Training requirements (i) In general The plan shall describe the training requirements that are in effect within the State that are designed to enable child care providers to promote the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of children and that are applicable to child care providers that provide services for which assistance is provided in accordance with this subchapter in the State. (ii) Requirements The plan shall provide an assurance that such training requirements— (I) provide a set of workforce and competency standards for child care providers that provide services described in clause (i); (II) are developed in consultation with the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care (designated or established pursuant to section 642B(b)(1)(A)(i) of the Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9837b(b)(1)(A)(i) (III) include an evidence-based training framework that is designed to promote children's learning and development and school readiness and to improve child outcomes, including school readiness; (IV) incorporate knowledge and application of the State's early learning and developmental guidelines (where applicable), and the State's child development and health standards; and (V) to the extent practicable, are appropriate for a population of children that includes— (aa) different age groups (such as infants, toddlers, and preschoolers); (bb) English learners; (cc) children with disabilities; and (dd) Native Americans, including Indians, as the term is defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 450b (iii) Progression of professional development In developing the requirements, the State shall develop a statewide progression of professional development designed to improve the skills and knowledge of the workforce— (I) which may include the acquisition of course credit in postsecondary education or of a credential, aligned with the framework; and (II) which shall be accessible to providers supported through Indian tribes or tribal organizations that receive assistance under this subchapter. (iv) Alignment The State shall engage the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care, and may engage institutions of higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002 (v) Credentials The Secretary shall not require an individual or entity that provides child care services for which assistance is provided in accordance with this subchapter to acquire a credential to provide such services. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a State from requiring a credential. (H) Child-to-provider ratio standards (i) Standards The plan shall describe child care standards, for child care for which assistance is made available in accordance with this subchapter, appropriate to the type of child care setting involved, that address— (I) group size limits for specific age populations; (II) the appropriate ratio between the number of children and the number of providers, in terms of the age of the children in child care, as determined by the State; and (III) required qualifications for such providers. (ii) Construction The Secretary may offer guidance to States on child-to-provider ratios described in clause (i) according to setting and age group but shall not require that States maintain specific child-to-provider ratios for providers who receive assistance under this subchapter. (I) Health and safety requirements The plan shall include a certification that there are in effect within the State, under State or local law, requirements designed to protect the health and safety of children that are applicable to child care providers that provide services for which assistance is made available in accordance with this subchapter. Such requirements— (i) shall relate to matters including health and safety topics (including prevention of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma) consisting of— (I) the prevention and control of infectious diseases (including immunization) and the establishment of a grace period that allows homeless children to receive services under this subchapter while their families are taking any necessary action to comply with immunization and other health and safety requirements; (II) handwashing and universal health precautions; (III) the administration of medication, consistent with standards for parental consent; (IV) the prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and other allergic reactions; (V) prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and use of safe sleeping practices; (VI) sanitary methods of food handling; (VII) building and physical premises safety; (VIII) emergency preparedness and response planning for emergencies resulting from a natural disaster, or a man-caused event (such as violence at a child care facility), within the meaning of those terms under section 602(a)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5195a(a)(1)); (IX) the handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of biocontaminants; (X) identification of and protection from hazards that can cause bodily injury such as electrical hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic; (XI) for providers that offer transportation, if applicable, appropriate precautions in transporting children; (XII) first aid and car­dio­pul­mo­nary resuscitation; and (XIII) minimum health and safety training, to be completed pre-service or during an orientation period, appropriate to the provider setting involved that addresses each of the requirements relating to matters described in subclauses (I) through (XII); and (ii) may include requirements relating to nutrition, access to physical activity, or any other subject area determined by the State to be necessary to promote child development or to protect children's health and safety. (J) Compliance with State and local health and safety requirements The plan shall include a certification that procedures are in effect to ensure that child care providers within the State, that provide services for which assistance is made available in accordance with this subchapter, comply with all applicable State and local health and safety requirements as described in subparagraph (I). (K) Enforcement of licensing and other regulatory requirements (i) Certification The plan shall include a certification that the State, not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 (I) ensure that individuals who are hired as licensing inspectors in the State are qualified to inspect those child care providers and facilities and have received training in related health and safety requirements, child development, child abuse prevention and detection, program management, and relevant law enforcement; (II) require licensing inspectors (or qualified inspectors designated by the lead agency) of those child care providers and facilities to perform inspections, with— (aa) not less than 1 prelicensure inspection for compliance with health, safety, and fire standards, of each such child care provider and facility in the State; and (bb) not less than annually, an inspection (which shall be unannounced) of each such child care provider and facility in the State for compliance with all child care licensing standards, which shall include an inspection for compliance with health, safety, and fire standards (although inspectors may or may not inspect for compliance with all 3 standards at the same time); and (III) require the ratio of licensing inspectors to such child care providers and facilities in the State to— (aa) be maintained at a level sufficient to enable the State to conduct inspections of such child care providers and facilities on a timely basis in accordance with Federal and State law; and (bb) be consistent with research findings and best practices. (ii) Construction The Secretary may offer guidance to a State, if requested by the State, on a research-based minimum standard regarding ratios described in clause (i)(III) and provide technical assistance to the State on meeting the minimum standard within a reasonable time period, but shall not prescribe a particular ratio. (L) Compliance with child abuse reporting requirements The plan shall include a certification that child care providers within the State will comply with the child abuse reporting requirements of section 106(b)(2)(B)(i) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5106a(b)(2)(B)(i) (M) Meeting the needs of certain populations The plan shall describe how the State will develop and implement strategies (which may include the provision of compensation at higher payment rates and bonuses to child care providers, the provision of direct contracts or grants to community-based organizations, or other means determined by the State) to increase the supply and improve the quality of child care for— (i) children in underserved areas; (ii) infants and toddlers; (iii) children with disabilities, as defined by the State; and (iv) children who receive care during nontraditional hours. (N) Protection for working parents (i) Minimum period (I) 12-month period The plan shall demonstrate that each child who receives assistance under this subchapter in the State will be considered to meet all eligibility requirements for such assistance and will receive such assistance, for not less than 12 months before the State redetermines the eligibility of the child under this subchapter, regardless of a temporary change in the ongoing status of the child's parent as working or attending a job training or educational program or a change in family income for the child's family, if that family income does not exceed 85 percent of the State median income for a family of the same size. (II) Fluctuations in earnings The plan shall demonstrate how the State's processes for initial determination and redetermination of such eligibility take into account irregular fluctuations in earnings. (ii) Redetermination process The plan shall describe the procedures and policies that are in place to ensure that working parents (especially parents in families receiving assistance under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq. (iii) Period before termination At the option of the State, the plan shall demonstrate that the State will not terminate assistance provided to carry out this subchapter based on a factor consisting of a parent's loss of work or cessation of attendance at a job training or educational program for which the family was receiving the assistance, without continuing the assistance for a reasonable period of time, of not less than 3 months, after such loss or cessation in order for the parent to engage in a job search and resume work, or resume attendance at a job training or educational program, as soon as possible. (iv) Graduated phaseout of care The plan shall describe the policies and procedures that are in place to allow for provision of continued assistance to carry out this subchapter, at the beginning of a new eligibility period under clause (i)(I), for children of parents who are working or attending a job training or educational program and whose family income exceeds the State's income limit to initially qualify for such assistance, if the family income for the family involved does not exceed 85 percent of the State median income for a family of the same size. (O) Coordination with other programs (i) In general The plan shall describe how the State, in order to expand accessibility and continuity of quality early childhood education and care, and assist children enrolled in prekindergarten, Early Head Start, or Head Start programs to receive full-day services, will coordinate the services supported to carry out this subchapter with— (I) programs carried out under the Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq. (II) programs carried out under part A of title I, and part B of title IV, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq. (III) programs carried out under section 619 and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1419 (IV) the maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting programs authorized under section 511 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 711 Public Law 111–148 (V) State, Indian tribe or tribal organization, and locally funded early childhood education and care programs; (VI) programs serving homeless children and services of local educational agency liaisons for homeless children and youths designated under subsection (g)(1)(J)(ii) of section 722 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)); and (VII) other Federal programs supporting early childhood education and care activities, and, where applicable, child care programs funded through State veterans affairs offices. (ii) Rule of construction Nothing in clause (i) shall be construed to affect the priority of children described in clause (i) to receive full-day prekindergarten or Head Start program services. (P) Public-private partnerships The plan shall demonstrate how the State encourages partnerships among State agencies, other public agencies, Indian tribes and tribal organizations, and private entities to leverage existing service delivery systems (as of the date of the submission of the application containing the plan) for early childhood education and care and to increase the supply and quality of child care services for children who are less than 13 years of age, such as by implementing voluntary shared services alliance models. (Q) Priority for low-income populations The plan shall describe the process the State proposes to use, with respect to investments made to increase access to programs providing high-quality early childhood education and care, to give priority for those investments to children of families in areas that have significant concentrations of poverty and unemployment and that do not have such programs. (R) Consultation The plan shall include a certification that the State has developed the plan in consultation with the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care designated or established pursuant to section 642B(b)(1)(A)(i) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837b(b)(1)(A)(i)). (S) Payment practices The plan shall include a certification that the payment practices of child care providers in the State that serve children who receive assistance under this subchapter reflect generally accepted payment practices of child care providers in the State that serve children who do not receive assistance under this subchapter, so as to provide stability of funding and encourage more child care providers to serve children who receive assistance under this subchapter. (T) Early learning and developmental guidelines (i) In general The plan shall include an assurance that the State will develop or implement early learning and developmental guidelines that are appropriate for children from birth through entry into kindergarten, describing what such children should know and be able to do, and covering the essential domains of early childhood education and care and early childhood development for use statewide by child care providers. Such child care providers shall— (I) be licensed or regulated under State law; and (II) not be a relative of all children for whom the provider provides child care services. (ii) Alignment The guidelines shall be research-based, developmentally appropriate, and aligned with State standards for education in kindergarten through grade 3. (iii) Prohibition on use of funds The plan shall include an assurance that funds received by the State to carry out this subchapter will not be used to develop or implement an assessment for children that— (I) will be the sole basis for a child care provider being determined to be ineligible to participate in the program carried out under this subchapter; (II) will be used as the primary or sole basis to provide a reward or sanction for an individual provider; (III) will be used as the primary or sole method for assessing program effectiveness; or (IV) will be used to deny eligibility to participate in the program carried out under this subchapter. (iv) Exceptions Nothing in this subchapter shall preclude the State from using a single assessment (if appropriate) for children for— (I) supporting learning or improving a classroom environment; (II) targeting professional development to a provider; (III) determining the need for health, mental health, disability, developmental delay, or family support services; (IV) obtaining information for the quality improvement process at the State level; or (V) conducting a program evaluation for the purposes of providing program improvement and parent information. (v) No Federal control Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize an officer or employee of the Federal Government to— (I) mandate, direct, or control a State's early learning and developmental guidelines, developed in accordance with this section; (II) establish any criterion that specifies, defines, or prescribes the standards or measures that a State uses to establish, implement, or improve— (aa) early learning and developmental guidelines, or early learning standards, assessments, or accountability systems; or (bb) alignment of early learning and developmental guidelines with State standards for education in kindergarten through grade 3; or (III) require a State to submit such standards or measures for review. ; (3) in paragraph (3)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking as required under in accordance with (B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) by striking The State (i) In general The State ; (ii) by striking and any other activity that the State deems appropriate to realize any of the goals specified in paragraphs (2) through (5) of section 658A(b) activities that improve access to child care services, including use of procedures to permit immediate enrollment (after the initial eligibility determination and after a child is determined to be eligible) of homeless children while required documentation is obtained, training and technical assistance on identifying and serving homeless children and their families, and specific outreach to homeless families, and any other activity that the State determines to be appropriate to meet the purposes of this subchapter (which may include an activity described in clause (ii)) (iii) by adding at the end the following: (ii) Child care resource and referral system (I) In general A State may use amounts described in clause (i) to establish or support a system of local or regional child care resource and referral organizations that is coordinated, to the extent determined appropriate by the State, by a statewide public or private nonprofit, community-based or regionally based, lead child care resource and referral organization. (II) Local or regional organizations The local or regional child care resource and referral organizations supported as described in subclause (I) shall— (aa) provide parents in the State with consumer education information referred to in paragraph (2)(E) (except as otherwise provided in that paragraph), concerning the full range of child care options, analyzed by provider, including child care provided during nontraditional hours and through emergency child care centers, in their political subdivisions or regions; (bb) to the extent practicable, work directly with families who receive assistance under this subchapter to offer the families support and assistance, using information described in item (aa), to make an informed decision about which child care providers they will use, in an effort to ensure that the families are enrolling their children in high-quality care; (cc) collect and analyze data on the coordination of services and supports, including services under section 619 and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1419 20 U.S.C. 1401 (dd) collect and analyze data on the supply of and demand for child care in political subdivisions or regions within the State and submit such data and analysis to the State; (ee) work to establish partnerships with public agencies and private entities to increase the supply and quality of child care services in the State; and (ff) as appropriate, coordinate their activities with the activities of the State lead agency and local agencies that administer funds made available in accordance with this subchapter. ; (C) in subparagraph (D)— (i) by striking 1997 through 2002 2015 through 2020 (ii) by striking families described in paragraph (2)(H) families with children described in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of paragraph (2)(M) (D) by adding at the end the following: (E) Direct services From amounts provided to a State for a fiscal year to carry out this subchapter, the State shall— (i) reserve the minimum amount required to be reserved under section 658G, and the funds for costs described in subparagraph (C); and (ii) from the remainder, use not less than 70 percent to fund direct services (provided by the State) in accordance with paragraph (2)(A). ; (4) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: (4) Payment rates (A) In general The State plan shall certify that payment rates for the provision of child care services for which assistance is provided in accordance with this subchapter are sufficient to ensure equal access for eligible children to child care services that are comparable to child care services in the State or substate area involved that are provided to children whose parents are not eligible to receive assistance under this subchapter or to receive child care assistance under any other Federal or State program and shall provide a summary of the facts relied on by the State to determine that such rates are sufficient to ensure such access. (B) Survey The State plan shall— (i) demonstrate that the State has, after consulting with the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care designated or established in section 642B(b)(1)(A)(i) of the Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9837b(b)(1)(A)(i) (ii) demonstrate that the State prepared a detailed report containing the results of the State market rates survey conducted pursuant to clause (i), and made the results of the survey widely available (not later than 30 days after the completion of such survey) through periodic means, including posting the results on the Internet; (iii) describe how the State will set payment rates for child care services, for which assistance is provided in accordance with this subchapter— (I) in accordance with the results of the market rates survey conducted pursuant to clause (i); (II) taking into consideration the cost of providing higher quality child care services than were provided under this subchapter before the date of enactment of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 (III) without, to the extent practicable, reducing the number of families in the State receiving such assistance to carry out this subchapter, relative to the number of such families on the date of enactment of that Act; and (iv) describe how the State will provide for timely payment for child care services provided in accordance with this subchapter. (C) Construction (i) No private right of action Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to create a private right of action. (ii) No prohibition of certain different rates Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to prevent a State from differentiating the payment rates described in subparagraph (B)(iii) on the basis of such factors as— (I) geographic location of child care providers (such as location in an urban or rural area); (II) the age or particular needs of children (such as the needs of children with disabilities and children served by child protective services); (III) whether the providers provide child care during weekend and other nontraditional hours; or (IV) the State's determination that such differentiated payment rates are needed to enable a parent to choose child care that is of high quality. ; and (5) in paragraph (5), by inserting (that is not a barrier to families receiving assistance under this subchapter) cost sharing (c) Technical amendment Section 658F(b)(2) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9858d(b)(2) section 658E(c)(2)(F) section 658E(c)(2)(I) 6. Activities to improve the quality of child care Section 658G of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9858e 658G. Activities to improve the quality of child care (a) Reservation (1) Reservation for activities relating to the quality of child care services A State that receives funds to carry out this subchapter for a fiscal year referred to in paragraph (2) shall reserve and use a portion of such funds, in accordance with paragraph (2), for activities provided directly, or through grants or contracts with local child care resource and referral organizations or other appropriate entities, that are designed to improve the quality of child care services and increase parental options for, and access to, high-quality child care, provided in accordance with this subchapter. (2) Amount of reservations Such State shall reserve and use— (A) to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1), not less than— (i) 6 percent of the funds described in paragraph (1), for the first and second full fiscal years after the date of enactment of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014; (ii) 8 percent of such funds, for the third and fourth full fiscal years after the date of enactment; and (iii) 10 percent of such funds, for the fifth full fiscal year after the date of enactment and each succeeding fiscal year; and (B) in addition to the funds reserved under subparagraph (A), 3 percent of the funds described in paragraph (1), for the first full fiscal year after the date of enactment and each succeeding fiscal year, to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1) and subsection (b)(4), as such activities relate to the quality of care for infants and toddlers. (b) Activities Funds reserved under subsection (a) shall be used to carry out not fewer than 2 of the following activities: (1) Supporting the training, professional development, and professional advancement of the child care workforce through activities such as— (A) offering child care providers training and professional development that is intentional and sequential and leads to a higher level of skill or certification; (B) establishing or supporting programs designed to increase the retention and improve the competencies of child care providers, including wage incentive programs and initiatives that establish tiered payment rates for providers that meet or exceed child care services guidelines, as defined by the State; (C) offering training, professional development, and educational opportunities for child care providers that relate to the use of developmentally appropriate and age-appropriate curricula, and early childhood teaching strategies, that are scientifically based and aligned with the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of children, including offering specialized training for child care providers who care for infants and toddlers, children who are English learners, and children with disabilities (as defined in section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1401 (D) providing training concerning the State early learning and developmental guidelines, where applicable, including training concerning early mathematics and early language and literacy development and effective instructional practices to support mathematics and language and literacy development in young children; (E) incorporating effective use of data to guide instruction and program improvement; (F) including effective behavior management strategies and training, including positive behavioral interventions and supports, that promote positive social and emotional development and reduce challenge behaviors; (G) at the option of the State, incorporating feedback from experts at the State’s institutions of higher education, as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002 (H) providing training corresponding to the nutritional and physical activity needs of children to promote healthy development; (I) providing training or professional development for child care providers to serve and support children with disabilities; (J) providing training and outreach on engaging parents and families in culturally and linguistically appropriate ways to expand their knowledge, skills, and capacity to become meaningful partners in supporting their children's learning and development; and (K) providing training or professional development for child care providers regarding the early neurological development of children. (2) Supporting the use of the early learning and developmental guidelines described in section 658E(c)(2)(T) by— (A) developing and implementing the State’s early learning and developmental guidelines; and (B) providing technical assistance to enhance early learning for preschool and school-aged children in order to promote language and literacy skills, foster school readiness, and support later school success. (3) Developing and implementing a tiered quality rating system for child care providers, which shall— (A) support and assess the quality of child care providers in the State; (B) build on licensing standards and other State regulatory standards for such providers; (C) be designed to improve the quality of different types of child care providers; (D) describe the quality of early learning facilities; (E) build the capacity of State early childhood education and care programs and communities to promote parents’ and families’ understanding of the State’s early childhood education and care system and the ratings of the programs in which the child is enrolled; and (F) provide, to the maximum extent practicable, financial incentives and other supports designed to help child care providers achieve and sustain higher levels of quality. (4) Improving the supply and quality of child care programs and services for infants and toddlers through activities, which may include— (A) establishing or expanding neighborhood-based high-quality comprehensive family and child development centers, which may serve as resources to child care providers in order to improve the quality of early childhood education and care and early childhood development services provided to infants and toddlers from low-income families and to help eligible child care providers improve their capacity to offer high-quality care to infants and toddlers from low-income families; (B) establishing or expanding the operation of community or neighborhood-based family child care networks; (C) supporting statewide networks of infant and toddler child care specialists, including specialists who have knowledge regarding infant and toddler development and curriculum and program implementation as well as the ability to coordinate services with early intervention specialists who provide services for infants and toddlers with disabilities under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq. (D) carrying out initiatives to improve the quality of the infant and toddler child care workforce, such as providing relevant training, professional development, or mentoring opportunities and linking such opportunities to career pathways, developing career pathways for providers in such workforce, and improving the State cre­den­tial­ing of eligible providers caring for infants and toddlers; (E) if applicable, developing infant and toddler components within the State’s quality rating system described in paragraph (3) for child care providers for infants and toddlers, or the development of infant and toddler components in a State’s child care licensing regulations or early learning and developmental guidelines; (F) improving the ability of parents to access information about high-quality infant and toddler care; and (G) carrying out other activities determined by the State to improve the quality of infant and toddler care provided in the State, and for which there is evidence that the activities will lead to improved infant and toddler health and safety, infant and toddler development, or infant and toddler well-being, including providing training (including training in safe sleep practices, first aid, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation). (5) Promoting broad child care provider participation in the quality rating system described in paragraph (3). (6) Establishing or expanding a statewide system of child care resource and referral services. (7) Facilitating compliance with State requirements for inspection, monitoring, training, and health and safety, and with State licensing standards. (8) Evaluating and assessing the quality and effectiveness of child care programs and services offered in the State, including evaluating how such programs and services may improve the overall school readiness of young children. (9) Supporting child care providers in the pursuit of accreditation by an established national accrediting body with demonstrated, valid, and reliable program standards of high quality. (10) Supporting State or local efforts to develop or adopt high-quality program standards relating to health, mental health, nutrition, physical activity, and physical development and providing resources to enable eligible child care providers to meet, exceed, or sustain success in meeting or exceeding, such standards. (11) Carrying out other activities determined by the State to improve the quality of child care services provided in the State, and for which measurement of outcomes relating to improved provider preparedness, child safety, child well-being, or school readiness is possible. (c) Certification Beginning with fiscal year 2015, at the beginning of each fiscal year, the State shall annually submit to the Secretary a certification containing an assurance that the State was in compliance with subsection (a) during the preceding fiscal year and a description of how the State used funds received under this subchapter to comply with subsection (a) during that preceding fiscal year. (d) Reporting Requirements Each State receiving funds under this subchapter shall prepare and submit an annual report to the Secretary, which shall include information about— (1) the amount of funds that are reserved under subsection (a); (2) the activities carried out under this section; and (3) the measures that the State will use to evaluate the State's progress in improving the quality of child care programs and services in the State. (e) Technical assistance The Secretary shall offer technical assistance, in accordance with section 658I(a)(3), which may include technical assistance through the use of grants or cooperative agreements, to States for the activities described in subsection (b). (f) Construction Nothing in this section shall be construed as providing the Secretary the authority to regulate, direct, or dictate State child care quality activities or progress in implementing those activities. . 7. Criminal background checks The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq. 658H. Criminal background checks (a) In general A State that receives funds to carry out this subchapter shall have in effect— (1) requirements, policies, and procedures to require and conduct criminal background checks for child care staff members (including prospective child care staff members) of child care providers described in subsection (c)(1); and (2) licensing, regulation, and registration requirements, as applicable, that prohibit the employment of child care staff members as described in subsection (c). (b) Requirements A criminal background check for a child care staff member under subsection (a) shall include— (1) a search of each State criminal and sex offender registry or repository in the State where the child care staff member resides and each State where such staff member resided during the preceding 10 years; (2) a search of State-based child abuse and neglect registries and databases in the State where the child care staff member resides and each State where such staff member resided during the preceding 10 years; (3) a search of the National Crime Information Center; (4) a Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint check using the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System; and (5) a search of the National Sex Offender Registry established under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 ( 42 U.S.C. 16901 et seq. (c) Prohibitions (1) Child care staff members A child care staff member shall be ineligible for employment by a child care provider that is licensed, regulated, or registered by the State or for which assistance is provided in accordance with this subchapter, if such individual— (A) refuses to consent to the criminal background check described in subsection (b); (B) knowingly makes a materially false statement in connection with such criminal background check; (C) is registered, or is required to be registered, on a State sex offender registry or repository or the National Sex Offender Registry established under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 ( 42 U.S.C. 16901 et seq. (D) has been convicted of a felony consisting of— (i) murder, as described in section 1111 (ii) child abuse or neglect; (iii) a crime against children, including child pornography; (iv) spousal abuse; (v) a crime involving rape or sexual assault; (vi) kidnaping; (vii) arson; (viii) physical assault or battery; or (ix) subject to subsection (e)(4), a drug-related offense committed during the preceding 5 years. (2) Child care providers A child care provider described in paragraph (1) shall be ineligible for assistance provided in accordance with this subchapter if the provider employs a staff member who is ineligible for employment under paragraph (1). (d) Submission of requests for background checks (1) In general A child care provider covered by subsection (c) shall submit a request, to the appropriate State agency designated by a State, for a criminal background check described in subsection (b), for each child care staff member (including prospective child care staff members) of the provider. (2) Staff members Subject to paragraph (4), in the case of an individual who became a child care staff member before the date of enactment of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014, the provider shall submit such a request— (A) prior to the last day described in subsection (i)(1); and (B) not less often than once during each 5-year period following the first submission date under this paragraph for that staff member. (3) Prospective staff members Subject to paragraph (4), in the case of an individual who is a prospective child care staff member on or after that date of enactment, the provider shall submit such a request— (A) prior to the date the individual becomes a child care staff member of the provider; and (B) not less often than once during each 5-year period following the first submission date under this paragraph for that staff member. (4) Background check for another child care provider A child care provider shall not be required to submit a request under paragraph (2) or (3) for a child care staff member if— (A) the staff member received a background check described in subsection (b)— (i) within 5 years before the latest date on which such a submission may be made; and (ii) while employed by or seeking employment by another child care provider within the State; (B) the State provided to the first provider a qualifying background check result, consistent with this subchapter, for the staff member; and (C) the staff member is employed by a child care provider within the State, or has been separated from employment from a child care provider within the State for a period of not more than 180 consecutive days. (e) Background check results and appeals (1) Background check results The State shall carry out the request of a child care provider for a criminal background check as expeditiously as possible, but in not to exceed 45 days after the date on which such request was submitted, and shall provide the results of the criminal background check to such provider and to the current or prospective staff member. (2) Privacy (A) In General The State shall provide the results of the criminal background check to the provider in a statement that indicates whether a child care staff member (including a prospective child care staff member) is eligible or ineligible for employment described in subsection (c), without revealing any disqualifying crime or other related information regarding the individual. (B) Ineligible staff member If the child care staff member is ineligible for such employment due to the background check, the State will, when providing the results of the background check, include information related to each disqualifying crime, in a report to the staff member or prospective staff member. (C) Public release of results No State shall publicly release or share the results of individual background checks, however, such results of background checks may be included in the development or dissemination of local or statewide data related to background checks, if such results are not individually identifiable. (3) Appeals (A) In General The State shall provide for a process by which a child care staff member (including a prospective child care staff member) may appeal the results of a criminal background check conducted under this section to challenge the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in such member’s criminal background report. (B) Appeals process The State shall ensure that— (i) each child care staff member shall be given notice of the opportunity to appeal; (ii) a child care staff member will receive instructions about how to complete the appeals process if the child care staff member wishes to challenge the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in such member's criminal background report; and (iii) the appeals process is completed in a timely manner for each child care staff member. (4) Review The State may allow for a review process through which the State may determine that a child care staff member (including a prospective child care staff member) disqualified for a crime specified in subsection (c)(1)(D)(ix) is eligible for employment described in subsection (c)(1), notwithstanding subsection (c). The review process shall be consistent with title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq. (5) No private right of action Nothing in this section shall be construed to create a private right of action if the provider is in compliance with State regulations and requirements. (f) Fees for background checks Fees that a State may charge for the costs of processing applications and administering a criminal background check as required by this section shall not exceed the actual costs to the State for the processing and administration. (g) Construction (1) Disqualification for other crimes Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a State from disqualifying individuals as child care staff members based on their conviction for crimes not specifically listed in this section that bear upon the fitness of an individual to provide care for and have responsibility for the safety and well-being of children. (2) Rights and Remedies Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter or otherwise affect the rights and remedies provided for child care staff members residing in a State that disqualifies individuals as child care staff members for crimes not specifically provided for under this section. (h) Definitions In this section— (1) the term child care provider (A) is not an individual who is related to all children for whom child care services are provided; and (B) is licensed, regulated, or registered under State law or receives assistance provided in accordance with this subchapter; and (2) the term child care staff member (A) who is employed by a child care provider for compensation; (B) whose activities involve the care or supervision of children for a child care provider or unsupervised access to children who are cared for or supervised by a child care provider; or (C) who is a family child care provider. (i) Effective date (1) In general A State that receives funds under this subchapter shall meet the requirements of this section for the provision of criminal background checks for child care staff members described in subsection (d)(1) not later than the last day of the second full fiscal year after the date of enactment of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014. (2) Extension The Secretary may grant a State an extension of time, of not more than 1 fiscal year, to meet the requirements of this section if the State demonstrates a good faith effort to comply with the requirements of this section. (3) Penalty for noncompliance Except as provided in paragraphs (1) and (2), for any fiscal year that a State fails to comply substantially with the requirements of this section, the Secretary shall withhold 5 percent of the funds that would otherwise be allocated to that State in accordance with this subchapter for the following fiscal year. . 8. Reports and information (a) Administration Section 658I of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858g) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (2)— (i) by inserting a comma after publish (ii) by striking and (B) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following: (3) provide technical assistance to States (which may include providing assistance on a reimbursable basis), consistent with (as appropriate) scientifically valid research, to carry out this subchapter; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (4) disseminate, for voluntary informational purposes, information on practices that scientifically valid research indicates are most successful in improving the quality of programs that receive assistance under this subchapter. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (c) Prohibition Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed as providing the Secretary the authority to permit States to alter the eligibility requirements for eligible children, including work requirements that apply to the parents of eligible children. . (b) Requests for relief Section 658I of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by adding at the end the following: (d) Request for relief (1) In general The State may submit to the Secretary a request for relief from any provision of Federal law (including a regulation, policy, or procedure) affecting the delivery of child care services with Federal funds, other than this subchapter, that conflicts with a requirement of this subchapter. (2) Contents Such request shall— (A) detail the provision of Federal law that conflicts with that requirement; (B) describe how modifying compliance with that provision of Federal law to meet the requirements of this subchapter will, by itself, improve delivery of child care services for children in the State; and (C) certify that the health, safety, and well-being of children served through assistance received under this subchapter will not be compromised as a result. (3) Consultation The Secretary shall consult with the State submitting the request and the head of each Federal agency (other than the Secretary) with responsibility for administering the Federal law detailed in the State’s request. The consulting parties shall jointly identify— (A) any provision of Federal law (including a regulation, policy, or procedure) for which a waiver is necessary to enable the State to provide services in accordance with the request; and (B) any corresponding waiver. (4) Waivers Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and after the joint identification described in paragraph (3), the head of the Federal agency involved shall have the authority to waive any statutory provision administered by that agency, or any regulation, policy, or procedure issued by that agency, that has been so identified, unless the head of the Federal agency determines that such a waiver is inconsistent with the objectives of this subchapter or the Federal law from which relief is sought. (5) Approval Within 90 days after the receipt of a State’s request under this subsection, the Secretary shall inform the State of the Secretary’s approval or disapproval of the request. If the plan is disapproved, the Secretary shall inform the State, in writing, of the reasons for the disapproval and give the State the opportunity to amend the request. (6) Duration The Secretary may approve a request under this subsection for a period of not more than 3 years, and may renew the approval for additional periods of not more than 3 years. (7) Termination The Secretary shall terminate approval of a request for relief authorized under this subsection if the Secretary determines, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, that the performance of a State granted relief under this subsection has been inadequate, or if such relief is no longer necessary to achieve its original purposes. . (c) Reports Section 658K(a) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858i(a)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)(B)— (A) in clause (ix), by striking and (B) in clause (x), by inserting and (C) by inserting after clause (x), the following: (xi) whether the children receiving assistance under this subchapter are homeless children; ; and (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 1997 2014 (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking section 658P(5) section 658P(6) (d) Report by Secretary Section 658L of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9858j (1) by striking the section heading and inserting the following: 658L. Reports, hotline, and Web site ; (2) by striking Not later (a) Report by Secretary Not later ; (3) by striking 1998 2016 (4) by striking to the Committee of the Senate to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate (5) by adding at the end the following: (b) National toll-Free hotline and Web site (1) In general The Secretary shall operate a national toll-free hotline and Web site, to— (A) develop and disseminate publicly available child care consumer education information for parents and help parents access safe, affordable, and quality child care in their community; and (B) to allow persons to report (anonymously if desired) suspected child abuse or neglect, or violations of health and safety requirements, by an eligible child care provider that receives assistance under this subchapter. (2) Requirements The Secretary shall ensure that the hotline and Web site meet the following requirements: (A) Referral to local child care providers The Web site shall be hosted by childcare.gov (B) Information The Web site shall provide to consumers, directly or through linkages to State databases, at a minimum— (i) a localized list of all State licensed child care providers; (ii) any provider-specific information from a Quality Rating and Improvement System or information about other quality indicators, to the extent the information is publicly available and to the extent practicable; (iii) any other provider-specific information about compliance with licensing, and health and safety, requirements to the extent the information is publicly available and to the extent practicable; (iv) referrals to local resource and referral organizations from which consumers can find more information about child care providers, and a recommendation that consumers consult with the organizations when selecting a child care provider; and (v) State information about child care subsidy programs and other financial supports available to families. (C) Nationwide capacity The Web site and hotline shall have the capacity to help families in every State and community in the Nation. (D) Information at all hours The Web site shall provide, to parents and families, access to information about child care 24 hours a day. (E) Services in different languages The Web site and hotline shall ensure the widest possible access to services for families who speak languages other than English. (F) High-quality consumer education and referral The Web site and hotline shall ensure that families have access to child care consumer education and referral services that are consistent and of high quality. (3) Prohibition Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to allow the Secretary to compel States to provide additional data and information that is currently (as of the date of enactment of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 . 9. Reservation for toll-free hotline and Web site; payments to benefit Indian children Section 658O of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9858m (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following: (3) National toll-free hotline and Web site The Secretary shall reserve not less than $1,000,000 of the amount appropriated under this subchapter for each fiscal year for the operation of a national toll-free hotline and Web site, under section 658L(b). ; and (2) in subsection (c)(2), by adding at the end the following: (D) Licensing and standards In lieu of any licensing and regulatory requirements applicable under State or local law, the Secretary, in consultation with Indian tribes and tribal organizations, shall develop minimum child care standards that shall be applicable to Indian tribes and tribal organizations receiving assistance under this subchapter. Such standards shall appropriately reflect Indian tribe and tribal organization needs and available resources, and shall include standards requiring a publicly available application, health and safety standards, and standards requiring a reservation of funds for activities to improve the quality of child care provided to Indian children. . 10. Definitions Section 658P of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9858n (1) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: (3) Child with a disability The term child with a disability (A) a child with a disability, as defined in section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1401 (B) a child who is eligible for early intervention services under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq. (C) a child who is less than 13 years of age and who is eligible for services under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ( 29 U.S.C. 794 (D) a child with a disability, as defined by the State involved. (4) Eligible child The term eligible child (A) who is less than 13 years of age; (B) whose family income does not exceed 85 percent of the State median income for a family of the same size; and (C) who— (i) resides with a parent or parents who are working or attending a job training or educational program; or (ii) is receiving, or needs to receive, protective services and resides with a parent or parents not described in clause (i). ; (2) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (9) as paragraphs (6) through (10), respectively; (3) by inserting after paragraph (4), the following: (5) English learner The term English learner 20 U.S.C. 7801 ; (4) in paragraph (6)(A), as redesignated by paragraph (2)— (A) in clause (i), by striking section 658E(c)(2)(E) section 658E(c)(2)(F) (B) in clause (ii), by striking section 658E(c)(2)(F) section 658E(c)(2)(I) (5) in paragraph (9), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by striking designated designated or established under section 658D(a). (6) in paragraph (10), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by inserting , foster parent, guardian (7) by redesignating paragraphs (11) through (14) as paragraphs (12) through (15), respectively; and (8) by inserting after paragraph (10), as redesignated by paragraph (2), the following: (11) Scientifically valid research The term scientifically valid research . 11. Studies on waiting lists (a) Study The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct studies to determine, for each State, the number of families that— (1) are eligible to receive assistance under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq. (2) have applied for the assistance; and (3) have been placed on a waiting list for the assistance. (b) Report The Comptroller General shall prepare a report containing the results of each study and shall submit the report to the appropriate committees of Congress— (1) not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act; and (2) every 2 years thereafter. (c) Definition In this section, the term State 12. Conforming amendment Section 319C–1(b)(2)(A)(vii) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d–3a(b)(2)(A)(vii)) is amended by inserting or established designated February 25, 2014 Reported with an amendment

Summary: Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 - (Sec. 3) Reauthorizes the child care and development block grant (CCDBG) program under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (CCDBG Act) through FY2020 at specified levels. (Sec. 4) Allows governors to designate a collaborative agency or establish a joint interagency office to serve as the lead agency responsible for administering the CCDBG program. Requires the lead agency, at the option of an Indian tribe or organization in the state, to collaborate and coordinate with that tribe or tribal organization in the development of the state child care and development plan in a timely manner. (Sec. 5) Increases from two to three years the period that must be covered by a state child care and development plan. Revises and expands plan requirements, including, among others, those regarding state licensing, consumer and provider education information, training and professional development, child-to-provider ratios, health and safety, child abuse reporting, protection for working parents, priority for low-income populations, coordination with other programs, and the needs of children in child care services during the period before, during, and after a state of emergency, including a statewide child care disaster plan meeting specified criteria. Prescribes early learning and developmental guidelines. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, to report annually about whether each state uses funds allocated to it for the fiscal year involved in accordance with the specified priority for services. Authorizes a state to use funds to establish or support a system of local or regional child care resource and referral organizations. Requires the state plan to demonstrate that the state has developed and conducted (within the two years preceding submission of the application containing the state plan) a statistically valid and reliable survey of the market rates for child care services in the state or an alternative methodology, such as a cost estimation model. (Sec. 6) Revises requirements for activities to improve the quality of child care. Requires that states spend the following percentages of their program funding to improve the quality of child care: (1) at least 7% in the first two fiscal years after the enactment of this Act, (2) at least 8% in the third and fourth fiscal years, and (3) at least 9% in the fifth and each succeeding full fiscal year after enactment. Requires states to spend, in addition, at least 3% of such funds received by the second full fiscal year after enactment, and received for each succeeding full fiscal year, to improve the quality of care for infants and toddlers. Requires states receiving funds under the CCDBG Act to: (1) support training and professional development of the child care workforce, (2) improve development or use of early learning and developmental guidelines, (3) develop or enhance a tiered quality rating system for child care providers and services, and (4) improve the supply and quality of child care programs and services for infants and toddlers through specified activities. (Sec. 7) Requires any state receiving CCDBG funds to have in effect: (1) policies and procedures to require and conduct criminal background checks, with a 10-year look-back period, for current and prospective staff members of child care providers; and (2) licensing, regulation, and registration requirements that prohibit the employment of certain ineligible individuals as child care staff members. Requires a state to ensure that such policies and procedures are published on the websites of state and local lead agencies. Makes ineligible for employment by a child care provider receiving assistance under this Act any individual who: (1) refuses to consent to a criminal background check, (2) knowingly makes a materially false statement in connection with such a background check, (3) is registered or is required to be registered on a state sex offender registry or the National Sex Offender Registry, or (4) has been convicted of one or more specified felonies. Prescribes requirements for the process of background checks, including fees a state may charge. (Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to: (1) provide technical assistance to states (which may be on a reimbursable basis) by qualified experts on practices grounded in scientifically valid research to carry out the CCDBG Act; (2) disseminate, for voluntary informational purposes, information on practices that scientifically valid research indicates are most successful in improving the quality of programs that receive CCDBG assistance; and (3) after consultation with the heads of any other federal agencies involved, issue guidance and disseminate information on best practices regarding use of funding combined by the states. Authorizes the Secretary to waive, upon state request, for up to three years any provision under the CCDBG program, or sanctions imposed upon a state for noncompliance with requirements, if the Secretary makes certain findings, including that the waiver will, by itself, contribute to or enhance the states's ability to carry out CCDBG purposes. Declares that nothing shall be construed as granting the Secretary authority to permit states to alter the eligibility requirements for eligible children, including work requirements, job training, or educational program participation, that apply to the parents of eligible children. Requires states receiving CCDBG funds to collect monthly information on whether children receiving CCDBG assistance are homeless. Requires a state to report annually to the Secretary aggregate data on the number of child fatalities occurring among children while in the care and facility of child care providers receiving CCDBG assistance, listed by the type of child care provider and indicating whether the providers are licensed or license-exempt. Directs the Secretary to operate, directly or through the use of grants or contracts, a national toll-free hotline and website. Prohibits any quarterly state CCDBG reports to the Secretary from containing personally identifiable information. (Sec. 9) Revises the amount the Secretary is required to reserve from annual appropriations for CCDBG payments to Indian tribes and tribal organizations. Requires a reservation of 2% of such appropriations (currently, between 1% and 2%), but allows for a greater reservation in certain circumstances. Directs the Secretary to reserve up to $1.5 million of the amount appropriated for the CCDBG program each fiscal year for the operation of the national toll-free hotline and website. Requires the Secretary also to reserve up to 1/2 of 1% of CCDBG program appropriations each to: (1) support technical assistance and dissemination of information on practices most successful in improving the quality of programs receiving CCDBG assistance; and (2) conduct research and demonstration activities, as well as periodic external, independent evaluations of the impact of the CCDBG program on increasing access to, and improving the safety and quality of, child care services. Directs the Secretary, in consultation with Indian tribes and tribal organizations, to develop minimum child care standards applicable to any of them receiving CCDBG assistance. Requires the Secretary to waive the prohibition against tribal use of CCDBG funds for construction or renovation of child care facilities if it would decrease the level of child care services, in any case where: (1) the decrease is temporary, and (2) the level of child care services will increase or improve after the construction or renovation is completed. (Sec. 10) Defines "child with a disability" as one under age 13 who has a disability and is eligible for early intervention services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Caps the family assets of an "eligible child" at $1 million. (Sec. 11) Declares that nothing in the CCDBG Act shall be construed in a manner to: (1) favor or promote the use of grants and contracts for the receipt of child care services under the CCDBG Act over the use of child care certificates; or (2) disfavor or discourage the use of such certificates for the purchase of child care services, including those services provided by private or nonprofit entities, such as faith-based providers. (Sec. 12) Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to study the number of families eligible to receive assistance under the CCDBG Act, identified by the type of assistance requested, who have applied for it and been placed on a waiting list. (Sec. 13) Directs the Secretary, in conjunction with the Secretary of Education, to conduct an interdepartmental review of all early learning and care programs for children under age six.