Caring for Children Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-880
Sponsor: Sen. Gregg, Judd [R-NH]
Introduced: 2003-04-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Authorization
Block grants
Child care workers
Child development
Commerce
Congress
Congressional office buildings
Congressional reporting requirements
Consumer education
Courthouses
Curricula
Day care
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency Management
Evaluation research (Social action programs)
Federal aid to Indians
Federal installations
Federal office buildings
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Indian children
Internet
Labor and Employment
Law
Libraries
Library of Congress
Minorities
Poor children
Science, Technology, Communications
Small business
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Caring for Children Act of 2003 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (CCDBGA) to reauthorize appropriations and revise its provisions. Includes among CCDBGA goals early learning, school preparedness, and parental and involvement in the education of young children in child care settings.
Revises CCDBGA provisions for: (1) State plans, with respect to lead agencies, consumer and child care provider education information, use of block grant funds for child care resource and referral systems, direct services, and payment rates; (2) activities to improve the quality of child care, to include early learning and school preparedness standards; (3) optional priority use of additional funds; (4) reports and audits; (5) national activities; and (6) a child's eligibility based on a State-determined income level, with priority based on State-defined need.
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reserve specified amounts for: (1) annual grants to improve child care quality and access; and (2) a toll-free hotline.
Declares that nothing in CCDBGA shall be construed to require a State to impose State child care licensing requirements on any type of early child care provider.
Directs the following Federal officials to issue regulations concerning matters relating to occupant emergency plans, evacuations, and relocation sites for their respective child care facilities: (1) the Administrator of General Services, for executive facilities; (2) specified officers of the House and Senate, and the Librarian of Congress, for legislative facilities; and (3) the Director of the Office of the U.S. Courts, for judicial facilities.
Directs the Secretary of HHS to establish a demonstration program of competitive grants to States to help them provide funds to encourage the establishment and operation of small business employer-operated child care programs. Requires a State to give priority for such assistance to applicants that desire to form a consortium to provide child care in a geographic area within the State where such care is not generally available or accessible. Requires such a consortium to include at least one small business, and allows it to include other small businesses, nonprofit agencies or organizations, local governments, or other appropriate entities.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Caring for Children Act of 2003 - 
Title I: Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 - 
(Sec. 101) Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (CCDBGA) to include among CCDBGA goals early learning, school preparedness, and parental and involvement in the education of young children in child care settings.
(Sec. 102) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2008.
(Sec. 103) Revises CCDBGA provisions for: (1) State plans, with respect to lead agencies, consumer and child care provider education information, use of block grant funds for child care resource and referral systems, direct services, and payment rates; (2) activities to improve the quality of child care, to include early learning and school preparedness standards; (3) optional priority use of additional funds; (4) reports and audits; (5) national activities; and (6) a child's eligibility based on a State-determined income level, with priority based on State-defined need.
(Sec. 109) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reserve specified amounts for: (1) annual grants to improve child care quality and access; and (2) a toll-free hotline.
(Sec. 111) Declares that nothing in CCDBGA shall be construed to require a State to impose State child care licensing requirements on any type of early child care provider.

Title II: Enhancing Security at Child Care Centers in Federal Facilities - 
Directs the following Federal officials to issue regulations concerning matters relating to occupant emergency plans, evacuations, and relocation sites for their respective child care facilities: (1) the Administrator of General Services, for executive facilities; (2) specified officers of the House and Senate, and the Librarian of Congress, for legislative facilities; and (3) the Director of the Office of the U.S. Courts, for judicial facilities.

Title III: Removal of Barriers to Increasing the Supply of Quality Child Care - 
Directs the Secretary of HHS to establish a demonstration program of competitive grants to States to help them provide funds to encourage the establishment and operation of small business employer-operated child care programs. Requires a State to give priority for such assistance to applicants that desire to form a consortium to provide child care in a geographic area within the State where such care is not generally available or accessible. Requires such a consortium to include at least one small business, and allows it to include other small businesses, nonprofit agencies or organizations, local governments, or other appropriate entities.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-28
text: Star Print ordered on Senate Report 108-37.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 72.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Gregg. With written report No. 108-37. Additional views filed.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Gregg. With written report No. 108-37. Additional views filed.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Introduced in Senate
action_date: 2003-04-02
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions ordered to be reported an original measure.