2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 26.5 - EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS AND SERVICES (§§ 26.5-1-101 — 26.5-6-103) › Article 3 - FAMILY AND CHILD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING (§§ 26.5-3-101 — 26.5-3-904) › Part 8 - EMERGENCY RELIEF GRANT PROGRAMS (§§ 26.5-3-801 — 26.5-3-808) › Section 26.5-3-803 - Emerging and expanding child care grant program - created - timeline and criteria - grant awards - funding - definitions - repeal

(1)
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a)
"Child care center" has the same meaning as set forth in section
26.5-5-303
.
(b)
"Child care desert" means a community or area in the state where there are more than three children less than five years of age for each single available child care slot.
(c)
"Child care provider" or "provider" means a child care center or a family child care home that holds an open license in good standing with the department.
(d)
"Early childhood council" means an early childhood council identified or established locally in communities throughout the state pursuant to section
26.5-2-203
.
(e)
"Eligible entity" means a licensed child care provider that is open and operating or an applicant actively pursuing a child care provider license through the department's child care licensing and administration unit. "Eligible entity" includes family, friends, or neighbors who provide license-exempt child care pursuant to part 3 of article
5
of this title 26.5 but who are actively obtaining a license through the division within the department that is responsible for child care licensing and administration.
(f)
"Expansion" means licensed child care capacity expansion, by any means, for an existing licensed child care provider.
(g)
"Family child care home" has the same meaning as set forth in section
26.5-5-303
.
(h)
"Grant program" means the emerging and expanding child care grant program created in subsection (2) of this section.
(h.5)
"Grant recipient" means an eligible entity that receives a grant through the grant program.
(i)
"Open and operating" means a child care provider that is actively providing care for children and that has updated its operational status with the department's child care licensing and administration unit.
(2)
(a)
The emerging and expanding child care grant program is created in the department. The purpose of the grant program is to expand access and availability of licensed child care throughout the state.
(b)
An award from the grant program may be used for costs associated with expanding an open and operating child care center or family child care home or to assist an eligible entity with start up of a new child care center or family child care home. Costs may include, but are not limited to, staff training, background check fees, cleaning supplies, educational supplies, and capital and facility improvement costs.
(3)
(a)
The department shall create a process for soliciting, vetting, awarding, and monitoring grants through statewide early childhood councils.
(b)
To the extent practicable, early childhood councils may receive up to twenty-five percent of funding in advance in order to effectively administer grant funds and maintain business operations. The department shall offer technical assistance to applicants with their applications and grant recipients with implementation of their awards. The technical assistance may be offered to all eligible entities, as defined in subsection (1) of this section, and family, friend, and neighbor providers, as defined in section
26.5-3-808
. The department may also provide a grant recipient with a separate grant for technical assistance to implement the goals of the recipient's grant.
(4)
(a)
The department shall develop an application process for an eligible entity to follow when requesting a grant from the grant program. The application must include the award criteria set forth in subsection (4)(c) of this section and any applicable timelines established by the department. The department shall award grants to an eligible entity based on the eligible entity's need as well as the application criteria set forth in subsection (4)(c) of this section.
(b)
A grant award must range from at least three thousand dollars to no more than two hundred thousand dollars. In awarding a grant, the department shall use the applicant's existing or proposed licensed child care capacity, as well as the applicant's need, as key criteria in determining the amount of the grant award and shall prioritize making multiple smaller grant awards.
(c)
In determining grant awards, the department shall consider eligible entities located in a child care desert. The department shall also consider eligible entities that have or are actively pursuing:
(I)
A fiscal agreement with the Colorado child care assistance program, created in part 1 of article
4
of this title 26.5;
(II)
A commitment to engaging in quality improvement activities through the Colorado shines system, established in section
26.5-5-101
;
(III)
A memorandum of understanding in place with their early childhood council to ensure support from the council; and
(IV)
An application to the division within the department that is responsible for child care licensing and administration and are working with their licensing specialist to determine capital or facility improvement or expansion needs and opportunities.
(d)
Eligible entities that are applying for a grant award shall:
(I)
Provide assurance to the department that zoning, fire, and, if applicable, health approval are underway prior to receiving grant funding; and
(II)
Provide a written commitment to submit any reports required by the department to demonstrate progress toward successful licensing or expansion through the division within the department that is responsible for licensing and administration.
(5)
On or before January 31, 2021, or as soon as practicable after December 7, 2020, the department shall begin the grant award process to eligible entities.
(6)
(a)
For the 2022-23 state fiscal year, the general assembly shall appropriate sixteen million dollars from the economic recovery and relief cash fund created in section
24-75-228
to the department for the purposes of implementing the grant program. Of this amount, up to two million two hundred thousand dollars shall be made available to early childhood councils, as defined in section
26.5-2-202
, in support of the grant program. The department may reimburse an early childhood council up to ten percent of the grant amount for allowable administrative costs of the grant program.
(b)
Money spent pursuant to this subsection (6) must conform with the allowable purposes set forth in the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021", Pub.L. 117-2, as amended. The department must either spend or obligate such appropriation in accordance with section
24-75-226 (4)(d)
.
(c)
The department shall comply with the compliance, reporting, record-keeping, and program evaluation requirements established by the office of state planning and budgeting and the state controller in accordance with section
24-75-226 (5)
.
(d)
This subsection (6) is repealed, effective September 1, 2027.
Amended by 2022 Ch. 345, §3, eff. 7/1/2022.
Renumbered from C.R.S. §
26-6-803
and amended by 2022 Ch. 123, §3, eff. 7/1/2022.