H97 - 2015 Appropriations Act, Sec. 12B.9: U.S. Department of Defense-Certified Child Care Facilities Participation in State-Subsidized Child Care Program (SL 2015-241)

Overview: Sec. 12B.9 of S.L. 2015-241 amends the law pertaining to Child Care Facilities to allow the U.S. Department of Defense certified child care facilities to participate in the State-subsidized child care program. Department of Defense certified child care facilities include: (i) developmental centers, (ii) family child care homes, and (iii) school-age child care facilities operated on a military installation by the U.S. Department of Defense certified by the Department of Defense.

Procedures regarding operating a State-subsidized Department of Defense-certified child care facility include:

• Filing a notice of intent to operate form with the Department of Defense.
• Submitting a report indicating that minimum child care standards for child care facilities have been met as provided by the Department of Defense.

Childcare facilities meeting all requirements of this provision are exempt from State licensure requirements. Child care facilities seeking State subsidies will be reimbursed as a five-star facility if they are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). All other Department of Defense-certified facilities will be reimbursed as a four-star rated facility. Allocated funds must supplement and not supplant federal or State funds allocated to Department of Defense-certified child care facilities.

This section becomes effective January 1, 2016.