[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2337 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2337
To establish a grant pilot program to provide child care services for
the minor children of law enforcement officers to accommodate the shift
work and nontraditional work hours of such officers, and to enhance
recruitment and retention of such officers.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 17, 2025
Mrs. Gillibrand (for herself and Mr. Tillis) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a grant pilot program to provide child care services for
the minor children of law enforcement officers to accommodate the shift
work and nontraditional work hours of such officers, and to enhance
recruitment and retention of such officers.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Providing Child Care for Police
Officers Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. CHILD CARE GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services,
acting through the Assistant Secretary of the Administration for
Children and Families, shall establish a program to award grants to
lead agencies, on a competitive basis, to assist lead agencies in
providing funds to encourage the establishment and operation of child
care programs to provide child care services for the minor children of
law enforcement officers during the shift work and nontraditional work
hours of such officers.
(b) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, a lead agency shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require, including an assurance that
the contribution required under subsection (f) will be provided.
(c) Period of Grant.--The Secretary shall award a grant under this
section for a period of 3 years.
(d) Set-Aside.--Of the amount appropriated to carry out this
section for a fiscal year, not less than 20 percent shall be used to
award grants under this section to lead agencies to provide funds to--
(1) a law enforcement agency that employs fewer than 200
full-time law enforcement officers; or
(2) a consortium comprised of law enforcement agencies, one
of which employs fewer than 200 such officers.
(e) Use of Funds.--
(1) In general.--A lead agency shall use a grant awarded
under this section to provide funds to covered entities located
in the State or in the area served by the lead agency to enable
the covered entities to establish and operate child care
programs (directly or by contract with child care providers).
Such funds may be used by the covered entity or (through such a
contract) child care provider for eligible purposes that may
include--
(A) assistance for the startup costs related to a
child care program;
(B) assistance for the training of child care
providers;
(C) assistance for law enforcement agencies to
provide financial assistance for child care costs for
families;
(D) assistance for the provision of services to
care for sick children or to provide care to children;
(E) assistance through contracts entered into by
law enforcement agencies with local child care resource
and referral organizations or local health departments;
(F) assistance for care for children with
disabilities;
(G) assistance to maintain nonstandard hours for
expanded hours of child care;
(H) assistance for payment of expenses for
operation, construction, or renovation of a child care
facility; or
(I) assistance for any other relevant activity
determined appropriate by the lead agency.
(2) Application.--In order for a covered entity to be
eligible to receive funds from a lead agency under this
section, the covered entity or, if the entity is a consortium
including a unit of local government, the unit of local
government involved, shall prepare and submit to the lead
agency an application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the lead agency may require.
(3) Limitations.--With respect to grant funds received
under this section, a lead agency may not provide in excess of
$3,000,000 from such funds to any single applicant.
(f) Matching Requirement.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, a lead agency shall provide assurances to the Secretary
that, with respect to the costs to be incurred by a covered entity
receiving funds through the grant in carrying out activities under this
section, the covered entity will make available (directly or through
donations from public or private entities) non-Federal contributions
for such costs in an amount equal to--
(1) for the first fiscal year for which the covered entity
receives such funds, not less than 10 percent of such costs;
(2) for the second fiscal year for which the covered entity
receives such funds, not less than 25 percent of such costs;
and
(3) for the third fiscal year for which the covered entity
receives such funds, not less than 33\2/3\ percent of such
costs.
(g) Requirements of Providers.--To be eligible to receive
assistance under a grant awarded under this section, a covered entity
(if directly operating a child care program) or child care provider
shall meet the definitions of, and requirements specified in or under,
each of the following:
(1) Section 658P(6) of the Child Care and Development Block
Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n(6)).
(2) Section 98.41 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations
(or a successor regulation).
(3) Section 98.43 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations
(or a successor regulation).
(h) Administration.--
(1) Lead agency.--A lead agency shall, with respect to
administering a grant awarded under this section, have the
duties described in section 658D(b) of the Child Care and
Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858b(b)). A
lead agency shall have the responsibility for administering a
grant awarded under this section and for monitoring use of
funds and adherence to requirements referred to in paragraphs
(2) and (3) of subsection (g) by covered entities (if directly
operating a child care program) and child care providers that
receive funds under such grant.
(2) Technical assistance.--A lead agency administering a
grant awarded under this section shall, for the duration of the
period of such grant, provide to covered entities technical
assistance regarding such grant.
(3) Audits.--A lead agency that provides funds to a covered
entity under this section shall conduct an annual audit with
respect to the activities of the covered entity and any child
care provider carried out with those funds.
(4) Misuse of funds.--
(A) Repayment.--If the lead agency determines,
through an audit or otherwise, that a covered entity or
child care provider receiving funds under a grant
awarded under this section has misused the funds, the
lead agency shall notify the Secretary of the misuse.
The Secretary, upon such a notification, may seek from
such covered entity or child care provider the
repayment of an amount equal to the amount of any such
misused funds plus interest.
(B) Appeals process.--The Secretary shall by
regulation provide for an appeals process with respect
to repayments under this paragraph.
(5) 2-year study.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the
date on which the Secretary first awards grants under
this section, the Secretary shall conduct a study to
determine--
(i) the capacity of covered entities (if
directly operating child care programs) and
child care providers receiving funds through
such a grant, to meet the child care needs of
communities within States;
(ii) the kinds of consortia that are being
formed with respect to child care at the local
level to carry out programs funded under this
section; and
(iii) who is using the programs funded
under this section and the income levels of
individuals using the programs.
(B) Report.--Not later than 28 months after the
date on which the Secretary first awards grants under
this section, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to
the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the
results of the study conducted in accordance with
subparagraph (A).
(6) Four-year study.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 4 years after the
date on which the Secretary first awards grants under
this section, the Secretary shall conduct a study to
determine--
(i) the number of child care facilities
that--
(I) received funds for construction
or renovation through covered entities
that received funds through a grant
awarded under this section; and
(II) remain in operation;
(ii) the extent to which such facilities
are meeting the child care needs of the
individuals served by such facilities; and
(iii) the extent to which other sectors
(besides law enforcement officers) of first
responders, as defined in section 3025 of the
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of
1968 (34 U.S.C. 10705), have unmet child care
needs.
(B) Report.--Not later than 52 months after the
date on which the Secretary first awards grants under
this section, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to
the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the
results of the study conducted in accordance with
subparagraph (A).
(i) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Consortium.--The term ``consortium'' means a
partnership that includes one or more law enforcement agencies
and may also include a unit of local government, a child care
provider, or a foundation.
(2) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means a
law enforcement agency or a consortium.
(3) Eligible child care provider.--The term ``eligible
child care provider'' has the meaning given the term in section
658P of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990
(42 U.S.C. 9858n).
(4) Law enforcement agency.--The term ``law enforcement
agency'' means a government agency with criminal or civil law
enforcement powers.
(5) Law enforcement officer.--The term ``law enforcement
officer'' has the meaning given the term in section 2503 of the
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C.
10533).
(6) Lead agency.--The term ``lead agency'' means an agency
or office designated or established under section 658D(a) of
the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 9858b(a)), or an analogous agency or office for an
Indian tribe or tribal organization.
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant
Secretary of the Administration for Children and Families.
(8) State.--The term ``State'' means--
(A) each of the several States of the United
States;
(B) the District of Columbia;
(C) each territory of the United States; and
(D) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization (as such
terms are defined in section 658P of the Child Care and
Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n)).
(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section, $24,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2026 through 2030.
(2) Studies and administration.--With respect to the total
amount appropriated for the period of fiscal years 2026 through
2030 in accordance with this subsection, not more than
$2,500,000 of that amount may be used for expenditures related
to conducting studies required under, and the administration
of, this section.
(k) Termination of Program.--The program established under this
section shall terminate on September 30, 2030.
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