Sec. 47.25.071. - Child care grant program. - Alaska Statutes

(a) A child care grant program is established in the department to provide state assistance in the operation of child care facilities. The department shall provide grants for the operation of child care facilities, including private nonprofit child care facilities. Participation in the program is optional.

(b) To qualify for a grant under (a) or (d) of this section, the child care facility must

(1) be currently licensed under AS 47.32 and applicable municipal licensing requirements;

(2) participate in the day care assistance program under AS 47.25.001 - 47.25.095; and

(3) provide care under a payment system as provided in (g) of this section.

(c) A grant under (a) of this section may not exceed $50 per month for each child the child care facility cares for, or for each full-time equivalent, as determined by the department. The grant shall be adjusted on a geographic basis by the same factor as funding for a school district is adjusted in AS 14.17.460 .

(d) In addition to the grants provided in (a) of this section, the department may, subject to appropriations for that purpose, provide by grant or contract for the education and training of child care employees or administrators. To receive a grant or contract under this subsection or to participate in a training program under this subsection, the child care facility must meet all the requirements of (b) of this section.

(e) An application for a grant under this section shall be made in the form established by the department.

(f) A grant under (a) of this section shall be made monthly or quarterly and shall be based on the monthly average daily full-time equivalent enrollment in the child care facility. If the method of payment for the grant is other than monthly, it shall be at the request of the child care facility with the approval of the department. Based on criteria established by the department, the department may make quarterly advance payments.

(g) Each child care facility receiving a grant under (a) or (d) of this section shall assure that at least 15 percent or one of its child care spaces receiving subsidy under this section, whichever is greater, will be made available, if requested, to children eligible for day care assistance under AS 47.25.001 - 47.25.095, whose parents or guardians wish to pay for care based on attendance only.

(h) The department shall, in consultation with interested child care providers and parents, adopt regulations to carry out the purposes of this section.